I was 24 years old, had been dating my then boyfriend (now husband) for 3 years. We were both finishing our master’s degrees and both looking into getting into our PhDs. He was extremely supportive of my choice, and he made sure I knew it was entirely my own choice, and that he would be there for me no matter what. When I went in for the procedure I felt so ashamed, but the doctor helped me understand that it is ok, as long as it was my own choice. She actually asked him to leave the room to speak to me and make sure it was indeed my own choice. She also told me that unfortunately, while it is legal and free, they are constantly facing pushbacks from conservative groups who want to take this right away from women. In one of the first countries in the world that legalized abortion. I was shocked after hearing this, and vowed to always stand in solidarity with other women, and fight back against people’s attempts to control our bodies.
I am extremely lucky to live in a country where abortion is legal, safe, and free. My home country only allows it in cases of rape or when the mother’s life is at risk, and even in those situations, women are often prosecuted and put in jail. Some are jailed for miscarriages, which isn’t on purpose. I want every woman in every country in the world who finds herself in this difficult situation, having to make such a hard choice, to have access to the type of care I received. I was treated like a human, and my life was not once at risk under their care. Women deserve to live our lives as we choose, we have the right to choose over our own bodies. Women have bodily autonomy and I will spend the rest of my life reminding this to people who think they have the right to decide for us and control our bodies.
