BY AUDREY SAMPLE
As someone who fiercely defends the preborn, people sometimes try to stereotype me as being anti-women's rights. Some might even go so far as to say I'm altogether anti-woman. That's far from the case, though.
I consider myself an empowered, liberated young woman. Someone who has strong (sometimes controversial) opinions, but isn't afraid to talk about them. My pro-life opinion on abortion doesn't come from my upbringing, religion, or any man in my life. It comes from a place of deep compassion for women in desperate situations, from a place in my heart that longs for a world where we don't call an act of violence on our own preborn children a "woman's reproductive right." I want to help create a culture that doesn't force women to choose between carrying their children to term or a career and education and then calls it liberation. I want to help create a culture where we offer nonviolent, supportive and compassionate resources for women and their children (before and after birth).
It boggles my mind that in this day and age, the average feminist is supportive of abortion "rights." Feminism is about equality for everyone. Not "equal rights when it's convenient." True equality wouldn't make women settle for less than they deserve. It upsets me to see pro-life advocates only addressing the issue in the context of religion, or claiming that "legitimate rape" rarely results in pregnancy. I don't think the way to change hearts and minds is through alienating others. By finding common ground and connecting issues, we have a better shot at abolishing abortion one day.
I'm not against abortion simply because it "takes an innocent life." I'm against abortion because it takes a life. It's not wrong only because the child is innocent; it's wrong because they're human, and all life is worthy of protection regardless of any wrongdoings. I'm not here to pass judgments on someone for deciding to abort -- I understand that women choose abortion when they feel they have no other choice. What I want is for women to not feel like they have to make that decision. I want resources and programs in place that empower women and encourage fathers to be supportive and present in their child's life. I think that this is a vital step for the pro-life movement, and without it abortion will continue to feel like the only option.
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