A Woman’s Right to Bodily Autonomy

An open letter to the Student’s Union at the University of Nottingham

The strategy for the Student Union at The University of Nottingham states:

‘we strive to be equitable, empowering, brave, responsible, and collaborative’.

The union even has a full time Liberation Officer, dedicated to ensuring marginalised students are heard. However, whilst attending an exhibition of Student Union endorsed societies, I discovered the society ‘Students for Life’.

Their claims are ‘(to) work together to encourage others to recognise and rejoice in the humanity of infants in the womb.’ Upon learning of this group associated with the UoN student union, myself and fellow peers were distraught.

When ‘celebrating and cherishing infants in the womb’, an important consideration is disregarded. The mother. Pro-life groups such as ‘Students for Life’ neglect the impact on a woman’s life which comes with motherhood. The quality of life of the individual is disregarded in favour of the unborn child. Women such as Savita Halappanavar are dying due to complications with pregnancy and refusal by countries to allow abortions to be performed. Other women are placed in dangerous and vulnerable situations, unable to afford time away from work and forced out of their homes. Supporters of the Pro-Life movement often look no further then surface level and fail to grasp the impact of their actions on those less privileged than themselves.

In the uk, Women make up just 34% of MPs while in the US the Texas Senate has an all time high of 26% women. These are the individuals elected to represent the people and make decisions on law and policy changes. Laws over abortion disproportionately affect women due to the health risks and societal expectations placed on mothers. Therefore, laws such as the newly passed bill in Texas denying women an abortion after 6 weeks (before many women are even aware they are pregnant), are clearly an attack on women’s rights. The men implementing this ruling are in a privileged position being rich, white men. They do not represent the people in their state and do not understand the hardships many of them face. Misogyny is defined as:

‘A form of sexism used to keep women at a lower social status than men, to maintain the societal roles of patriarchy.’

By denying women access to family planning and abortion whilst also ignoring the growing pressure single mothers face, it is hard not to see this law as the misogynistic ruling it is.

Pro-Life groups create a culture of shame around reproductive health and family planning. Those forced to terminate pregnancy are forced into secrecy for fear of being berated for their decision. Abortion is a choice taken seriously by women, the physical and mental impact of the procedure takes its toll on their wellbeing. These individuals require support and understanding; while pro-life groups shun those who have undergone the procedure. Shame builds barriers to communication, stopping those struggling from seeking help. In cases such as abortion, this can be a risk to woman opting to not seek medical help due to complications. Countless women have lost their lives through inadequate aftercare following abortion. Adding shame to these individuals reduces their chance of seeking medical assistance when needed.

Making abortions illegal does not stop them from being performed. It merely prevents safe abortions. Women are forced to extreme measures in order to prevent motherhood, often at the hands of their abuser. Unsafe abortions have been performed for hundreds of years, only reducing in frequency once safer and regulated options became possible. Desperation, shame and fear are often the main driving force behind such practices. Pro-life groups however, don’t acknowledge this danger when campaigning for criminalisation of abortion, having never listened to the voices of women put in this position. Criminalisation drives women with money to seek the procedure in other countries whilst leaving marginalised communities without resources to perform dangerous procedures in secret. It creates an economic divide between women who can and cannot afford medical care, leaving those already struggling to take on the responsibility of motherhood. This further disadvantages already struggling communities, further increasing the class divide.

Pro-Life groups have no place in a Student Union which has claims of being ‘empowering’ and ‘brave’. Groups such as Students for Life seek to forbid women power over their own bodies, leaving them scared and alone in times of need. Organisations such as these spread misogynistic messages with the intention of keeping women at a lower social status than men by denying them vital healthcare. I strongly urge the Students Union of the University of Nottingham to revoke their endorsement of this society on the grounds of supporting vulnerable women.

Contact me on Linkedin with any questions or discussion surrounding this article. I also have a podcast discussing this issue with other women: Hysterical Woman, available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.