As the fight for women’s rights to determine what they do with their own bodies heats up both here and in the US, more prominent women in the public eye are sharing their abortion stories.
The latest lady to step up is the American talk show personality and comedian Chelsea Handler. She told her story in a personal essay entitled ‘My Choice’ as part of Playboy magazine’s ‘Freedom Essays’.
Chelsea told readers how, at age 16 she fell pregnant twice, and had two separate abortions. She defiantly states that she does not regret what she has done, and why should she? She wrote:
“I happened to fuck up twice at the age of 16. I’m grateful that I came to my senses and was able to get an abortion legally without risking my health or bankrupting my family. I’m 41 now. I don’t ever look back and think, ‘God, I wish I’d had that baby’.”
When I agreed to write an article on a woman's right to choose, I certainly wasn't bragging. I chose to tell the truth. #shouldbemoreofit
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) June 28, 2016
Her essay comes at a time when basic abortion rights are coming under attack in the United States.
Currently, abortion is legal in all states in the US, as ensured by the landmark case Roe v. Wade in 1973. Individual states have different laws concerning how and up until what point an abortion can be carried out. However, there have been manifold attempts to destroy this ruling within the US, and the anti-Planned Parenthood lobby in America is both powerful and dogged.
On Monday, in what is seen as a clear endorsement of abortion rights, the US Supreme Court struck down an anti-abortion law in Texas which would have placed severe regulations on doctors and facilities.
Today's #SCOTUS decision upholding reproductive rights is a major victory—but we can't take it for granted. https://t.co/ouzojIS937
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 28, 2016
Despite this, pro-life politicians and lobbyists have been successful in restricting funding to and closing down Planned Parenthood clinics all throughout the U.S.
The Supreme Court grants a pro-choice victory. But it can’t guarantee access to abortion… https://t.co/M1JG4OhFrJ pic.twitter.com/PbXlg54Wh0
— News RSS (@newzrss) June 29, 2016
Here on Irish shores, the abortion question has been gaining more and more momentum. Access to abortion in the Republic of Ireland is severely restricted, with few exceptions, unless when the mother’s life is at risk. Even when the life of the mother is at risk, as seen in the Savita Halappanavar case in 2012, an abortion is not guaranteed.
Last week in the Republic pro-choice protesters used drone technology to send abortion pills to Northern Ireland for women, especially immigrants who could not travel abroad to obtain an abortion. It is considered a crime punishable by 14 years in prison to acquire these abortion pills.
#ICYMI a drone delivered abortion pills to women in northern Ireland: https://t.co/zdEoIIAKW7 #ReProRights pic.twitter.com/BhnEqS2NtS
— MAKERS (@MAKERSwomen) June 29, 2016
Despite all these attempts to restrict abortion rights in various parts of the world, Chelsea Handler ends her essay on a hopeful note. She believes that women’s rights have come too far to take a step back,
“We’ve already made the decision and now we’re moving on to transgender rights. And it’s a wrap on men deciding what women can do with their bodies.”
We salute you, Chelsea, for your bravery and your honesty. The fight may be more or less won in the US, but here in Ireland, it’s out and out war – and women’s bodies are the battlefields.
