Real Life

His side: a man’s perspective on abortion

Writing into The Weekly this Australian man explains how abortion affects men too.

“My ex-girlfriend wasn’t even 18 years old the first time, neither was I.

It wasn’t even that her mother would have been against abortion. it was that she would have know we were sleeping together. I didn’t have any money, neither did she, but her sister was supportive in that respect. We took a cab, as I didn’t have a car to drive her home. She told her mum she wasn’t feeling well and we went to her room so she could rest.

The second visit, about 18 months later was much the same as the first. A little less daunting, but just as worrying.

The third appointment was for my current girlfriend, I actually just now had to ask her if we had been to the clinic once or twice. She wasn’t fazed by my lack of memory.

All I did was sit in a room. The waiting room. I wasn’t having a procedure, my name wasn’t being called to see the doctor. I was there to support my partner. She was strong, she got through it, there were some tears and mixed emotions, but we made the right choice for us. Twice.

Every time a couple goes to an abortion clinic there is good reason. My first girlfriend and I were far too young to support a child, we both still lived at home, had no real income plus we were a terrible couple, I don’t think we made it a week without breaking up and getting back together. We both knew that a child between us was the worst possible idea.

My current girlfriend and I knew that we couldn’t support a child monetarily. If we are to ever have children I don’t want them to be restricted by a lack of money. We have fun together, going to events with friends and family, watching other people try and stop their kids from eating dog poo. It just wasn’t the right time for us to have a kid, and having that option is an amazing thing.

Abortion is something that if not available could ultimately create an extremely negative environment for a child growing up in.

There are enough children living in terrible conditions as it is. I’m just glad I didn’t have to put an unwanted child through an unwanted situation. And I know neither my previous partner, or my current partner would have wanted to raise a child without being able to give them all the opportunities they possibly could.”

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