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This time, I will discuss 8M, International Women’s Day. Although commemorations provide visibility on equal rights, understanding the different struggles, including reproductive rights, is also necessary.
Why aren’t women congratulated on 8M?
At some point, women receive or send an image or a message of congratulations for International Women’s Day, celebrating the most beautiful flower, her bravery, power, beauty, and all imaginable qualities. Receiving or sending such messages is not inherently harmful; it’s just a sign that the origin of the date is not well known. Although people may do it without the intent to offend or diminish, it’s important to remember that it is a day of commemoration, reflection, and struggle.
International Women’s Day originated from women’s fight to improve working conditions after more than 100 women died in a textile factory fire in New York in March of 1911 and from the struggle of Russian women who, the following year, demanded an end to war and access to food.1 Therefore, every March 8th, the world commemorates women’s fight for equality of rights, recognition, and effective exercise of their rights. The day was officially recognized in 1975 by the United Nations.1
Women have won many rights, but there is still much to do, such as ending gender-based violence that occurs when reproductive rights, like choosing an abortion, are not respected. Human rights have been established so people can develop their lives freely and with dignity. Still, women who are denied access to safe and judgment-free abortions have their psychological and emotional health compromised. Additionally, they are often pushed to seek unsafe abortions, risking their lives.
If that weren’t enough, after having an abortion, women are often judged by society as being a “bad woman” or “bad mother.” This situation prevents women from finding support networks to recover physically and emotionally. This creates a cycle of violence that keeps women in a constant state of vulnerability.
That is why this struggle is also visible on International Women’s Day, as many women and childbearing people continue to be exposed to restrictions on bodily autonomy.
It’s pointless to congratulate us for being the most beautiful creation if we are still at risk of dying from clandestine abortions or at the hands of men (another form of gender-based violence).
No Equality Without the Freedom to Choose: Why Safe Abortion Belongs in 8M Protests
Many might think that access to legal abortion is just a fight to access medical services, but it goes beyond that. The battle for legal abortion is a way to ensure that men and women can move closer to equality. Let’s review the following points:
1. Body autonomy. Body autonomy is a fundamental principle of human rights that, when mastered, allows individuals to make decisions about their reproduction. Legalizing abortion would enable pregnant people to decide whether to continue or not with a pregnancy, based on what is best for them.2
2. Equal opportunities. When a person is forced to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term, they are sentenced to a life where access to education, employment, and economic independence is limited. This reinforces gender inequality in a world where childbearing people can decide whether to be mothers and when, they will have greater control over their life plans.
3. Socioeconomic inequality. When abortion is prohibited, it has a greater impact on poor women, as some have the resources to travel elsewhere and access safe abortions. However, those without resources resort to clandestine and dangerous practices, risking their lives. Guaranteeing legal abortion allows the state to provide free or accessible services, reducing the inequality gap.3
If you are seeking an accessible, safe abortion and you are far away, Telefem connects you with specialists who provide remote medical care and can send you a Telefem kit with everything needed to exercise your autonomy.
1. Gender violence. Forcing someone to continue an unwanted pregnancy is a form of gender violence (institutional and reproductive). In cases of rape, incest, or domestic violence, abortion is a way for victims to regain control over their lives.
2. Women are subjects of rights. Asking for legal abortion is not just requesting the necessary medical service; it’s establishing that women and childbearing people are full citizens capable of making decisions about their bodies and lives.
What are the challenges to having a safe abortion for women in Mexico?
Almost two decades after the decriminalization of abortion in Mexico City, and considering the changes that have happened and will occur in federal policies and laws in other part of Mexico, it is crucial to implement strategies that ensure broad and timely access to high-quality early safe abortion for all women and pregnant people who need them.4
These strategies include:4
–Spread information among the poorest and most vulnerable women so they can access services as early as possible within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
-Eliminating requirements that limit access for minors.
-Ensuring women can choose the most suitable method for a safe abortion based on their conditions.
–Expanding the range of professionals offering these services by training and incorporating nursing staff.
Despite progress in access to abortion in Mexico, not all women have this right guaranteed, which goes beyond sexual and reproductive health. Besides legal and cultural obstacles surrounding abortion, there are challenges within the healthcare system, such as a lack of accessibility and quality in equipment, supplies, and trained medical personnel, which hinder providing empathetic, non-discriminatory care that considers social, cultural, and economic conditions.5
Suppose you know someone going through an unwanted pregnancy. In that case, it’s essential to know organizations supporting women and pregnant people in their decisions, offering remote medical guidance nationwide through professionals like Telefem. If you need support, send us a WhatsApp.
We hope this blog has helped you understand why it is essential to talk about abortion and reproductive health on 8M. If you want to learn more about safe abortion, I invite you to visit our blog. You will surely find answers to your questions. See you there!
* This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice.
References:
- Instituto Nacional para el Federalismo y el Desarrollo Municipal. Día internacional de la mujer. Gobierno de México. [Internet]. 2019. [Visit March 2025]. Available at: https://www.gob.mx/inafed/articulos/8-de-marzo-día-internacional-de-la-mujer-193752#:~:text=Sin%20embargo%20el%20hecho%20hist%C3%B3rico,perecieron%20m%C3%A1s%20de%20140%20mujeres
- UNFPA. Mi cuerpo me pertenece para reclamar el derecho a la autonomía y la autodeterminación. [Internet]. 2021. [Visit March 2025]. Available at: https://mexico.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/mi_cuerpo_me_pertenece-reclamar_el_derecho_a_la_autonomia_y_la_autodeterminacion.pdf
- Federación Internacional de Planificación de la Familia. Muerte y Negación: Aborto Inseguro y Pobreza. [Internet]. 2006. [Visit March 2025]. Available at: https://catedraunescodh.unam.mx/catedra/mujeres/menu_superior/Doc_basicos/5_biblioteca_virtual/6_derechos_sexuales_rep/4.pdf
- González de León Aguirre D. 2024. El aborto en México: situación actual y retos. [Internet]. [Visit March 2025]. 2024;18(35):31-44. Available at: http://www.sitios.scjn.gob.mx/cec/blog-cec/el-aborto-en-mexico-avances-y-dificultades
- Valdez A. 2024. Desafíos de los servicios de salud en el acceso al aborto. Gaceta de la facultad de medicina UNAM. [Internet]. 2024. [Visit March 2025]. Available at: https://gaceta.facmed.unam.mx/index.php/2024/10/15/desafios-de-los-servicios-de-salud-en-el-acceso-al-aborto/#:~:text=Algunos%20obst%C3%A1culos%20que%20existen%20son,la%20falta%20de%20perspectiva%20de