In her recently released memoir, state senator and gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis acknowledged she had aborted a much-wanted child after discovering her unborn daughter had a severe brain abnormality.

The deeply personal revelation largely succeeded in what was likely its intended purpose ― to generate empathy for a candidate whose road to stardom was paved by an impassioned 11-hour, pro-abortion filibuster in the Texas statehouse last year.

And why wouldn’t it?

In interviews discussing the experience, Davis called the decision to abort difficult, painful and a “tremendous loss.”

Her account echoed what has long been the message of the pro-choice movement: Regardless of circumstance or of one’s moral convictions, abortion is never easy and always profoundly sad.

Somehow, this characterization makes abortion more palatable, even for reluctant pro-choicers, whose support of abortion rights has more to do with a fear of relinquishing too much power to the government than anything else.

It also reflects a sense among society as a whole, that abortion, while legal, is not desirable.

But the pro-choice mantra has been effective mostly because of the inherent truth it communicates.

That choosing to end the life of an unborn child at any stage and for any reason is no small or casual matter.

Except for those who believe that it is.

Shortly after meeting Davis, author Merritt Tierce took to the pages of The New York Times to explain why Davis’ abortion story was “politically safe” ― “it’s not Ms. Davis’ job to be groundbreaking,” she wrote ― but that Davis’ characterization of her choice to abort was not an accurate depiction of the reality most women face. And sharing an “acceptable” abortion story actually does women a disservice.

It’s “common,” wrote Tierce, “... a five-to-15-minute procedure elected early in the first trimester by someone who doesn’t want to be pregnant or have a child. ... It’s O.K. if it’s boring or not traumatic or if you don’t even know what it was.”

Indeed, Tierce argues, abortion really isn’t a big deal. Society makes it a big deal by demanding that women who choose to terminate a pregnancy deliver a compelling tale of guilt and sorrow in lieu of a baby.

Similarly, Janet Harris, former communications director for pro-choice group Emily’s List, wrote in The Washington Post, that “when the pro-choice community frames abortion as a difficult decision, it implies that women need help deciding,” which is paternalistic, since for most women “the decision is usually straightforward.”

Abortion is an easy option because life is messy and “an unplanned pregnancy is highly stressful,” or “humiliating evidence of a failure in judgment.” But it’s never a moral decision, according to Harris, who believes that making it one forfeits female control.

It’s an odd perspective to peddle, given that Roe v. Wade essentially gave women dominion over the moral choices related to any life that might dwell within their bodies. And that authority is hardly insignificant.

Yet by Harris’ own characterization, abortion is not a choice but an act of desperation seeking to paper over unforced errors.

Similarly, Tierce’s argument that women will be empowered when society accepts abortion as normal is belied by her characterization of how abortion really is: “You do things you regret or don’t understand and then you make other choices because life keeps going forward. Or you do something out of love and then, through biology or accident, it goes inexplicably wrong, and you do what you can to cope.”

Tierce’s explanation portrays women as little more than victims of their own biology, emotions and their propensity to let both drive them into making bad decisions. Abortion is just a way to survive, to deal with the mistakes helpless women will inevitably make.

Whatever one’s feelings about abortion, women are unlikely to find any power in recalibrating the message of the pro-choice movement to reflect a belief that ending a pregnancy is normal or routine.

The pro-choice movement would do women far greater service by teaching them to respect themselves, make good choices before pregnancy occurs, and supporting those women, of which there are many, who are suffering from loss and regret.

By Cynthia M. Allen

Cynthia M. Allen is a columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Readers may send her email at cmallen@star-telegram.com. ― Ed. 

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

(MCT Information Services)