Pregnancy and language

Language matters. I propose that we make an intentional change in how we refer to pregnancy. Rather than saying a woman “got pregnant” or “fell pregnant” (per our Brit/Aussie friends), let's say what actually happened. She was impregnated.

Getting pregnant speaks of something the woman did. She got a cup of coffee yesterday and got pregnant today. Being impregnated brings the man into the picture as the one behind the pregnancy rather than the woman.

Even if the woman is a willing participant in the act of being impregnated, she does not do it on her own. A man can impregnate a woman against her will. It's a lot more difficult for a woman to become pregnant without a willing man. It doesn't happen by accident.

Reasons for unwanted pregnancies

There are at least three reasons for an unwanted pregnancy:

1. Ignorance. The woman didn't realize that pregnancy could result from what was happening.

2. Lack of resources. She didn't have access to birth control.

3. Poor choices. In the heat of the moment, neither the man or woman used birth control.

4. Lack of options. A man's “yes” overpowered her “no.” Whether he used physical force or verbal or emotional pressure, he made the choice to have unprotected sex.

Methods for reducing unwanted pregnancies

Education and access to reliable birth control reliably prevents pregnancy for millions of women every day. Every woman needs access to those resources. Every man needs to avoid impregnating a woman who doesn't want to be pregnant.

Politicians use abortion to manipulate conservative voters into voting for people who will restrict people's rights. The real solution is to the abortion issue is to make sure no woman is ever impregnated who isn't ready to bear a child.

What we're seeing currently is that politicians who campaign with promises to limit women's reproductive options are also willing to curtail the freedom of other vulnerable people in our society.

So let's fix our language and work together to make sure all women have the resources they need to avoid being impregnated and that men carry full responsibility for impregnating a woman against her will.