The Abortion Masseuse
Sure, they look fun and colorful, but you’re staring into the very heart of human darkness. Avert thine eyes, sinners.
Abortion by massage is the wrenchingly painful midwife’s solution in places like the Philippines, where abortion is illegal, the government yields to Roman Catholic interests, and contraceptives are in short supply. The government supports the belief that contraception is immoral, and what little contraceptives are available - thanks to the U.S. - will be out the door by 2008.
Half a million women a year endure the agony of a hilot’s (midwife’s) “massage”, which involves violent pounding, prodding and stabbing with the hands in order to induce a miscarriage. Most of these women are not young girls but married women with several children already - and no way to afford another child. This impoverished nation’s government is led by devout Catholic Gloria Arroyo, who - along with her bishops - advocates that married couples simply practice abstinence to avoid getting pregnant. Because that’s a healthy solution for adults in a committed relationship. It’s not like sex is a vital component of human physical and mental health or a major factor in nurturing loving, intimate relationships. Condoms are bad, so just abstain, you married sluts! Oh, and God loves you.
The abortion rate in the Philippines is double that of Western Europe and rarely involves early-term surgery - the majority of the population is too poor for that. At least 80,000 women a year are treated for complications from abortive massage, although hospital workers routinely deny them painkillers or adequate treatment because of disapproval over their choice to terminate a pregnancy. Abortions are punishable by at least six years in prison for the guilty woman. I couldn’t find out if the sperm part of this equation is also considered culpable…
But given the Vatican’s long and rosy history of joyous misogyny (Paul: love is for weak men; Aquinas: women are stupid but necessary; Luther: women are dirty harlots; everyone generally: it’s all Eve’s fault but we prefer boys anyway), I’d be surprised if men were prosecuted along with women.
Hello, old man in festive ensemble. I’d say kiss my ass, but I’m sure you wouldn’t know what to do with it.
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POSTED IN: Down with P.C.!, Health, Healthcare, Misc., Safety, Sex
13 opinions for The Abortion Masseuse
Moe
Sep 6, 2007 at 10:35 am
‘Hello, old man in festive ensemble. I’d say kiss my ass, but I’m sure you wouldn’t know what to do with it.’
Ooh burn! Good post.
Crabby McSlacker
Sep 6, 2007 at 10:51 am
Wow, I can’t believe how bad it is there, I had no idea! To deny access to any sort of birth control and then punish women (possibly by death, it sounds like, a least in practical terms) for having abortions? Plus, one has to wonder in any male-dominated culture how much say a married woman really gets over when she has or does not have sex.
I’d never heard of these “massages” but they sound hideous and painful and dangerous. And I guess the only legal alternative is for a woman to submit to her husband whenever he wants, use no birth control, and keep having kids she can’t afford to feed and watch them starve.
Thanks for publicizing this; this is truly a horrible situation.
steve
Sep 6, 2007 at 10:53 am
Anywhere Christianity is involved/in power, you’ll find women persecuted and men pardoned–particularly in sexually-related matters.
And the term ‘abortive massage’ seems at least half-misleading, to me.
Sara
Sep 6, 2007 at 10:56 am
Well, Crabby, I certainly agree with you, although I am uncomfortable with making an assumption that women are coerced by their husbands into having sex. Though I’m sure this goes on in some cases (as it has for eons…e.g. the slums of New York during the height of Irish immigration) I would venture that in this impoverished nation where parents are so desperate simply to feed their children, it’s got to be just as stressful and terrifying for husbands. I’m sure no man wants to see his wife suffer or even die.
Sara
Sep 6, 2007 at 10:57 am
(that’s no slam on the Irish, btw…just referencing the contraceptive wars)
DopeyLaRue
Sep 6, 2007 at 11:27 am
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I truly had no idea. The whole “freedom” thing that we/I usually just take for granted really hits home with this article. Those conditions are seriously alarming. I guess condoms will be the big black market item pretty soon, eh? Right up there with crack. Definitley on the same level.
Therese
Sep 6, 2007 at 3:03 pm
I’m from the Philippines and all I could do is nod, and that is just sad to say the least.
Even prior to Arroyo’s “presidency”, efforts had been made by our Department of Health officials in setting up family health clinics in the slums and villages, distributing contraceptives [mainly condoms and birth controll pills] and conducting seminars for the residents.
But it’s the deeply rooted Catholic beliefs and superstitions that slow down the progress. Three centuries of Spanish colonization, with emphasis on indoctrination and conquest, aren’t that easy to rectify. Only a hundred years [and some change] have gone by since our independence and we still have such a long way to go.
Contraception and abortion have been debated on time and time again, and it’s the inability of some government officials to separate Church and State that’s helping perpetuate the arguments.
It all boils down to following the Consitution and properly educating the masses.
Mikeachim
Sep 6, 2007 at 5:01 pm
That Sara is naughty.
Also: ‘contraception is immoral’ is itself immoral and should be recognised as a breach of human rights, not to mention a sign of cultural senility.
The population of this planet is now of such a size that stupid, backward, inhuman notions such as this one have no place and are profoundly dangerous. It doesn’t belong in the here and now.
And then the Church complains that it doesn’t enjoy the respect and regard that it used to …..
Scott
Sep 6, 2007 at 8:04 pm
“…advocates that married couples simply practice abstinence to avoid getting pregnant. Because that’s a healthy solution for adults in a committed relationship. It’s not like sex is a vital component of human physical and mental health or a major factor in nurturing loving, intimate relationships.”
Thank you for putting that into words. It still surprises me that it can still be so vile when it is the basis of our existence. That sounds like a horrible way to terminate a pregnancy. Hitting a pregnant woman in the stomach is about one of the most horrible things I’ve ever heard. Thank you for the post.
Fraser
Sep 6, 2007 at 8:45 pm
I don’t think abortion is right. In my opinion it should only be considered in cases of rape or incest. I also believe if people don’t want kids they should be allowed to use other preventive measures. I don’t want to debate anyone I just thought I’d share my views.
Sara
Sep 6, 2007 at 11:00 pm
@Therese - thank you so much for taking the time to share your insights. Much appreciated.
@Mikeachim and Scott - thanks, guys. I just don’t understand why what makes life possible is bad. And I don’t understand why we punish people (and especially women) for it. Shouldn’t we all know better by now?
the7thlover
Sep 10, 2007 at 4:35 am
100% agree. Kiss mine too…, and thanks for bringing this to light. Abortion massage?. What is wrong with us. Ahhhhhhh…….
veronica
Jan 31, 2008 at 1:08 am
I used to think that abortion was horrible until I came to the same fait, or scare of it anyways. Herbal abortions are much easier and less painful then medical ones, or hitting some one in the stomack, but only if its used in the right way. Im also Roman Catholic, I feel that people should have free choice and how they feel should not be controlled by the government. Some people just make mistakes.
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