Curses And Shame

Sometimes we need to bring things into the light to free ourselves from their power.

November 16, 2023

I got pregnant a decade ago.

I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t well. And I knew what I wanted and needed to do.

I called my local GP practice and made an appointment, on the phone the receptionist asked what it was for, and I told her I needed a termination. When I walked into the room a day or so later, I was greeted by a doctor who was (at least) six months pregnant. I looked at her bump, and then I looked her in the eyes, and I knew this had been planned.

In a country where, at that point, abortion had been legal for 47 years, someone, or possibly more than one person, decided to send a person wanting a termination to a visibly pregnant doctor. Thinking about the level of paternalism, supremacy and lack of compassion it takes to do that still brings me anger and confusion.

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