MRI Mejia
Speeches:
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Is there possible sexism in termination of
pergnancy decision-making?
Mejı´a, MRI
Centro de Atencio´n Integral a la Pareja, A. C, Mexico
In April 2007 voluntary termination of pregnancy (TOP) up to
week 12 of gestation was legalised in Mexico City. Since its
decriminalisation we have observed at least four hegemonic
attitudes in male sexual partners with respect to reproductive and
contraceptive decision-making in the medical services of Centro
de Atencio´n Integral a la Pareja, A. C: (i) those who go with their
partner and support the decision; (ii) the ones who decide and
pressure their partner, (iii) those who do not support the decision
and do not go with their partner in order to prevent her from
having an abortion and (iv) those who do not support the
decision but who go with their partner.
There is insufficient research on the subject of males’ role in
reproductive decision-making and its implications on males’
subjectivities and in their partners’ bonding. This study responds
to the following questions: In what circumstances do men support
or deny women’s decision-making? What is the perception of
women regarding their partners’ participation in the process?
Within the context of legalisation and in light of new ways of
sexual and loving bonding practices, is it important to integrate
males and create friendly services that allow people to express
their needs and emotions without abuse. Is it fundamental, as
well, to review their contributions to the process of women’s
citizenship within this context? This study acknowledges the
fundamental role of men in the processes undergone by women,
despite the lack of services to integrate and strengthen the
democratic advance in equity contexts. -
Taking care of teenage termination of pregnancy
during the second trimester of pregnancy with
solidarity
Zavala, AMC; Mejı´a, MRI; Zavala, AMC
Centro de Atencio´n Integral a la Pareja, A. C, Mexico
If we think that termination of pregnancy (TOP) within the
second trimester is only an issue of public policy or legality, we
would minimise a more complex problem of a sexual modern age.
If we consider that TOP within the second trimester of pregnancypresents a higher morbi-mortality risk than the first trimester of
pregnancy, we could think that it is urgent to create alternative
spaces to facilitate access to services for a teenage population. It is
also urgent to train well prepared professionals to prioritise this
topic within the present conditions of poor countries or emerging
citizenships with sensibility. However, the tendency of legal
openness–modern and conservative–has set important limits in
order to reduce this phenomenon. Most research focuses on
service providers and moral codes that rule contemporary science
instead of focusing on the women who take advantage of those
services. In this paper we will present the results of a qualitative
and quantitative analysis of 100 teenagers who had a TOP in both
clinics of the Centro de Atencio´n Integral a la Pareja, A. C. during
the second trimester within a legal context where a woman’s
decision is only possible up to week 12. This will lead us to
discuss and contribute the teenagers’ experiences living in contexts
of vulnerability which include legal restrictions, stigmatisation,
and a lack of recognition of women as people in charge of their
lives and sexuality.