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The tale of the hearts : deciding on abortion in Ethiopia

2012; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 14; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/13691058.2011.649495

1464-5351

Meselu Taye Kebede, Per Kristian Hilden, Anne‐Lise Middelthon,

Global Maternal and Child Health

Abstract In contemporary Ethiopia, abortion decision-making is a challenging process involving moral and/or religious dilemmas, as well as considerations of health and safety. Amidst widespread condemnation of female premarital sex and clear moral sanction against induced abortion, young Ethiopian women are nevertheless sexually active and induced abortions are still sought and performed, with the potential for grave physical harm and social stigmatization. This paper examines young unmarried Ethiopian women's narratives of abortion decision-making. In particular, it identifies and explores the operations of a particular discursive shape from within in such narratives, here described as The tale of the hearts. Analysing The tale of the hearts as a decision-making resource, it is argued, allows us to explore the particular, local, historical and cultural character of Ethiopian women's abortion decision-making dilemmas and the culturally available resources contributing to their resolution. Dans l'Éthiopie contemporaine, la décision d'avoir recours à l'avortement est un processus difficile qui a pour toile de fond des dilemmes moraux et/ou religieux, ainsi que des préoccupations en matière de santé et de sécurité. Dans un contexte de condamnation généralisée des rapports sexuels pré-maritaux parmi les femmes et de sanction morale très nette contre l'avortement provoqué, les jeunes femmes éthiopiennes sont tout de même sexuellement actives, et les avortements provoqués toujours recherchés et pratiqués, avec un potentiel de graves conséquences pour la santé et de stigmatisation sociale. Cet article examine les récits de jeunes femmes éthiopiennes célibataires, relatifs à la prise de décision concernant l'avortement. Plus spécifiquement, il identifie et explore le fonctionnement d'un format discursif particulier au cœur de ces récits, que nous nommons ici Le Conte des cœurs. Nous soutenons que l'analyse du Conte des cœurs, en tant que ressource pour la prise de décision, nous permet d'explorer le caractère local, historique et culturel particulier des dilemmes auxquels sont confrontées les femmes éthiopiennes pour la prise de décision en matière d'avortement, et les ressources culturelles disponibles pouvant les aider à les résoudre. En la Etiopía actual, la decisión de abortar es un proceso complicado que implica dilemas morales y/o religiosos, así como consideraciones en materia de salud y seguridad. En medio de la repulsa general por las relaciones prematrimoniales femeninas y una clara sanción moral contra el aborto provocado, las jóvenes de Etiopía son, no obstante, sexualmente activas y los abortos provocados se siguen buscando y realizando con la posibilidad de graves lesiones físicas y estigma social. En este artículo analizamos los relatos de mujeres jóvenes y solteras de Etiopía sobre la decisión de abortar. En concreto, identificamos y estudiamos las operaciones de una forma discursiva particular con respecto a estos relatos, que aquí hemos denominado La historia de los corazones. Argumentamos que al analizar La historia de los corazones como una fuente de decisiones podemos estudiar el carácter particular, local, histórico y cultural del dilema de las mujeres etiopíes al tomar la decisión de abortar, y los recursos disponibles desde un punto de vista cultural que podrían contribuir productivamente a su resolución. Keywords: abortiondecision makingmoralitycultureEthiopia Acknowledgements We want to thank all who participated in and contributed to this study specially the young women who shared their experiences. This research was funded by the University of Oslo, Norway. Notes 1. Decline in single women's fertility is singled out as a key factor for the fertility decline in Addis Ababa, which has reached below replacement level. Suggested key factors for the non-marital fertility decline are the socio-economic cost of single motherhood combined with increased contraceptive use and abortion (see Lindstorm and Woubalem 2003 Lindstorm, D.P. and Woubalem, Z. 2003. The demographic components of fertility decline in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A decomposition analysis. Genus, 59(3–4): 147–58. [Google Scholar]). 2. For Mead the generalized other is an internalized other; more specifically culture/society internalized (Mead 1962 Mead, G.H. 1962. Mind, self and society: From the standpoint of a social behaviourist, Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. [Google Scholar], 1934). 3. To give an idea about value of the fee, 200 Birr (23US$) was the minimum monthly wage of a public sector employee in 2005. 4. As far as we have been able to establish, such a configuration of three subjects has not been dealt with in theoretisations of the self. 5. Some women may justify their choices to have an abortion on the basis of an understanding of their own situation as unique and, at the same time, continue to subscribe to the dominant code. In such cases the danger is there that they may contribute to maintenance of the code that denies other women the right to abortion and stigmatizes those who have an abortion performed. 6. For a similar argument in relation to drug users and sex-workers, see Middelthon (2005 Middelthon, A.L. 2005. A room for reflection: Self-observation and transformation in participatory HIV-prevention work. Medical Anthropology Quarterly, 19(4): 419–36. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). 7. When we say the 'decision making I' has a neutral position, it relates to the court like space of The tale of the hearts. It does not necessarily imply neutrality on behalf of the woman with regard to abortion outside this space. 8. Enquiries into the issue of 'silence' will be dealt with in a forthcoming paper. 9. The young women in the core study group did not take part in the resource person interviews and the focus group discussions.