Heartbeats and Clashes (snapshot four)

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 30 January 2006 21:40:45

Our journey now reaches the mid 90's and moves location. The uncomfortable struggles of the previous entries are a thing of the past and a new dual identity is being forged, as wife and student.I have finally achieved the synthesis of roles and a balance between the "non-gendered" path to a career and the fully feminine role as a wife.

However, the balance is delicate and it is not long before yet again there is a clash of ideologies; this time between the choices presented by radical feminism and the moral teachings of the church. The arguments are presented as simple, each side believing they have the absolute right, but it is more complicated. The radical feminists talk of a womans right to choose and the church talks of a childs right to life in between the rhetoric are real people, making real decisions, dealing with real feelings,each needing protection.

So it was that I confused the GP as I sat in the surgery for my first check up after finding out I was expecting Third Party. I was in my second year at uni, and whilst married it was clear that I was not over the moon at the recent discovery - it didn't fit in with my plans. However, it was also clear that I was not distraught or about to request to exercise my "right" to choose. I was apparently not displaying either of the "normal" reactions and so the GP decided to question my reaction.

I explained that I didn't want an abortion, more than I wasn't particularly happy about the pregnancy. She enquired why, I replied something about it being because of my faith. The GP in turn voiced her opinion I would need that faith. To me the whole situation appears to illustrate the polarity of opinions we now have between the competing ideologies, which cannot understand each other. For the record, I believe that a woman must at the end of the day be protected by legislation which stops those in desperate situations being forced into back street, unregulated situations, but at the same time all other options must be open, explored and if possible taken.

Anyway in my case I yet again benefitted from a support system which enabled me to continue to have it all - for the moment.