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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/sep/23/women-not-politicians-should-control-their-bodies
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| Women, not politicians, should control their bodies | Women, not politicians, should control their bodies |
| (4 months later) | |
| The Labour party is proposing to ban parents from discovering the sex of an unborn child early in pregnancy for fear that it could lead to selective abortion. | The Labour party is proposing to ban parents from discovering the sex of an unborn child early in pregnancy for fear that it could lead to selective abortion. |
| Non-invasive screenings are now being offered at nine to 10 weeks into a pregnancy, to allow parents to discover whether a foetus has Down’s syndrome or other genetic conditions. Naz Shah, shadow women and equalities minister, told the Victoria Derbyshire show that the test could be used, particularly within Asian communities, to selectively abort girls. | Non-invasive screenings are now being offered at nine to 10 weeks into a pregnancy, to allow parents to discover whether a foetus has Down’s syndrome or other genetic conditions. Naz Shah, shadow women and equalities minister, told the Victoria Derbyshire show that the test could be used, particularly within Asian communities, to selectively abort girls. |
| A 2014 Department of Health report found no evidence of sex selection taking place in England and Wales. A later report observed: “Analysis of gender birth ratios by ethnicity of the child… found no ratio to be significantly higher than [that expected naturally].” | A 2014 Department of Health report found no evidence of sex selection taking place in England and Wales. A later report observed: “Analysis of gender birth ratios by ethnicity of the child… found no ratio to be significantly higher than [that expected naturally].” |
| The issue, however, is not simply one of numbers. It is that of the state controlling what a woman is permitted to know about her pregnancy. In any other circumstance, feminists would condemn the idea that women cannot to be trusted to make decisions about their reproductive futures. It’s an attitude both patronising and misogynistic. | The issue, however, is not simply one of numbers. It is that of the state controlling what a woman is permitted to know about her pregnancy. In any other circumstance, feminists would condemn the idea that women cannot to be trusted to make decisions about their reproductive futures. It’s an attitude both patronising and misogynistic. |
| The NHS offers pregnant women ultrasound scans that can reveal the sex of a foetus. Abortion is legal until 24 weeks. Is Shah suggesting that parents should not be able to see their scans? The logic can be extended beyond the issue of selective abortion. Perhaps the government should stop providing information about immigration numbers for fear it might inflame anti-immigrant sentiment? Or stop telling pupils their GCSE results in case it depresses some? | The NHS offers pregnant women ultrasound scans that can reveal the sex of a foetus. Abortion is legal until 24 weeks. Is Shah suggesting that parents should not be able to see their scans? The logic can be extended beyond the issue of selective abortion. Perhaps the government should stop providing information about immigration numbers for fear it might inflame anti-immigrant sentiment? Or stop telling pupils their GCSE results in case it depresses some? |
| Sex-selective abortions are an issue in some parts of the world, particularly India and China. The answer is to tackle attitudes, not to deny women knowledge about their own bodies. | Sex-selective abortions are an issue in some parts of the world, particularly India and China. The answer is to tackle attitudes, not to deny women knowledge about their own bodies. |
| Abortion | Abortion |
| Opinion | Opinion |
| Naz Shah | Naz Shah |
| Labour | Labour |
| Health | Health |
| Women | Women |
| comment | comment |
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