Anne
I knew exactly what I wanted and needed- to be there for my kids, to find a job, to get settled in the new city. Not to have a third child.
It is mandatory in Germany to have a counseling before I could even go to a doctor. It was a very disturbing experience, the person trying to talk me into continuing the pregnancy. Then I struggled to find a doctor tp provide the abortion, run out of time to do it with pills. The doctors and nurses at the private (and expensive) clinic I finally found were treating me like shit, making me listen to the heartbeat against after I had asked them no to etc.
This made me realize what a long way we have to go. Experiencing the partriarchy on/at my own body was a surreal experience. Today I accompany friends and strangers in their abortions to make sure they are safe.
2018 Jerman
the medical procedure is very easy and quick. the way how I was treated was the problem.
Het die onwettigheid van u aborsie u gevoelens beïnvloed?
well it is still illegal here but not persecuted if you do the mandatory counseling and have it before 12 weeks. I could do it in a clinic which is a major privilege but the way how I was treated and how difficult I found the access to be showed very clear that the public opinion and the very fact that it is officially still considered a crime does play a big role.
Hoe het ander mense op u aborsie gereageer?
once I started to share and speak up about my experience, more and more people shared their stories as well. I ended up going on stage and talking about it in a play. reactions from friends and family were positive. my mum told me she had an abortion too when she was my age, had to travel to a different country in the 70s because it was not possible here then.