What can Miranda do to help her avoid needing to consider abortion in her future?
Women who have had one abortion often go on to have another, or several, thinking each time that they will never have to do it again. They are reproductively vulnerable, and may not know why, or what to do to make themselves less vulnerable. They need protection, but do not know how to provide it for themselves.
What does Miranda need that she can provide for herself, and how can she provide it?
What can you do to help future Mirandas avoid having to consider abortion?
Some possibilities:
--If you are a parent.
You can relate to all your children in ways that encourage and strengthen their sense of self respect and self protection. You can avoid having a "target" or scapegoat in your family by refusing to dump our own problems on other people. You can teach your daughters to say no to anyone whenever it's not in their own best interest to say yes or to simply aquiesce.
--If you are an educator.
You can take seriously your power to damage your students, refusing to use taunts, reverse psychology, or other esteem damaging tactics. You can provide education that informs children about reproduction and responsibility.
--If you are a minister or religious leader.
You can avoid in your teaching creating two classes of people, male and female, with different rules for each. You can teach personal responsibility for one's own behavior whether male or female. You can show value for women by not restricting or diminishing their participation or expectations in home, religious environment, or society.
--If you are a legislator.
You can support laws that provide for women and children's welfare without penalizing them either directly or indirectly.
--If you are in the medical field.
You can support respectful and open discussion of reproductive information with all people of reproductive age. You can be sensitive and kind to those in vulnerable situations.
You can provide full information about reproductive choices in an unbiased and supportive manner.
What can your organization do now to help future Mirandas?
What project, personal or organizational, can you begin now, that you can take action on today to help future Mirandas?
Please share your comments and suggestions.
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