Written in response to “More men need to stand with Planned Parenthood”
Many people say that “abortion is a women’s issue”. Is it?
The short answer is yes…but no. The idea that abortion is solely a women’s issue is an argument rooted in isolation and naivety. Yes, abortion involves women, their bodies and their lives but this does not mean it is an issue that does not concern men. Sorry to say it, abortion concerns men too. It concerns the man who would have been the father. It concerns the father of the woman who is having an abortion and it concerns the men that make up 50% of the population who pays tax to fund our health care system. So in short, yes, men are included in the embryonic equation.
This does not mean that men need to start analysing ovarian content and take up a career in midwifery (but if you are thinking of this career, it’s awesome, trust me) but it does mean men need to start getting involved with the conversation of how they can practically help women experiencing an unplanned or crisis pregnancy. Abortion affects more than just the woman, it is relevant to everyone and therefore men are imperative to the pro-life movement.
But how does a man have a conversation about a topic that they will never go through?
And this is where the pregnancy support centres come in!
Pregnancy support centres are what their name suggests – centres for pregnancy support. These centres provide an avenue for men to be involved with the pro-life movement in a meaningful yet non-intrusive way. The centres can act as a mediator during pre-abortion counselling whereby men can express their feelings in a compassionate way, without being perceived as disrespectful.
While the incredible team of women behind these centres do wonderful work in helping other women from all walks of life, there be some advantages to men being involved too.
From speaking to the women who run these pregnancy support centres, it’s incredibly common that the woman is there because she is having issues in her relationship and therefore does not feel prepared to have a child. To see other men caring and helping at a women’s health centre is symbolic of men being able to care in the first place, in a society that stereotypes men as having no emotions at all. It also allows for greater diversity within support centres as well, which leads to better work place environments and a larger variety of ideas and opinions. Even if you are a man who is on the fence about abortion, no one at pregnancy support clinic is asking. You would just be helping women who ask for help, which is a basic tenet of decency. If you are a man wanting to assist in such situations, these support centres will be able assist you in assisting, sort of like an “assist-ception”!
So here are our top three ways for men to get involved in supporting pregnancy centres:
- Organise a fundraising event for them – fun runs, movie screenings and raffles are always popular
- Ask them what they need help with – repainting the walls, running a dad’s group, making up gift packs for expecting mums
- Spread the word – follow them on social media, tell other dads
It is a great place to start and I strongly encourage any man to help these agencies. It will make a man out of you.
