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Don't judge older women on their right to have abortions Don't judge older women on their right to have abortions
(about 1 hour later)
The new information on abortions and the over-35s from the Department of Health is confusing – unless you assume, as many news reports have so far, that women are stupid. Then it's easily explained.The new information on abortions and the over-35s from the Department of Health is confusing – unless you assume, as many news reports have so far, that women are stupid. Then it's easily explained.
We are supposed to consider that a 6% increase since 2001 in women in their late 30s and 40s seeking abortions is a "sharp rise". This is supposedly because: (a) these women mistakenly believe they are too old to conceive and so don't need contraception; and (b) the recession has made "accidents" too difficult to proceed with. The first part makes women seem idiotic. The second is extremely interesting – but completely impossible to prove.We are supposed to consider that a 6% increase since 2001 in women in their late 30s and 40s seeking abortions is a "sharp rise". This is supposedly because: (a) these women mistakenly believe they are too old to conceive and so don't need contraception; and (b) the recession has made "accidents" too difficult to proceed with. The first part makes women seem idiotic. The second is extremely interesting – but completely impossible to prove.
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service reports that four in 10 women aged over 40 who went for an abortion over three years were not using contraception. This is compared with fewer than one in three 20- to 24-year-olds. I can see why you would look at these statistics and think: "Ah yes, I see. Older women assume they can't get pregnant. But they can! Younger women are less likely to think like that."The British Pregnancy Advisory Service reports that four in 10 women aged over 40 who went for an abortion over three years were not using contraception. This is compared with fewer than one in three 20- to 24-year-olds. I can see why you would look at these statistics and think: "Ah yes, I see. Older women assume they can't get pregnant. But they can! Younger women are less likely to think like that."
But what's the real agenda here? Josephine Quintavalle, of the campaign group Comment on Reproductive Ethics, gives us a clue: "Women have lost touch with the nature of human reproduction. Women need more information about their own biology. Not everything can be fixed with a trip to the chemist for the abortion pill or to the IVF clinic." Here's the message, then: shame on those ignorant women who thought they could "fix everything" with their happy-go-lucky "trip".But what's the real agenda here? Josephine Quintavalle, of the campaign group Comment on Reproductive Ethics, gives us a clue: "Women have lost touch with the nature of human reproduction. Women need more information about their own biology. Not everything can be fixed with a trip to the chemist for the abortion pill or to the IVF clinic." Here's the message, then: shame on those ignorant women who thought they could "fix everything" with their happy-go-lucky "trip".
In this instance I'm not sure that women do need more information. I think they need to be respected, assumed to have a brain and a conscience, and left to live their lives as they choose. They are not picking out special outfits and matching luggage for their "trip". They really aren't. (To be clear: I'm personally not pro-abortion. I'm pro-choice.)In this instance I'm not sure that women do need more information. I think they need to be respected, assumed to have a brain and a conscience, and left to live their lives as they choose. They are not picking out special outfits and matching luggage for their "trip". They really aren't. (To be clear: I'm personally not pro-abortion. I'm pro-choice.)
It's disturbing that we are focusing on something as small as a 6% rise and attributing this to women's supposed ignorance. In 2012 there were 7,737 abortions carried out for women aged between 40 and 44; in 2002 this figure had been 6,531. What does this increase prove? Maybe women are having more sex than they did in 2002. Maybe they are happy to take the risk of getting pregnant, and then realise it's a mistake for them. Maybe abortion is less stigmatised. Maybe there are multiple socioeconomic and cultural factors that could all very easily combine to explain this very modest increase. Crazy thought, I know. It's disturbing that we are focusing on something as small as a 6% rise for women over 35 and attributing this to supposed ignorance. For women aged between 40 and 44 there was admittedly a bigger rise: 7,737 abortions in 2012, increasing from 6,531 in 2002. But what does this prove? Maybe women are having more sex than they did in 2002. Maybe they are happy to take the risk of getting pregnant, and then realise it's a mistake for them. Maybe abortion is less stigmatised. Maybe there are multiple socioeconomic and cultural factors that could all very easily combine to explain this modest increase. Crazy thought, I know.
The reality is that women know that their fertility falls sharply after 35. But they also know that is not the same as being infertile. We only have to look around us to see the evidence. I do not know any women over the age of 35 who, because they weren't using contraception, have had an abortion. I do know of plenty of "accident" babies who have stretched their parents' finances to the limit during the recession. And I know many women over the age of 40 who have had babies.The reality is that women know that their fertility falls sharply after 35. But they also know that is not the same as being infertile. We only have to look around us to see the evidence. I do not know any women over the age of 35 who, because they weren't using contraception, have had an abortion. I do know of plenty of "accident" babies who have stretched their parents' finances to the limit during the recession. And I know many women over the age of 40 who have had babies.
In idealistic terms, of course no one wants an abortion to take place. But people must be allowed to make mistakes in their lives. The interpretation of this data is another way to demean and to judge. It's also a dangerous distraction. In 2012 there were 12,873 abortions performed on girls aged under 18. This is the age group we should be protecting and listening to. These are the women we should be talking to about contraception and knowing your own body. Older women can look after themselves. Don't belittle their hard-won choices – or their ability to make them.In idealistic terms, of course no one wants an abortion to take place. But people must be allowed to make mistakes in their lives. The interpretation of this data is another way to demean and to judge. It's also a dangerous distraction. In 2012 there were 12,873 abortions performed on girls aged under 18. This is the age group we should be protecting and listening to. These are the women we should be talking to about contraception and knowing your own body. Older women can look after themselves. Don't belittle their hard-won choices – or their ability to make them.
• The sixth paragraph of this article was amended on 13 May to clarify a confusion over the 6% rise mentioned