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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume. 34, Number 10. 1971

[Introduction]

There is a curious lack of logic among anti-abortionissts. Setting up a straw man ("But don't you really think that birth control is better than abortion?") they proceed to knock it down ("Oh, you do, then why don't you advocate more and better birth control measures instead?"). The obvious statement that no amount of birth control can cure an unwanted pregnancy seems to be called for at this point.

To the best of my knowledge there is no one in favour of abortion law reform who does not also plead for more and better birth control. However, birth control and abortion on demand, together, are the only methods of dealing realistically with the problems involved. No sansible person would prefer an abortion, an operation, over birth control. But it's not that simple. First of all, let it be made very plain that there is no birth control measure yet available that is 100% certain. Even sterilisation has been known to reverse itself; while the safest temporary method of birth control, the "mini-pill", is 99% effective. It is no consolation to the 100th woman that the other groups of 99 are luckier in the draw. The diaphragm is about 97% effective and other measures less so. A woman who has been as responsible as she knows how, following the directions of her doctor, is now penalized for an accident beyond her control.

Then there are large numbers of married women who are extraordinarily ignorant of proper birth control, and it is their right to have clear and intensive education. There are women who conceive deliberately, or at any rate are not reluctant to accept another pregnancy and birth, but who later find that the embryo is deformed because of drugs, hereditary disease or other causes. If a woman is educated and well-to-do, she is more likely to find out in time in the first place, and more likely to be lucky in getting an abortion in N.Z. in the second.

The problem of young girls conceiving before maturity is a particularly difficult one Usually such children are somewhat emotionally disturbed in the first place. And then, reflecting the chaotic emotions of society, they refuse to prepare themselves by using birth control. To be effective, the pill must be taken from two weeks to two months before it is needed A diaphragm or other mechanical device for a woman requires foreknowledge and acceptance, purchase and preparation. To most of these young girls, the idea of preparing for intercourse is wicked and makes them "feel like a slut"; their justification for making love often lies in their being "swept away by passion". This group has learned the irresponsible, irrational and hypocritical lessons society teaches about sex, only too well.

Many young girls are not "swept away by passion" by anyone's standard. Perhaps these are the saddest of all. Seeking human closeness at any cost, they hope to retain a boyfriend by giving in to his desires even if they do not share them. Their problems are worsened, their education is interrupted and they are left to bear the brunt of their own misfortunes.

While few girls in their early teens suffer permanently from too-early pregnancy and childbearing, any teenage girl's health is likely to be injured because her need for nutrition is extremely high at this time of life. If she is pregnant, both she and the developing fetus may suffer, often quite severely, from malnutrition. While the too-young mother may largely recover from the effects of this deprivation, a child who has been deprived of protein, for example, in pre-natal and early post-natal development, will be permanently mentally stunted to a greater or lesser extent.

Abortion then is a necessary part of birth control, the back-stop part, but it should not need stressing that any new laws would be permissive. That is, no woman should be coerced into an abortion, just as no woman should be denied one.

Anti-abortionists raise another objection, uttered with so little logic that their entire approach is suspect They call abortion "murder" and then turn their backs on the whole problem If it is murder indeed, then why are they not pressing for the abolition of all abortions? For to support the present law is from this emotional standpoint to accept that our hospitals are places where murder is sometimes justified.

It is proposed here to examine as many aspects of abortion as possible in order to encourage clear and rational thinking on this difficult subject.