Indian “voluntary” population control
You know how population control campaigners are often concerned about women having “reproductive choice”? The choice to plan their families and to use contraceptives?
For example the Gates Foundation’s website says this:
However, when it comes to voluntary family planning services, how much in third world countries really means paying women (or their families) to have long-term contraceptive/sterlisiation services that take away the opportunity for women to do the most wonderful thing that they can – to become mothers? And I wonder how many women undergoing these procedures are doing so without full knowledge or meaningful consent?
I ask these questions after reading this article from the AsiaNews website about the Indian sterilisation programme. What is the real face of sterilisation programmes that are giving women back their “freedom”?
“We focus on stimulating demand for and providing high-quality, affordable, and voluntary family planning information, services, and supplies in these communities, primarily through the Urban Reproductive Health Initiative in Uttar Pradesh, India, and in Nigeria, Kenya, and Senegal.”
However, when it comes to voluntary family planning services, how much in third world countries really means paying women (or their families) to have long-term contraceptive/sterlisiation services that take away the opportunity for women to do the most wonderful thing that they can – to become mothers? And I wonder how many women undergoing these procedures are doing so without full knowledge or meaningful consent?
I ask these questions after reading this article from the AsiaNews website about the Indian sterilisation programme. What is the real face of sterilisation programmes that are giving women back their “freedom”?
Well, let’s see:
4.6 million forced sterilisations??! In one year? In one country? Where is the
outrage? Where is the “war on women” slogans?? Where are the in-depth stories in the news media? Nowhere. Of course. Imagine if instead India had,
I don’t know, restricted abortion access. Do you think it would make international headlines? Do you think that western women pundits would be complaining about this assault on the freedom of Indian women? Of course they would. But when it comes to actual forced sterilisations – actual assaults on freedom, the radio silence is deafening.
“A dozen tables next to each other, sheets stained with blood, doctors and nurses without coats, sometimes without protective masks, and tools only rinsed with hot water are the conditions in which 4.6 million women underwent sterilisation against their will in India last year in accordance with the government's birth control policies.”
4.6 million forced sterilisations??! In one year? In one country? Where is the
outrage? Where is the “war on women” slogans?? Where are the in-depth stories in the news media? Nowhere. Of course. Imagine if instead India had,
I don’t know, restricted abortion access. Do you think it would make international headlines? Do you think that western women pundits would be complaining about this assault on the freedom of Indian women? Of course they would. But when it comes to actual forced sterilisations – actual assaults on freedom, the radio silence is deafening.
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