I’d like to thank the Alligator for the coverage of the abortion speakout sponsored by the Gainesville chapter of National Women’s Liberation.
The article left out parts of my testimony that were crucial to fully understanding the experience of having an abortion. It was my brief pregnancy that made me feel lonely and terrified, not the abortion. After my abortion, I felt tremendous relief. Yes, my medical abortion was physically painful, but nowhere near as painful as giving birth. The entire experience was not as bad as I had imagined, and I have no regrets, a sentiment echoed by every woman who spoke out at the event.
Facing an unwanted pregnancy is terrifying. If I had no option but to endure the full pregnancy, the terror would have only intensified, as would have my feeling of isolation and desperation to have some control over my body and my future. I am now a mother of two, and I know how emotionally and physically exhausting pregnancy can be. No woman ever should be forced to continue a pregnancy she does not feel “ready” for. Yet, women’s options continue to be limited more and more by the state legislature, and we need to make our voices heard.
Editor's Note: This letter refers to this previous article.
