Raising Feminists #3
The panel at Raising Feminists #3
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There's a referendum coming in Ireland, on May 25th. You might have heard it being referred to as a referendum on abortion. This is not strictly true. It is a referendum to repeal an amendment which removes a person's human rights on pregnancy. You don't need to be in favour of abortion , to vote yes for Repeal, you need to be in favour of compassion.
This is Ireland:
1992. A girl, aged 14, raped by a friend of the family. Pregnant, unable to access abortion in Ireland, her parents plan for her to travel to England. They tell their local Gardai, enquiring about paternity testing on the aborted foetus in the case against the accused rapist. The Gardai inform the Director of Public Prosecutions and the case is escalated to the Attorney General. The girl is forbidden to travel, and having already done so, she and her parents return to Ireland. Despite the suicide risk to the pregnant teenager, a judge in the High Court deemed the greater risk was to the foetus. In an appeal, this decision was overturned and the girl was permitted to travel for an abortion. She miscarried whilst in England.
Savita Halappanavaar. Pregnant with a much wanted child, sadly miscarrying in a hospital in Galway. Her health rapidly deteriorating, and although the foetus was no longer viable, whilst there was a foetal heartbeat doctors were unable to perform any medical interventions which would have saved Savita's life. Savita died in 2012.
A married couple, parents, given the devastating news that the foetus they were carrying had a condition that was incompatible with life. Their choices are no choices at all. Carry on, in Ireland, waiting. Knowing your child will not live outside the womb, having to smile and nod when people ask when you're due, what you're having. Or travel to the UK, and carry the remains of your longed for child home with you on a RyanAir flight.
All these things and more are happening because of the eighth amendment. If we want to stop stories like this, if we want to stop this suffering, we have to vote to repeal the eighth amendment. Compassion is all you need, to vote yes for Repeal. #togetherforyes
Me and my gal and our plaid shirts.
Happy Saturday folks. May you be as joyful as a four year old with a new t shirt and leggings and her brother’s hand me down hoodie.
Haven’t done one of these for a while , but the sun is shining and I’m heading into town to the theatre with my lovely mother in law @kearnph , so here is my face.
One week today ! So much looking forward to talking to these brilliant women about raising feminists and how to talk about abortion and the repeal campaign with children. A few tickets left #linkinbio #repealthe8th @sarahjaybee @itscherrysue @gonnaeatalotofpeaches @thetalk.ie
And let that be the end of it. #nomoresnowphotos
Going , going , gone.
The fringe getting ready for Paddy’s day nice and early.
This is a three week warning *Raising Feminists for Repeal* talking about all things feminist parenting including how to talk about abortion and the eighth amendment with children in the run up to the referendum. More guests TBA. https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/raising-feminists-for-repeal-tickets-43401356626 #repealthe8th
