Latinas and Choice

Tue22Jan2008

11:00 H | Topics: Activism - Blogs - Health - Latin America - Politics - Religion - Women

Today is the 35th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision, which basically overturned all state and federal laws outlawing or restricting abortion and allowed abortions for any reason a woman chooses up until the fetus is potentially able to live outside the womb. ‘Viable,’ that is, potentially able to live outside the mother's womb. As a woman of color, more specifically a Puerto Rican/Latina, the debate is a little more complicated. My choice is about choosing to have a child and how, as much as it is about choosing not to have a child.

Some reports claim that abortions are disproportionately higher among black women and Latina women, although looking through the confusing CDC data, I don't see that supported.

It is widely assumed that Latino culture in general, is dominated by Christian values, among these, that pre-martial sex is a no-no (nenas buenas no abren las piernas). But when it does happen, abortion is still seen as an option, even if it's not spoken about until it's too late. Same goes for contraception. Most of the time, their is a culture of silence, and when someone comes home pregnant often the question is asked, por'que no te cuidaste?, why didn't you take care of yourself (use contraception). Sadly, this is often the first time a daughter will hear any talk of contraception from her mother.

My own mother, who came here from Puerto Rico, and who considers herself a modern "U.S." women, never mentioned contraception or abortion until I was a single woman and pregnant. All that was said, when she realized I was having sex as a teen, was, don't come home with a baby.

So the choice debate foe Latinas isn't just about having access to affordable abortions, but more importantly perhaps, having access to affordable contraception and sex education in Latino communities, especially when so many of our ranks are uninsured (have you seen the prices for birth control pills, for example) and when there is still a machista attitude about women and the role of maternity.

But then there are issues with birth control and choice and how when throwing in race, people feel that Latina women, or women of color in general, especially if we are poor women of color, shouldn't be having any more babies to begin with, especially if we are single. So while white single female television characters are hailed among feminists for choosing to become mothers, single Latina women who make the same choice are labeled irresponsible and expected to become a public charge. If you are an undocumented Latina, and choose to have a child in the United States, your baby is dehumanized along with mami, and becomes an anchor baby.

Historically, women of color have been urged to sterilize themselves, usually with some form of force or coercion. All we need to do is look at the "operations" performed in the U.S. colony of Puerto Rico or movements that pay women to get implanted birth control or sterilized.

So for Latinas , we have to defend our right to have children and not to have children, on our own terms.

Via/ Salt Lake City Tribune, Center for Disease Control