Watch: Spiked And Sexually Assaulted By Her Boss – Four Women In Malta Reveal Why They Got Abortions
A woman in Malta who chose to go abroad and terminate her pregnancy had a drink spiked by her boss, who had been hitting on her for ten months, and woke up unsure about what happened that night.
When she found out she was pregnant, she knew what he had done.
Hers is just one story to come out of a 2020 survey looking into why people decide to opt for abortions – with at least 13% of all respondents saying it was a result of rape or sexual violence.
Dear Decision Makers – a pro-choice group campaigning for the destigmatisation and legalisation of abortion in Malta – have produced and released a series of animated videos explaining the circumstances of four different women, who eventually went overseas to terminate their pregnancies.
Through this series – a collection of women’s experiences with abortion – they hope to explain how the reasoning driving women to make this choice can be extremely varied.
Because every person should have the right to control their own bodily autonomy – all are equally valid.
“I couldn’t leave the job, I was broke, vulnerable and with minimal support at home. Intuition and persistent nightmares pushed me to get a pregnancy test,” said the woman who was raped by her boss.”
“When he finally admitted to what he’d done, he offered to pay for half of the abortion.”
This woman was given help by a close friend based in the UK – who put her in contact with someone in Malta who could assist her through the process.
“I felt both lucky and angry. I’m sure these emotions will be with me for a long time, especially as I never spoke up about what happened. He never asked either, obviously.”
The second story was that of a woman who wanted little more than to start a family, and after years of fertility issues, finally became pregnant.
“During our first scan, we were told that the baby had a number of abnormalities. If I went through with the pregnancy, the baby would have to undergo several operations abroad.”
“He would have been bedridden, and would feed through a tube.”
This woman’s experience was one of the 18% of stories received by DDM where women needed an abortion because of pregnancy complications or health related issues like cancer.
The decision was not an easy one – and far from an uninformed one.
“We consulted seven specialists – all of whom told us termination would be the best option.”
“We never thought that all the money we’d saved for the baby’s clothes, toys and education would be used on his termination – but we proceeded with the termination because we loved our child.’
This couple’s problems were compounded by a cultural lack of acceptance of abortion.
“We felt like outsiders in our own society.’
A 42-year-old woman was on contraception because she didn’t want to have any more children.
Her story was one of the 15% of accounts received by DDM from people who were already parents when they chose to abort another pregnancy. Her account also made her one of the 22% of women telling their stories of becoming pregnant as a result of failed contraception.
“I had a Mirena inserted, with no side effects, and I was happy with it.”
A Mirena is a hormone-releasing intrauterine device used to prevent insemination and pregnancy. Most are effective, but in this case, hers wasn’t.
“After a few months I started to feel sick, and suspected that I was pregnant. I didn’t want to risk my health, and I didn’t want a baby at 42. We went to London, it was painless, it was eventless.”
“I never regretted it.”
She had her abortion at a Marie Stopes Clinic in London. Staff there weren’t surprised to see her.
“They were very used to having women from Malta. They actually give Maltese and Irish women special treatment.”
“I never wanted to be a mother, especially at 17. My pregnancy happened as a result of failed contraception.”
The fourth account came from a woman who “wanted to be a normal teenager”. She wanted to “finish school and go to university”. Her pregnancy story was one of the 7% affecting teenagers. Around half of these were results of their first sexual encounters.
“I tried so many at home methods before going abroad. I was mixing drugs and alcohol, and trying to hurt myself to induce a miscarriage. I was extremely depressed, and ready to jump in front of moving traffic just to dislodge it from my uterus.
“Or at least end it all.”
15% of women who submitted their harrowing tales to DDM reported having used unsafe methods such as excessive drinking, substance abuse and self-harm – in an attempt to induce abortion.
“I have never regretted my decision, but the months that followed were hard, because there was no mental or emotional support or aftercare.”
“My family was angry, and I was afraid to tell my friends because of the stigma in this country.”
All of these stories are emblematic of the reality that getting an abortion is usually not motivated by any single factor, but by a range of considerations embedded in the circumstances behind any pregnancy.
Criminalising and stigmatising abortion doesn’t make it go away, it just hides it from public view and forces people to take matters into their own hands – which can be extremely dangerous.
DDM’s work hopes to raise awareness about the realities of abortion – and what prohibition is doing to pregnant people in Malta.
What do you make of these stories?
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