“Rich girls have more abortions.”
I overheard a woman make that statement at one of my favorite coffee shops. I was shocked by the blatant comment and had to find out why she felt that way. I asked and she kindly explained that she feels access to more money and family support can lead to more abortions. Her theory starts with the understanding that young women with Prada purses are no less sexually active then girls with empty purses. She said, “For a wealthy family, a $500 abortion is a quick fix to an embarrassing problem, while women like me would have difficulty coming up with that kind of money quick enough to safely have the procedure. It would take months for me to save that much money!” Then she spoke of the “those girls” in high school and college, and I was left to assume they were wealthy/popular/ones that would not give her the time of day. She explained how they would take “family vacations” during the middle of a school week and everyone knew they were abortion vacations. So I ask, has anyone else ever heard of this theory or is this just the opinion of one angry woman?
UsrNme1
February 2nd, 2010 at 7:22 pm
That is hilarious! I think that is a HUGE assumption, but you gotta think Paris Hilton has had at least four.
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:24 am
That is the most ridiculous comment I have ever heard! It sounds like that woman has a serious problem with women who may be more successful than her or she just wants to feel less guilty for having an abortion herself.
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:25 am
Choose Life!!!
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:31 pm
When I read this topic it made me very uncomfortable. I don’t know how to argue her point, all I can say is that women are women, no matter how much money they have in their bank account. But I guess there is something to be said about being able to afford the procedure.
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:39 pm
That woman’s comment is completely untrue. Statistics show that women of color undergo many more abortions than white women, but we also need to talk about the lack of access to resources that is driving this sad reality. Racism is certainly at play here, in terms of women of color not having as much access to resources and thus getting more abortions.
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:40 pm
I was wondering how long it would take before race was brought up.
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:15 pm
I thought this topic was about money not race???
I have never heard that having more money you would have more abortions. But when you think about it having the extra money would make it that much easier.
February 10th, 2010 at 11:53 am
Didn’t Malcolm Gladwell conclude that there was a drop in crime 15-20 years after Roe V Wade because unwanted pregnancies of income-challenged young women were being performed? Or am I getting the facts wrong?
February 10th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Ahhhh…. The “Tipping Point” or was it “Freakonomics”? Either way you have made a very good point “Alex”. So if we want to go with that theory, that makes me wonder if a woman can get an abortion free of charge? “Alex”, tell me it ain’t so.
If legalized abortions made it possible for poor people to have more access to abortions, than a comment like “Rich girls get more abortions” sounds more and more based on underlying jealousy. But the connection to legalized abortions and the drop in crime 18 years later was just a theory. One that does shine a revealing light on the poor community. But, could it be possible that there is some kind of swanky clinic for wealthy young women, where there abortions come with cucumber water and Shiatsu massage?
Does anyone know how much the procedure cost??? That might help shine some more light on this issue.
Check out this link that details Alex’s point:
http://gladwell.typepad.com/gladwellcom/2006/03/thoughts_on_fre.html