From the (Wannabe) Feminist Point of View

From my previous posts, you must know that I love God. However, I feel that there is a side to this issue that needs to be presented. Besides, my fellow wives will have probably touched on the morality of Abortion on their individual entries. This time, allow me to present my views from a social perspective.

At the outset, let me point out that I humbly think of myself as a feminist-in-the-making. I think I still have a long way to go before I finally achieve this feat, which is why I try to live my life based on the tenets of feminism one day at a time.

I believe in the idea of empowering a woman to make free and enabled choices for her own mind, soul, and body. When used properly and purely, it is a power that will eventually lead to a non-violent social order that practices reciprocal egalitarianism, in which every individual is respected regardless of gender and age, and all living things, including natural creatures like plants and animals, are never exploited.

The discourses on Feminism are voluminous and complex, which is why I will not bring all of it up here (besides, this is not the venue, and that is not the topic, hehe!), except to say this: I believe that every woman should have the freedom to have a voice to make a choice.

Having said that, here is what I have to say on the issue of Abortion.

By nature, women are pro-creators. Herstorically, women have always been creators of culture, though historically (and not surprisingly), this contribution has been glaringly absent. Instinctively, we know when a life blossoms in our womb and, as mothers, our primal response is to protect that life. However, the current (and generally) male-dominated/defined society has infused so many factors that make pro-creation a matter of decision rather than a matter of instinct.

In Inday’s case, it is apparent that her husband has truly dominated her body in order to prove his machismo. Being “only a woman”, society has led Inday to believe that her only role is to make babies, that having children is more of a personal burden than a social responsibility, to be subservient to the husband at all costs, and that she has no voice in the matter of decision-making and family building. On the other hand, Kimberly’s case generally describes how male-aggression through sexual-exploitation greatly undermines the dignity of a woman/child. It is demeaning, it is senseless, it is egotistical.

And so, in these cases, what is the option that society offers both Inday and Kimberly: Abortion, the anti-feminist idea of disrespecting the life of the unborn. But, do they really have a choice? Of course. And it’s not abortion (as some liberals would actually think). Their choice is to give this child a chance to live, to love it, to respect it, and for Inday to finally have the voice to say NO to her husband, and for Kimberly to understand that it was not her fault.

In Mylene’s case, let me just say that the stigma of disability should never be a factor in determining how much respect a human being should deserve. Quality of life is self-earned, it is not something we are (or not) born with.

And as for Beverly, clearly, the central premise of respect for life naturally applies to her own. If there is one instinct inherent in humans that naturally supercedes pro-creation, it is self-preservation. On a sinking ship, we first save ourselves in order to be able to save others. Heroism is a product of mythology. Self-preservation is a product of reality.

And so you might ask, if I were a pregnant celebrity and the only way I could survive in showbusiness is to abort my child, would I do it? Folded and hung, you know my answer.

As a feminist-in-progress and a mother, I definitely would choose life. Abortion is a coward’s way out, and I am not afraid to make the choices that I will never regret.