Each of my grandmothers endured many hardships that I will never have to face. One of these challenges is the burden of compulsory pregnancy. My grandmothers each had 7+ pregnancies resulting in 17 births. In most cases, the amount of time between births was less than 15 months, in some cases it was less than 11 months. While they were both savvy enough to conceive only in wedlock (not commenting on their behavior pre-marriage, but remember that not all women were so fortunate), marriage did not protect them from all of life’s travails.  Each in their own way was burdened by a difficult marriage and the primary responsibility for a passel of children for whom they had to feed, clothe, and educate with limited means. They each worked very very hard to ensure the survival of their children, but survival took most of their efforts.

Many times since I became a parent I have expressed sincere and deep appreciation for my fortune to be able to put off motherhood until I was ready to be the mother I wanted to be. I have the privilege of being a product of this era. I have a husband who works hard right beside me and takes his role as a partner to heart. I have parents who are always available to assist and have given generously of their time and money to ensure that these kids have everything. My reality was not the norm 70 years ago. There were perhaps a limited number of wealthy women who had access to information and paraphenalia who could limit their fertility, but most women lived at the whim of the men around them (as is the case presently in much of the developing world).

Choice is a word that gets thrown around. I am glad that the days of compulsory pregnancy are waning and that I’ve been able to take charge of my fertility. I have the privilege of a broad education, parents who encouraged me to read widely and answered my many questions. I have access to many types of support in my community providing me with information and appurtenances as needed. Not everyone has these advantages therefore I feel it is a necessity in a tolerant society that women control their fertility and have, as a means of controlling their fertility, the ability to choose a safe and legal abortion.

Over the last few years it has become apparent to me that the POTUS has a limited effect on my life. In the past I had rejected other Democratic nominees because they were not liberal enough. I finally realised that true change comes from the bottom up and stopped looking up for that change.  After seeing who has been nominated to the Supreme Court of the United States over the last few decades and under the impression that the next president will appoint at least one justice in his term, I became a one issue voter. Then we saw McCain make his famous air quotes gesture as he spoke in the last debate about the health of the mother. I was even more horrified to consider that he might be president and make those appointments. Any time someone wanted to debate one candidate’s qualifications over the other’s I would revert to my stubborn stance and repeat ‘The next president will likely be making appointments to the SCOTUS and I want the person making those appointments to trust women to make their own decisions.’

I want my daughter to control her fertility. PERIOD.

I want women around the world to enjoy the privilege of choosing when and how they become mothers. We need to extend sex-education, brith control, equal rights, and for now, some women might need the option of abortion. For them it should a safe and legal medical procedure.