What is really needed?

Lack of money plays a large role in the abortion decision, said Victoria Tepe Nasman, PhD, when presenting the results of an abortion survey of 142 abortion patients and 51 of their partners at a press conference on July 2, 1992.

The survey showed 68% were already parents of at least two children and 87% of the women were not married. Financial hardship was a key reason for terminating the pregnancy. The patients and thier partners were also angered by the pro-lifers protesting outside the clinic. Another interesting fact is two-thirds of the people surveyed were registered voters, of which over 80% said they would vote in the current election for candidates who defend the right to an abortion.

Nasman told the public pro-lifers tend to describe women who have abortions as irresponsible, childless, selfish people who are inconvenienced by pregnancy. Nasman argues the survey proves this theory wrong and in fact women who get abortions know the deep lasting commitment it takes to be a parent and are struggling financially.

If lack of money is a major reason women have abortions, then society must answer that need. As we face the next millenium the dollar a woman earns should equal 100 cents, not 70. A woman needs to have access to all jobs available to men - the glass ceiling must disappear. Good child care should be affordable and available to all working mothers. Of course the preferable arrangement would be to have a mother telecommute from her home and/or job share, but not at the expense of a lowered position or salary.

These are the issue are law makers need to focus on and not those of whether abortion should be legal. If women were truly equal, the abortion rate would drop, according to the survey findings as these women would look at another child as a blessing and not a financial burden.