| The subject of abortion is still a hot topic of debate from the house of government to the house of God, but the real challenge arises when the house in question is your own. The right to choose doesn’t make the choice easy.
The Internet is an excellent resource centre, but tread carefully. If you’re overwhelmed and not sure where to begin, try www.prochoiceconnection.com, a site dedicated to walking you through all the options available, with helpful links to adoption sites and clinics that provide abortion services across Canada.
If you are in the Calgary area, you may want to visit cbca.ab.ca. CBCA has been serving the Calgary community as a Sexual and Reproductive Wellness Centre since 1972. In addition to offering confidential pregnancy option counselling, CBCA provides free pregnancy tests. For those wishing to play an active role in the pro-choice community, volunteer opportunities are available and charitable donations are gratefully accepted.
One thing to be mindful of when searching online for pro-choice resources are the misleading "anti-choice" sites. These are sites that offer information on adoption and abortion, but with a bias. Abortion procedures are described in graphic language, using words designed to elicit a specific emotional response, while parenthood is glossed over as simply one of life’s greatest surprises. This is the unfortunate case at prochoice.com – it claims to be empowering women when it is really manipulating them. Women should be aware of what is taking place with an abortion procedure, but with medical terminology and health risks specifically related to their own situation. These sites are particularly harmful to women reluctant to seek professional help who fear they may be judged for their actions.
Women’s groups and organizations are working at narrowing the gap of misinformation by creating programs that support a woman’s right to choose. Recently, the Pro-Choice Public Education Project co-sponsored one of the first film festivals to "celebrate reproductive health and rights." Screenings were held in Los Angeles, Seattle and at Yale University in New Haven, with supplemental learning materials focused on generating discussion. More details are available at rightscameraaction.net. |
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