Anonymous wrote:Given all the testing that is available and given what is a somewhat socially permissive "choice" culture, it seems to me that families are kind of, I don't know... pressured maybe? To abort a child who tests as having Down Syndrome. I am pro-choice as a policy stance, don't get me wrong, but I am not "pro abortion" as a socio-cultural stance.
When I hear of people say that they'll attempt to get pregnant but will abort if a Trisomy 21 abnormality presents itself in the pregnancy, I get veeeeeery, um, well, very sad. Depressed.
And I almost get the sense that many people would look at a parent of a child with a chromosomal abnormality and think: "Why didn't you get tested? And if it came up positive, why didn't you abort?" As if it's almost a social--or even moral?--responsibility to do so.
I don't know where I'm going with this. Nowhere, really. Maybe just to say that it makes sense that if having a child with a chromosomal abnormality terrifies you (whether for selfish reasons or "for the sake of the child") then it makes total sense not to attempt pregnancy at all, or at least avoid it when the chances of this happening skyrocket.
As a pro-choice feminist with a brother with Downs I cannot agree more. That kid is the happiest most joyful person I know, and brings much joy to those around. I hate that people think that they must have this genetically "perfect" child. Don't get me wrong, severe abnormalities, I understand.