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The Choice: What does choice mean to women?

© Nancy Coulter

A women's right to choose is a topic that has brought about many divisions in the women's movement. It is often assumed that if you are pro-choice, then you support abortion. Or if you are pro-life, then you are against a women's right to choose. Assumptions like these only add fuel to an otherwise violent fire in our society.

Many women feel that it is simply their right to choose what should be done to their bodies. They do not believe that the government has a right to tell them that they cannot have an abortion since it is a medical procedure involving their own body. However, many women who believe in the right to choose, will also point out that there are many choices for women besides abortion. Adoption is one of these choices. With adoption, a woman is not only "choosing life" but also giving another couple a chance for a family. Whether a woman choose adoption, life or abortion, pro-choice supporters believe each woman has a right to her own choice.

There are women who consider themselves pro-life AND pro-choice. To some, this may seem like an oxymoron, but it can be easily explained. Some women would never make the personal choice to have an abortion; it simply goes against their personal and/or religious beliefs. At the same time, they realize that the choice is personal and that not all women feel the same. So while having thier personal belief in being pro-life, they also believe that every woman should be able to make her own choice; thus they are also pro-choice.

The line between pro-life and pro-choice is not clear. One thing is clear, a person's belief in "life" or "choice" is one that is extremely personal and one that should not be forced into. Every woman has the right to her opinion. With the debate over abortion driving women further and further apart, it is important we keep in mind the day to day freedom of choice that we all have. We must never lose site of that and always respect the choices we each make.

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