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How Do You Think Abortion Is Perceived In Society?

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Jules

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How Do You Think Abortion Is Perceived In Society?
Posted: 09-06-07 09:52am

This question will likely be answered differently based on the country you live in, your background, personal experience etc.

From my experience, abortion is always something that is spoken about in whispers and as if it is a shameful thing. It's not something one admits to having had done themselves in general conversation. If the abortion was for medical reasons then there is usually sympathy and understanding but I find that the subject of elective abortions is still very much a taboo subject and one that causes judgements to be made about the woman in question.

What are your experiences of the attitude to abortion?
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meblonde01

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Posted: 09-06-07 11:24am

I feel the majority of people would react a somewhat shameful way. Usually when a person says they had an abortion or are going to have one the response is “why” or “oh” or with some kind of word that expresses concern. Even with abortions being legal for as many years that it has, it is still a procedure that most people don’t take lightly. Or shrug off like it’s no big deal.
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Georgia59

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Posted: 09-06-07 12:11pm

Definitely shameful. I remember in high school the worst thing that spread about a certain girl- "She's had three abortions, you know...."

Having an abortion=being a promiscuous person.

I wonder how that will be censored. Wink
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Jincks013

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Posted: 09-06-07 14:28pm

I think it depends as much on location as country its in. I am orginally from the Pacific Northwest area of the United States; Washington State in fact and the general attitude was that it is a womans choice but if you were to go to say Missouri and say you'd had an abortion your likely to be socially lynched if not actually lynched.

unfortunately many equate having had an abortion with 'loose' behavior but those same goody goods who look down finely pointed noses are the same ones who cluck self rightously at an unmarried pregnant women/girl who is nearby. They turn a blind eye to the kid next door having a black eye and titter in after church gossip groups about what nelly next door did last night and she's on her third boyfriend this week!!! did you see her skirt is a bit tight? Doc brenson says she's pregnant... yada yada yada..

Seems like its entirely an area affect.
The closer you get the bible belt in the U.S. the farther rational though and respect for personal business goes away..
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Verizon-y

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Posted: 09-06-07 15:39pm

I think many of you are right about how abortions are discussed out loud in society, but I think in people's private thoughts, most of them are grateful that abortion is legal, and the thought of it being outlawed horrifies them.
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sillyakchick

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Posted: 09-06-07 15:39pm

I have to admit that although i have always considered myself to be pro-choice, I am guilty of having once attached negative connotations to the idea of a woman I knew actually having one. I no longer feel that way, but it always seemed when i was young it was some ficticious person having the procedure, not someone I knew. Then Someone I knew had one, and I discovered that even people who aren't promiscuous and don't sleep around have abortions. Embarassed So I think that many people have this stigma, even prochoice (not everone, but I think it still exists). It is unfortunate.
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Georgia59

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Posted: 09-06-07 16:06pm

I think that it might have to do with age and experience too, as we get older and experience people who actually have to go through these things we get wiser and less judgmental. It's easy to say lots of things are wrong when you're a kid and idealistic.

I was a VERY idealistic kid. Smile
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nightangel73

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Posted: 09-06-07 20:55pm

Georgia59 wrote:
I think that it might have to do with age and experience too, as we get older and experience people who actually have to go through these things we get wiser and less judgmental. It's easy to say lots of things are wrong when you're a kid and idealistic.

I was a VERY idealistic kid. Smile


I'm not idealistic and I have never changed my mind about what I think of abortion nor it will ever change. And I have grown older and wiser already and still think abortion is WRONG.
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Jincks013

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Posted: 09-06-07 21:06pm

Georgia59 wrote:
I think that it might have to do with age and experience too, as we get older and experience people who actually have to go through these things we get wiser and less judgmental. It's easy to say lots of things are wrong when you're a kid and idealistic.

I was a VERY idealistic kid. Smile


I think you are right. When we are young we are full of black and white clear cut answers; as time goes and we gain knowledge and maturity we realize there is very little black and white but many shades of grey.
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Tylanas

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Posted: 09-06-07 22:34pm

By society, I feel abortion is accepted as a necessary thing. I refuse to say "evil" because that attaches a religious morality to it.

No, I don't think most people like abortion. Death is involved, death of a thing that could become a baby. That's not pretty, it's not nice.

But like viewing an art gallery about the Civil Rights Movement, we realize that although abortion is not a beautiful thing, it is still needed and it is still important in so many ways.

Abortion is hard to look at and discuss. However, I think that many people who get a chance to talk to a woman who aborted come away from the conversation with a quiet layer of respect in their minds - if their minds are open.
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Verizon-y

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Posted: 09-07-07 10:40am

nightangel73 wrote:
Georgia59 wrote:
I think that it might have to do with age and experience too, as we get older and experience people who actually have to go through these things we get wiser and less judgmental. It's easy to say lots of things are wrong when you're a kid and idealistic.

I was a VERY idealistic kid. Smile


I'm not idealistic and I have never changed my mind about what I think of abortion nor it will ever change. And I have grown older and wiser already and still think abortion is WRONG.


How old are you?
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Tylanas

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Posted: 09-07-07 15:51pm

She's like 32 or something.
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