I
was reading a few pages of the latest novel from my to-be-read stack this
morning, when an interesting thought about abortion came to mind.
The
book in question, “When in Doubt, Add Butter” by Beth Harbison, isn’t really
all that well written, I’m sorry to say. The character’s thoughts and
philosophies often contradict themselves and Harbison uses a lot of run-on
sentences that muddle up the story’s flow.
(Incidentally,
this critique is coming from someone who used to consider herself the queen of
run-on sentences. Apparently, I’ve been deposed.)
Yet
the last few pages presented some interesting philosophical thoughts to
consider, including a few on abortion. Because, you see, the main character
shares how she got pregnant at 17.
Her
boyfriend was less than supportive and told her to “take care of it.” Yet,
despite how scared and lost she felt, she kept the baby anyway.
Now
I’m a bookworm. I read a lot of books every year. Modern fiction, fantasy,
sci-fi, historical, mystery, chicklit… You name it and I’ve probably been there,
read that.
Even
so, I can’t say I’ve ever read a novel where abortion was referred to in
glowing terms. Which is surprising, considering how the theme of unwanted
pregnancies is hardly underused.
Almost
always, if a character does get inconveniently pregnant, she ends up keeping
the baby. If not, then she loses it through natural means instead of murder. In
one case that comes to mind, she’s forced into a doctor’s hands by bad parents.
In
fact, I can only think of a single book where a main character – or a character
at all – came even close to thinking it a good thing. Sadly, I can’t remember
the name of this novel, but I remember the heroine being forcibly given something
to end her pregnancy and then doling out similar drugs to more willing women,
feeling badly every time she did.
But
why?
If
abortion is such a beautiful option, a right women are supposed to claim
regardless of whether we ever actually act on it or not, then why doesn’t our
entertainment reflect such notions? Why don’t we depict our heroines as proudly
or even casually walking up to their local abortion clinics fetus-bound and
walking out free and happy?
Why
isn’t it a commonplace feature in comedies and dramas alike?
Maybe
it’s because abortion is such a decided horror that it takes a decidedly
horrible person to even think about putting it out there as anything but what
it really is.
Which
is murder.
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