After reading Solinger’s Claming Rights in the Era of Chocie, Part
1:Awakenings, I was shocked to learn the amount of ridicule and scrutiny
that unwed, pregnant women experienced in the 1940’s to the 1970’s. Before
reading, I had a basic understanding of how unmarried pregnancy was seen as
shameful and intolerable to both the pregnant woman and her family. However, it
was disturbing to discover how young women’s nonmaritial pregnancies led them
to be defined as “deviants” (Solinger, 68), with some mothers being diagnosed
as “psychologically disturbed” (Solinger, 69). The social implications as an
outcome were equally unsettling. Family members became disregarded in the
community and the pregnant women were unwelcome. For example, a personal
account from a young woman explained that when asking for prenatal care, the
family doctor rejected her request stating he “did not want an unwed pregnant
girl in his office” (Solinger, 72).
The consequences of becoming pregnant
before marriage translated into harsh punishment, not only from the community,
but within the family itself. Another personal account from an unwed women
recalls, “Either I gave up the baby for adoption or my father walked out,
deserted the family, and divorced my mother” (Solinger, 72). What the daughter
wanted for herself soon became overwhelming irrelevant. The opinion of the
parents and pressure to give the child for adoption triumphed over any want
that the daughter may have had. Even if the daughter did decide to keep her
baby, she likely would be cut off from all resources including family support,
money, or help from others due to fear of association. Some women’s’
reproductive rights were threatened, with one daughter explaining that if she
did not agree to sign the adoption papers the father would “have the doctor
sterilize me when he delivered the baby” (Solinger, 72).
Overall, it was horrible but necessary to
read first-hand accounts that unwed pregnant women experienced. Their right to
be mothers was ripped from them as they were coerced to place their child up
for adoption. The mental suffering, dehumanization, blatant criticism, the
women experienced left many to become no longer whole as a person. One of the
hardest accounts to read was how many denied the women to be mothers, themselves
(Solinger, 73). After reading this passage, it made me grateful for how female
sexuality and reproductive control is now prevalent and utilized today. While
unwed pregnancy still holds a social stigma, the ability to decide how to
proceed with the pregnancy is more protected under the choice of the mother.
Gretchen Mach
Graded Reply 2
ReplyDeleteGretchen, I very much agree with your response to the treatment of women at this time as shocking and horrible. The personal stories are just a few of many that draw attention to the inequalities and injustices faced by unwed mothers. You mentioned that you are grateful that today female sexuality and reproductive control is more prevalent and utilized. I am interested to know how you came to that conclusion and where you see examples of this in society. I do agree with you and I see access to birth control and information on the internet as just two examples. Also, what do you think made it possible for society to change and make it possible for these 'choices' to become more of the mothers'? You talk about how in the past deciding to keep the baby would really mean getting cut off from all types of support - familial, monetary, etc. In reality, that wasn't really a choice for these mothers and you do a good job of noticing that in your analysis. It's cool to see how we as a society have changed from diagnosing women with psychological disorders because they were pregnant to being more supportive and accepting. Based on our class discussion I do think we still have a long way to go... but we're heading in the right direction!
--Sarah R.