On 9/30/06, Michael Perelman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I wonder how many women abort babies because of exposure to toxic chemicals? Are there any figures on this?
Very few, probably. Most Important Reason Given for Terminating an Unwanted Pregnancy Concern for/responsibility to other individuals 74% Cannot afford a baby now 73% A baby would interfere with school/ employment/ability to care for dependents 69% Would be a single parent/ having relationship problems 48% Has completed childbearing 38% Reasons for Abortions After 16 Weeks Since Last Menstrual Period Woman did not realize she was pregnant 71% Difficulty making arrangements for abortion 48% Afraid to tell parents or partner 33% Needed time to make decision 24% Hoped relationship would change 8% Pressure not to have abortion 8% Something changed during pregnancy 6% Didn't know timing was important 6% Didn't know she could get an abortion 5% Fetal abnormality diagnosed late 2% Other 11% Source: Torres and Forrest, 1988 (1987 data) Only 11.4% of abortions take place after 12 weeks of gestation. It is safe to say that women abort fetuses without finding out if they are abnormal, given their stated reasons and timings of abortions. The above stats are from Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health (PRCH) and the Guttmacher Institute, "An Overview of Abortion in the United States," May, 2006 <http://www.prch.org/med_ed/slides_07_05.ppt>.
I wonder if right to life fanatics would mind if women eliminated unwanted pregnancies by taking jobs in toxic workplaces?
They would love to "protect fetuses" from toxic workplaces by banning women from them altogether, having women who work at toxic workplace undergo mandatory pregnancy tests, or prosecuting women for endangering fetuses by choosing to work in toxic workplaces. -- Yoshie <http://montages.blogspot.com/> <http://mrzine.org> <http://monthlyreview.org/>
