Why I am fundraising for women to access abortion services

One of the central components of Feminism is empowering women to be able to control their own bodies and live their lives in the way they wish.

The desire to actualise our human rights has expressed itself in many ways throughout history: from the fight for the right to vote, to the fight for freedom from sexual violence, to the fight to access all jobs and levers of power.

But throughout history women's bodies and their sexuality have been controlled, monitored and oppressed.

An expression of this keenly felt across the world is the restriction of access to (or complete ban on) women's health care and abortion services. Not every woman will need or want to access abortion services. However 1 in 3 in the UK will.

To have this intimate life changing decision be taken by someone else, someone who won't have to live with the consequences of that, someone who thinks they have more of a right to decide what happens inside your own body than you do, is at the very core of why feminism is necessary.

This is why I am a proud supporter of the Abortion Support Network (ASN). ASN provides financial assistance, accommodation, and confidential, non-judgemental information to women forced to travel from Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man and pay privately for abortions in England (where it is legal). 

Abortion access is a class issue. The cost of coming to England ranges between £400 and £2000 depending on circumstance and stage of pregnancy.

Those who can afford it can pay. Those who cannot have that option taken away from them while also having to bear the costs of a child.

While other organisations campaign for much needed law reform, ASN is the only group providing women travelling for abortions with the thing they need most immediately: money.

Money is what these women need, which is why this Galentine's Day I am hosting a fundraising dinner for myself and 10 of my closest female friends. Galentine's Day is a day for #womensupportingwomen after all!

I am sourcing decorations, planning the veggie dishes, getting the wine in! I look forward to sharing the event with you here and on my Instagram @feminism_in_print!

If you would like to join in and support this fantastic cause please do so here!

Do what you can to support women this Galentine's Day 💕