Excellent.

Monica:

>> Pregnancy and motherhood are difficult at the best of times. Women carry the weight of huge expectations, and risk harsh collective judgment if they fail to live up to them. They don't need more reasons to feel guilty and judged. <<

Fully agree.

We sure as hell don't B/S like this:

"Family First Senator Steve Fielding has been condemned by other senators for suggesting women might have an abortion after 20 weeks to try to claim paid parental leave."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/16/2928399.htm?section=justin

While Warwick Marsh continues to throw hissy fits, women continue to be penalised for whatever we do and whatever we don't. *

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* No, not by everyone (lest I be accused of generalising), but by many who are far too influential in our community and really should be better informed.

Yes, an excellent article, and so true.

While all pregnant women should be mindful of proven threats to their foetus (eg german measles, smoking or excessive alcohol), they should not be approached by an unrelated Joe-Blow from the street to be told how to live their pregnant life.

Severin, I too was angry at Senator Fielding suggesting pregnant women would try to get the baby bonus or maternity payment by having late term abortions.

Using the wonderful news about paid maternity leave for Australian parents as a platform to push his anti-abortion barrow, is lower than an ants knee.

Apart from that, it is actually extremely difficult to procure an abortion after 20 weeks unless there is a proven abnormality with the baby or a severe health problem for the mother

"A pregnant friend of mine was recently reprimanded by a male colleague when she ordered a salad in a restaurant" Exactly how was it worded and said? Was this the sort of reprimand that only women are allowed to get offended over? As Severin said,"women continue to be penalised for whatever we do and whatever we don't." Everyone gets unsolicited advice. We do women no favours by socialising them to get angry over what is an unavoidable part of every person's existence.

Oh boo hoo . Feminist love to give advise so it won't hurt them to at least listen to a bit occasionally.

"A pregnant friend of mine was recently reprimanded by a male colleague when she ordered a salad in a restaurant, on the grounds of the listeria risk."

That is the sole reason for this storm in a teacup?

Since when did pregnant women become so befuddled and vulnerable that they can't reject unsolicited advice even where well intentioned?

In any event it would be the very rare man, a fool in fact, who would presume to give a pregnant woman advice. Just where has he been living for the past thirty years?

The hysteria about 'guilt' is lost on me. If guilt comes from anywhere is from within and without a doubt the main advice and opinion givers are other women. Then there is the competition between women that comes into play wherever maternity, babies and children are concerned. Men wisely hide from those exchanges of volleys.

Runner <" Oh boo hoo . Feminist love to give advise so it won't hurt them to at least listen to a bit occasionally."

Really?
Since when has it only been feminists that become pregnant Runner, or is it the fall of christian politician Mr. Fielding that you are upset about?

Suzie you really give me a good laugh.

'Since when has it only been feminists that become pregnant Runner, or is it the fall of christian politician Mr. Fielding that you are upset about?'

I have not heard about the fall of Mr Fielding. Hopefully he is still speaking for the unborn babies something feminist in their selfishness fail to do.

I am glad to have given you a laugh Runner! It will make a change for you anyway.

Steven Fielding has written his own political demise by his recent disgusting comments- remember, more than half the voters are female.

C'mon you people - get with it. Haven't you been listening.

Feminists don't get pregnant. They hate men, all men are evil - how would they ever let one get close enough to get pregnant.

:P

Lol Pelican!
But I beg to differ.

The latest anti-feminist rants have included some little gems about the apparently current feminist conspiracy to make babies without men!

Now, we all know we can mix up a baby in a lab, using an egg and some sperm, however, that sperm has to come from a man doesn't it (so to speak :))?

I hope it doesn't catch on though, coz I rather like the old-fashioned methods.

I wonder how long feminist fight for the right to murder the unborn in their womb even though they went to a lab for it.

Abortion in Australia is legal Runner.
It's time you got over what is essentially none of your business.

suzi

'Abortion in Australia is legal Runner.'

So is freedom of speech. Its time you accepted that.

Excellent Runner!
I will if you will.

Haha I'm kind of with runner on this one!! when he said it's okay for feminists to listen to advice for a change, that is.

I get a little bored of women repackaging the most universal physical experiences of women / people/ societies (sex, pregnancy) and offering up their new-found 'wisdom' on the subject. If I want pregnancy and sex conversation, I could ask my Mum, or any neighbour.

I wish women writers would more often bite off the harder-edged topics. Like... the lack of facilities for women giving birth in other places in the world, for example. Other women, in other regions, have much harder pregnancies that Monica.

Can we talk about fistulas now?