Blog #3 Abortion & Guilt

In "the mother" Gwendolyn Brooks describes the guilt that goes into making the decision to have an abortion for a women. Why exactly do woman have this guilt? Even if a woman hasn't had a child before there is still some level of guilt behind it. I think its because we always think of what could have been. When the choice is left up to us its  like we taking away that could have been. This creates a kind of dissonance with in ourselves. Often in society abortion is portrayed in such a negative light too. So when a woman makes the choice to have an abortion, its looked down upon. The question stands do women feel guilt about abortion because of society or is it an innate feeling we are all born with? Brooks makes it seem that all women are born with motherly instincts. Women tend to have more compassion. Especially when it's something that has come from our bodies. The bond of a mother and her child is like no other. I feel like this is something that a father will never have. Even though it takes a man to create a child. He is not the one that carries the child for 9 months and gives birth. I myself have never experienced giving birth. But from talking to my own mother, there is no way to really prepare oneself for the emotions that come forth. When a woman decides to have an abortion they may feel like they have cheated themselves of those emotions.

Then society comes out with the argument of pro life. Campaigns like the one below. How is a woman not going to feel guilty when they see that.


After looking at a few studies about the emotional side effects of have abortion I came up with a list:

• Regret
• Anger
• Guilty feelings
• Shame
• Sense of loneliness or isolation
• Loss of self confidence
• Insomnia or nightmares
• Relationship issues
• Suicidal thoughts and feelings
• Eating disorders
• Depression
• Anxiety

To be honest looking at both sides. I think the guilt of abortion comes from both sides. Its this maternal instinct to want to have and protect our own children, but also society makes it seem like women are the devil for making a choice that could effect them for the rest of their lives. I just wonder if the roles were switched would men have these same problems?