For my first required cultural activity for my capstone class,
I attended a film and discussion at the Byrd Legislative Center. The film was
called "Motherless" and it was sponsored by WVFree a reproductive
justice organization in West Virginia that provides services such as
reproductive options and reproduction education for all women and
families.
The film "Motherless" explored the untold stories of
people whose mothers had died from illegal abortions. When I first came to the
Center, I had no idea what the film was going to be about and wa a little
worried when I realized that abortion was the subject matter. Abortion is such
a heavy topic, usually comes under rapid political fire, and so I was worried
just how intense the discussion was going to be. But as the film played, I
realized that the issues of the film went outside the political platform side
of abortion. That there were real people with real issues with abortion that we
neither black nor white. In fact, it showed just how unprepared out political
system is to handle these grey area situations.
"Motherless" put faces to the countless names and
issues of abortion, and added an emotional and thought provoking level to a
such a topic. And regardless of which side of the abortion debate that is lesser
shown and more personal than some people had ever realized, and even though I
am not completely decided on this issue myself, I can say that these women did
not deserve to die. The women in the film were not irresponsible
teenagers looking for a way out, neither were they women who did not want kids.
They were all mothers, who had children, and loved them but felt desperate and
unaware of their reproductive options. It was heart breaking to see that these
women who had felt desperate enough to undergo these illegal abortions because
they felt that they had no other options. Though the movie was geared toward
pro-choice, I think that the underlying issue of reproductive options and
education was far more significant whether or not to have an abortion.
From the movie, I did not judge the women on their actions, I
only hoped that there could have been an alternative solution for these mothers
that did not result in complications or death. I think that society has taken
the issue of abortion and made it too political and and has taken away the
intimacy from an intimate situation. There are many misconceptions that people
think about when they think about women having abortions, there is so much
judgment and not enough understanding.
After the film, there was a discussion in which we were asked
to share our thoughts on the film, and many people felt the same way that I
had, that this was bigger than an abortion issue, it was a reproductive issue.
I know that now, I won't quite look at the issue in the same light. I though
about it myself in a WWYD setting and I ask myself, what could have prevented
this tragedy? What are the bigger issues in the abortion debate? As a woman,
what options do I have for my own reproductive choices? The answer is not
always clear and easy, but it is getting better and stronger for women.
Visit WVFree for more information on their services and mission.
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