I’m a young professional, I want kids in four years, but in a few years when I can afford the time and money babies require.  I didn’t want a child while I finished my masters degree.

When I became pregnant weeks after getting into grad school I knew that abortion was an option and so I had one.  I knew I had to because having a child in the midst of the stress of school wouldn’t be fair to them, myself, or my partner and not getting the degree and living a financially stable life didn’t seem fair to them either.

I felt ashamed to be getting an abortion when I knew my family and work would not approve.  I felt that I had to lie to both.  I eventually had to leave my job over the anxiety I had that my boss would find out I had an abortion. She regularly ridiculed women who had abortions and I feared she would bully me because of it.  This in an all-women organization that didn’t provide maternity leave.

Women getting abortions are doing the best they can.  We should not be shamed for making our own choices for our futures.