By Caroline Wojdylo (edited by Sarah Di Paolo)
Editor’s note. The deVeber Institute for Social Research is a Canadian think tank, open since 1982, that specializes in first-rate analyses of a number of topics, including abortion, euthanasia and assisted suicide. We wrote a review of the first edition of “Complications: Women’s Health after Abortion” here. This is reposted from a year ago today.
On November 8th, the deVeber Institute held a successful Annual Public Lecture titled “Women’s Happiness, Women’s Health: The feminist fight against abortion.” This provocative title attracted a diverse audience with a significant portion of university students and was held at Hart House at the University of Toronto.
The Institute was honoured to have Andrea Mrozek deliver this lecture. Andrea Mrozek is an accomplished expert, writer and speaker on family and women’s issues, having written for the National Post, Globe and Mail, among many other newspapers across Canada. Once Executive Director at the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada, she is now the program director at think tank Cardus.
The history and definition of Feminism was discussed and analyzed in her opening. Individuals describe themselves as Feminists to signify that they believe women have equal dignity to men and deserve the same opportunities. Mrozek argues that there can be common ground between feminists with different views of abortion. Her hope is that if we understand the history of Feminism, it is possible for a new “old” feminism to be crafted, to embrace the stance of First Wave Feminism, which advocated for celebrating motherhood as a uniquely female strength that deserves genuine reverence.
Mrozek recognizes the global issue of sex-selective abortion as an injustice against women and girls, which, according to economists has led to over 100 000 missing girls in Asia and North Africa. Additionally, this is a problem that studies show is present among some communities in Canada. Secondly, even if we see abortion as morally neutral, it is true that the presence of the choice of abortion has a harmful impact on the women that would not normally choose it.
Mrozek argues that the adverse health risks and possible complications that some women face after abortion is not openly presented to them when they are making the choice of whether to have this procurer. Many women do not experience physical or psychological complications, but some do.
In North America particularly, scientific research exploring the health risks of abortion is subject to a political push and pull yet a once hotly contested issue, the link between breast cancer and abortion is now becoming marginally more acceptable to discuss. The bias which prevents recognition and social awareness concerning one of the most invasive and potentially harmful choices for women is a concern which the deVeber Institute strives to dispel and correct.
Andrea Mrozek did a fantastic job unifying women’s rights, strengths, and well-being. The Institute thanks her for the informative and dynamic talk.
The Annual Public Lecture this year also marked the book launch of Complications: Women’s Health after Abortion, Second Edition: Updated and Revised. Several attendees of the lecture took advantage of this opportunity to have their new copy of the book signed by one of the three authors, Dr. Ian Gentles, co-founder of the Institute, who introduced the speaker.
The book features over 500 peer-reviewed and international studies which correlate negative sequelae following abortion: psychologically, physically, and/or psycho-spiritually. The Institute especially thanks all those who donated to help with the financial costs of hosting the lecture and all supporters who assisted with organizing and promoting the event– we are very grateful for you all!