Comments on: Reproductive Health and Partner Violence http://feministsforchoice.com/reproductive-health-and-partner-violence.htm Pro-choice and Proud! Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:02:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: María http://feministsforchoice.com/reproductive-health-and-partner-violence.htm/comment-page-1#comment-3126 María Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:38:54 +0000 http://feministsforchoice.com/?p=846#comment-3126 I once had an abusive boyfriend who practically incarcerated me in his room, and didn´t want me to have any contraception. I got pregnant and had an abortion, but had to do it behind his back, or he'd become violent. I even had to involve the police, becouse he wouldn´t accept me leaving him and would follow me everywhere. His stupid theory was that if I had the baby, I wouldn´t leave him and he would control me, which to a certain extent was true, because it would be very difficult for me to do that on my own. I had to be really determined to get my way, and even get another partner who forcibly opposed me, because he was a real pain in the butt. I got rid of him, but it was a very long process. I once had an abusive boyfriend who practically incarcerated me in his room, and didn´t want me to have any contraception. I got pregnant and had an abortion, but had to do it behind his back, or he’d become violent. I even had to involve the police, becouse he wouldn´t accept me leaving him and would follow me everywhere. His stupid theory was that if I had the baby, I wouldn´t leave him and he would control me, which to a certain extent was true, because it would be very difficult for me to do that on my own. I had to be really determined to get my way, and even get another partner who forcibly opposed me, because he was a real pain in the butt. I got rid of him, but it was a very long process.

]]> By: Janice http://feministsforchoice.com/reproductive-health-and-partner-violence.htm/comment-page-1#comment-283 Janice Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:51:14 +0000 http://feministsforchoice.com/?p=846#comment-283 Thank you so much for reading! I think a lot of women become talked into giving up their dreams for the 'good of the children' but in reality, there is a lot of coercion from their partner involved. I also hope that this new focus on violence and reproductive health will help to end the glorification of teen pregnancy. Thank you so much for reading!
I think a lot of women become talked into giving up their dreams for the ‘good of the children’ but in reality, there is a lot of coercion from their partner involved.
I also hope that this new focus on violence and reproductive health will help to end the glorification of teen pregnancy.

]]> By: Aj http://feministsforchoice.com/reproductive-health-and-partner-violence.htm/comment-page-1#comment-281 Aj Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:30:00 +0000 http://feministsforchoice.com/?p=846#comment-281 You are absolutely right on this Janice. Domestic violence hardly ever gets talked about, particulary when it comes to hegemonic control over a woman's reproductive choices. I mean hell, if the government can do - why can't husbands and boyfriends? It's ridiculous and it's disheartening. I actually knew a young woman who suffered from a similar situation to this. She was 18 years old, and getting ready to graduate and head away to college. Her boyfriend, who was three years older than her, was reluctant to even support her decision to leave him for a higher education and an "away from home" college experience. He put a tremendous amount of pressure on her to have unprotected sex, assuring her that he knew what precautionary measures to take in order to prevent any sperm from getting her pregnant. Of course, lack of comprehensive sex education in my high school prevented her from knowing how to react in this kind of situation - and she went along with him thinking that he had her best interest in mind. Of course she later ended up pregnant, giving up school, staying at home while he followed his dreams and aspirations. It just so happens that this same person also turned out to be both verbally and physically abusive later in the relationship. Coincidence? I don't think so. Abuse comes in many different shapes and sizes, and controlling women's reproductive capacity is certainly one of them. You are absolutely right on this Janice. Domestic violence hardly ever gets talked about, particulary when it comes to hegemonic control over a woman’s reproductive choices. I mean hell, if the government can do – why can’t husbands and boyfriends? It’s ridiculous and it’s disheartening.

I actually knew a young woman who suffered from a similar situation to this. She was 18 years old, and getting ready to graduate and head away to college. Her boyfriend, who was three years older than her, was reluctant to even support her decision to leave him for a higher education and an “away from home” college experience. He put a tremendous amount of pressure on her to have unprotected sex, assuring her that he knew what precautionary measures to take in order to prevent any sperm from getting her pregnant. Of course, lack of comprehensive sex education in my high school prevented her from knowing how to react in this kind of situation – and she went along with him thinking that he had her best interest in mind. Of course she later ended up pregnant, giving up school, staying at home while he followed his dreams and aspirations.

It just so happens that this same person also turned out to be both verbally and physically abusive later in the relationship. Coincidence? I don’t think so.

Abuse comes in many different shapes and sizes, and controlling women’s reproductive capacity is certainly one of them.

]]> By: Annaleigh http://feministsforchoice.com/reproductive-health-and-partner-violence.htm/comment-page-1#comment-271 Annaleigh Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:16:15 +0000 http://feministsforchoice.com/?p=846#comment-271 Great post, thank you! Great post, thank you!

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