A New Perspective on Post-Abortion Syndrome
Post Abortion Syndrome (PAS), as described in the attached sheet, is one of the reasons the anti-choice folk often cite to support their position that abortion is A Bad Thing. PAS still has not been proven to exist as a distinct disorder, but I’m willing to grant that much for now. The researchers say that many women who choose to end unwanted pregnancies suffer “depression, substance abuse, sleep disorders, and suicidal thoughts.” * The anti-choice folk interpret this syndrome as the natural consequences of Committing Murder. But here’s a radical thought for them: I suggest that Post Abortion Syndrome is, instead, the natural consequence of an invasion of a woman’s body not dissimilar to rape, and of the failure of society to provide support to women thus invaded.
This radical thought rests on three premises. First, rape and similar invasions of a woman’s body cause psychological symptoms similar to those described as typical of PAS. Second, unwanted pregnancy is similar, in some regards, to other forced usage of a woman’s body. These two premises indicate that it may be the invasion, not the abortion, that contribute to PAS--a thought which may be tested by an examination of the responses of women who carry unwanted pregnancies to term. Finally, I suggest that society does fail to provide support, of the kind known to be needed by rape victims, to victims of unwanted pregnancy, thus indicating a direct social responsibility for PAS.
To keep this brief, I’ll assume that most of the anti-choice people will admit that rape is also A Bad Thing, and not elaborate that argument here. It’s that second point that’s likely to be contested. I showed, in “Dialogue,” one common ground between sexual assault and unwanted pregnancy; the characters in that discussion agreed that, “if a person--even a person with no malicious intent, mentally unable to form such intent--attempts to use a woman’s body, particularly her sexual organs, for his own selfish ends and without her consent, then she is justified in using even deadly force to prevent this action.” Another similarity is how easily people not confronted with the situation may be confused by their enjoyment of apparently identical circumstances. Women recalling the joy of bearing wanted children may have difficulty understanding the feelings of women carrying unwanted children, just as people who enjoy loving, consensual sex may not understand why a woman would be traumatized by unwanted sexual interaction. Loving sex in a secure relationship is Very Happy. Consensual sex, even when less than ideal, is still Happy in most cases. Rape is Not Happy. The distinction is not in the act, but in the existence or lack of consent. Similarly, bearing a planned child is Very Happy. Bearing an unplanned but wanted child is less than ideal, but generally Happy. Bearing an unwanted child is Not Happy. Again, it is the lack of consent that is the problem. The distinction between rape and unwanted pregnancy is in the culpability of the invader--I’d certainly never suggest that a fetus is capable of malice--and therefore is external to the victim. That’s important, because it means that her feelings may be similar in both cases of invasion, whether the invader is seen as a Bad Guy or an Innocent Child.
So those are the first two premises briefly illustrated, and it’s possible to see that an unwanted pregnancy may contribute to Feeling Yucky, whether or not the pregnancy is allowed to continue. The last premise is that society doesn’t support women faced with this situation in the way it is learning to support other victims of invasive use of their bodies. Obviously, the anti-choice people contribute to feelings of guilt when they block entrance to clinics and label women “Murderers.” Women who give up their children after birth are often labelled as “Irresponsible” or “Uncaring” or “Failures as Mothers.” Abortion, which is a legal right that defends a woman from the nonconsensual use of her body, is generally seen not as self-defense, but as a Dirty Secret. Further, by labelling this collection of symptoms “Post Abortion Syndrome,” the medical research community excludes women who handle unwanted pregnancies in other ways, and also suggests that the syndrome is caused by the choice to end the invasion through abortion--placing the blame on the victim, rather than on the invasion. It wouldn’t be hard to continue, but perhaps the point has been made: society, through failing to support women faced with unwanted pregnancies, contributes to PAS.
This brief argument is intended only to outline a radical thought, not to discuss it comprehensively. I suggest that PAS is best understood as the result of invasion of women’s bodies, and is made worse by current social definitions. If the anti-choice folk, the medical researchers, the media, and others saw abortion as self-defense, society might begin to offer these women the support they need--and thus begin their healing.
* from “Researchers: Post-Abortion Syndrome a Growing Health Problem,” attached.
--Weavre, 1995(I apologize that the original flyer isn't attached to this electronic version. It was sent to a friend with the first writing of this, and if I could find it again and write to ask for permission to post the copyrighted material on the web, I have a feeling someone might object . . . )
