Quebec, Canada's Abortion Capital
Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday to meeee, happy birthday to me! Since it is my birthday today I thought I would write a blog in support of all those little people who have never had the opportunity to celebrate a birthday. I also realize that by doing this, there may be some bloggers out there who will take this opportunity to point out that my blog is a justification for unlimited access to abortion, but, so be it.
A recent article in Canada’s obstetrics and gynecological journal stated that the abortion rate in Quebec was ten times higher than the rest of Canada for a corresponding “at risk” age group. In addition the article stated that within one year, forty percent of the women under twenty five having their first abortion would have a second abortion! Even more astounding was the premise that they would solve this problem with a new education program. I found the entire article simply incredible! No one seemed to be asking the questions as to WHY Quebec had this incredibly high abortion rate. Was there evidence that the women getting pregnant didn’t know about birth control pills (they’ve been around for forty years), do they not have access to condoms, are they not aware of STD”S, AIDS, etc.? Do condomes and birth control pills cost more in Quebec? Certainly the forty percent that got pregnant within the first year of having their first abortion should have known pregnancy can result as a consequence of sexual activity. Possibly they thought if you did it for pleasure instead of procreation, pregnancy wouldn’t occur!
This clearly is a sociological problem that needs investigation and I would think provides a huge opportunity for sociological research. You can’t address a problem without knowing something about the underlying determinants that contribute to that particular behavior. Quebec at one time was a strongly Catholic province. Has the Church lost its influence? Or is its’ influence now limited to birth control and not sexual activity. It certainly seems to have lost its negative influence on abortion. Is their abortion rate a reflection of general attitudes that prevail in Quebec and not the rest of Canada? Can this be equated to morality in any way? Perhaps Quebec is truly a separate country in many ways in addition to language. They claim their culture is unique---is their abortion rate part of their uniqueness and what else does it say about that uniqueness? This issue should be a sociologist’s paradise. Good scientific research could shed valuable light on an issue that most Canadians are struggling with-----how can we reduce the number of abortions in Canada without taking away the women’s right to choose? How can we as a compassionate society encourage the prevention of unwanted pregnancies and discourage the use of abortion as a contraceptive? These are common goals for which we can all strive, but it will never happen as long as our scientific bodies keep throwing out that wonderful placebo “education” instead of doing good sociological research. And it would seem that good scientific research is always trumped by the taboos of discussing and investigating the “off limits” areas of abortion and Medicare.
A recent article in Canada’s obstetrics and gynecological journal stated that the abortion rate in Quebec was ten times higher than the rest of Canada for a corresponding “at risk” age group. In addition the article stated that within one year, forty percent of the women under twenty five having their first abortion would have a second abortion! Even more astounding was the premise that they would solve this problem with a new education program. I found the entire article simply incredible! No one seemed to be asking the questions as to WHY Quebec had this incredibly high abortion rate. Was there evidence that the women getting pregnant didn’t know about birth control pills (they’ve been around for forty years), do they not have access to condoms, are they not aware of STD”S, AIDS, etc.? Do condomes and birth control pills cost more in Quebec? Certainly the forty percent that got pregnant within the first year of having their first abortion should have known pregnancy can result as a consequence of sexual activity. Possibly they thought if you did it for pleasure instead of procreation, pregnancy wouldn’t occur!
This clearly is a sociological problem that needs investigation and I would think provides a huge opportunity for sociological research. You can’t address a problem without knowing something about the underlying determinants that contribute to that particular behavior. Quebec at one time was a strongly Catholic province. Has the Church lost its influence? Or is its’ influence now limited to birth control and not sexual activity. It certainly seems to have lost its negative influence on abortion. Is their abortion rate a reflection of general attitudes that prevail in Quebec and not the rest of Canada? Can this be equated to morality in any way? Perhaps Quebec is truly a separate country in many ways in addition to language. They claim their culture is unique---is their abortion rate part of their uniqueness and what else does it say about that uniqueness? This issue should be a sociologist’s paradise. Good scientific research could shed valuable light on an issue that most Canadians are struggling with-----how can we reduce the number of abortions in Canada without taking away the women’s right to choose? How can we as a compassionate society encourage the prevention of unwanted pregnancies and discourage the use of abortion as a contraceptive? These are common goals for which we can all strive, but it will never happen as long as our scientific bodies keep throwing out that wonderful placebo “education” instead of doing good sociological research. And it would seem that good scientific research is always trumped by the taboos of discussing and investigating the “off limits” areas of abortion and Medicare.
posted by Al | 10:11 AM
6 Comments:
Happy Birthday!
Very well said. It's heartening to know that others are willing to look at the issue from a social standpoint...
Doctors, unlike lawyers, avoid confrontation. It is one of our faults/pluses depending on the subject and one's perspective. Generally, we avoid controversy and by nature and training prefer things that are scientific and have less emotional impact. I would guess that most doctors are basically very uncomfortable with abortion but we are not the bravest lot either.
I feel really proud about the tittle of my city, abortion is the last hope of all those free spirit who wants to avoid little problem Viva Quebec!
Sexual education does combat abortion rates significantly. Quebec is one of the only provinces without universal sex education. That means generations are growing up and have grown up not knowing all types of contraception, and other need to know facts about pregnancy and sexual health. The fact that sex Ed is so lacking speaks really well about the rate.
Anonymous, you miss the point. Education is thrown out there as the "answer". It may be a factor but I'm sure there are many factors and if you throw one thing out as the answer and think addressing one factor solves the problem you likely will be spinning your wheels.
Al
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