 Media Credit: Lyndsey Born
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When she went in for an abortion, in the days before Roe v. Wade, the doctor closed the windows and locked the door. He used no painkillers or medical instruments - just a suction bulb. Now, she is unable to have children.
That was one woman's story in the movie "The Abortion Diaries," shown Wednesday night at Manhattan Public Library. The documentary tells the stories of 12 women and their abortion experiences.
About 70 K-State students, faculty and community members attended to learn more about abortion, receive extra credit for their women's studies classes or share ideas.
The film followed how the women became pregnant, how they made the decision to abort, and finally, the relief they felt when it was over.
The opening scene to "The Abortion Diaries" showed a stick figure of a girl clutching her knees, with a thought bubble that read, "If it's so common, why do I feel so alone?"
According to the film, 34 percent of females become pregnant in their teens, one-third of women have abortions, and 1.3 million women will have an abortion this year.
The documentary also said making the decision to abort is not just one decision; there are many decisions.
When the film finished, Betty Banner, director of the Manhattan National Organization for Women chapter, said women should learn more about the issue to "ensure we continue to have rights as women." The focus then switched to the audience's reaction to the film.
Banner explained the discussion was to be a dialogue in which individuals expand their perspectives by listening to and understanding what others had to say, not to convince others their ideas were right or wrong.
What potentially could have been a heated argument was a civil, educational and understanding discussion.
NOW member Debbie Nuss and Angela Hubler, director of the women's studies program, organized the screening.
At first there was silence when Hubler opened the room to discussion. Once the discussion began, however, it soared on for nearly an hour.
Students and community members shared their reactions, stories, and concerns surrounding the issue of abortion.
Phoebe Samelson, representative for the Peggy Bowman Second Chance fund, also participated in the discussion.She said she believes a woman should have the right to choose. She said women need education to prevent unplanned pregnancies.
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