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Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University Students' Association. Vol 44 No. 5. March 30 1981

Much more than just choice

Much more than just choice

The right to choose is basic to the liberation of women and feminism. It is more than just the choice to have an abortion or not. It means that a woman has the right to determine her own future, to make her own choices about her life and direction, without the constraint of law, traditional sex role stereotyping or attitude.

The right to choose means that women have the right to decide to have an abortion or not; to have children by choice; to work regardless of whether they have children or not which means freely available childcare; to determine their own sexuality without legal or cultural discrimination; to go out at night without fear of harrassment, attack and rape.

Women have the right to fulfill their full potential without the constant struggle against a system which discriminates against women. Whether your analysis sees capitalism, the patriarchy or consumerism as the cause in our society women are denied the right to choose. They are subject to the decisions and actions of others. Until women are genuinely free to choose and have full control of their own bodies our system remains a repressive and restrictive one. The right to choose is the beginning of the basic human right to personal freedom. As a piece of graffiti last year read:

The difference between pro and anti abortionists, is that pro abortionists don't say everybody has to have an abortion, but the anti abortionists say that nobody can!

Victoria Quade VUW Women's Action Group. The Wellington contact for the Sisters' Overseas Service is: P.O. Box 28009WellingtonPhone 856-670 The contact for WONAAC (Women's National Abortion Action Campaign) is: P.O. Box 2669WellingtonPhone 848-541