'I felt I was being punished for pushing back': pregnancy and #MeToo
Pregnant women are still being patronised, blamed for our bodies’ failings, and made to feel guilty about our choices
Justine van der Leun-Ispent one third of 2015 – about 120 days – on bed rest. I moved only to visit a hospital or doctor’s office, where I was scrutinised and presented with a list of concrete and potential deficiencies. There was certainly something wrong with my cervix, likely something wrong with my hormone levels, probably something wrong with my placenta, and possibly something wrong with my baby’s heart. Every time I was examined – which was constantly – a new potential problem surfaced. Having already lost two pregnancies, I was overcome by the looming possibility of catastrophe. I refused to prepare for anything more than a week in advance, as if hope were interchangeable with hubris and therefore deserving of punishment.
I felt I was being punished for pushing back.docx by Thavam on Scribd
