Pro-Choice or Pro-Life
By Pushpa Iyer
The abortion debate is back in full force! It had never really gone away. Agreed. But how is this even possible that decades after Roe vs. Wade, the US Supreme Court’s landmark 1973 decision giving women the right to terminate their pregnancy, is this legal ruling at risk of getting reversed? Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and other individual states are racing to signal their excitement for having a say over what a woman can and cannot do and passing laws that no longer respect her right to abortion. There is a lot written about this – see this, this, this, and this article and the debates are not what we want to discuss.
At CC, we are concerned about how this debate will continue in communities, institutions, media, and politics. And unfortunately, here is yet another issue that is going to tear us apart politically, socially, and economically. So here is a list of things we believe are important as we engage with others. Maybe some of it might be useful to you?
Prepare ourselves for a conversation by learning facts about this debate and what others think. For example, read articles like this, this, this, or this.
Shift our binary thinking – pro-life or pro-choice; there may be more nuanced ways we think about this issue, and we might seek laws that appropriately reflect those nuances.
If we are pro-life, we should start by defining the term for ourselves. Then, I should reflect on whether my definition encompasses my responsibilities and actions for life through various stages of the human journey -- stages where a human might reject their own bodies. Are we continuing to be pro-life?
If we are pro-choice, we should define the term, ask if we understand the difference between freedom and choice. Then ask if we can respect the choices of others, especially if their choices are different from ours.
Distinguish between our position (what we state we want), our interests (what we really want), and our values (what drives us).
Discuss interests through clear communication and improve our listening skills.
Articulate our values and beliefs powerfully but look inward to see if we are always staying true to our values and beliefs. Then, have a values-based conversation to find common ground.
Keep in mind the broader consequences of our argument, whether we are pro-life or pro-choice. Never forget the bigger picture because the joy of positioning ourselves for a win is only temporary.
Men and Gods have always had a say on what is best for women. It is time now to make sure we bring women into these conversations and listen to them.