Male abortion counsellor

Press, 8 May 1980, Page 20

Male abortion counsellor

Sir, -— What special attributes or qualifications make Alan Wilkinson, a mere male, believe he has the right to speak for pregnant women and promulgate their apparent needs and desires? Does he have a monopoly of understanding and empathy, denied to other males, especially, it seems, to fully trained abortion counsellors? I understand that there are two female counsellors and one male counsellor appointed by the HosHospital Board. A reasonable representation. Alan Wilkinson has totally destroyed his own argument, by seeking to deprive women of any choice of counsellor. From long experience I know that many women in crisis find men much more sympathetic and supportive than their female equivalents. This is simply a logical extension of the strong father/daughter (and mother/son) bond which is a basic psychological fact. — Yours, pfe . H. M. TAIT. May 6, 1980.

Sir, — In reply to David Shanks (May 5), there is a branch of human knowledge accessible only to women, and there always has been. It is the possibility of giving birth and the whole psychological, physiological, cultural, caring complex that goes with it. This counselling is to help a woman come to a decision, not for men to get to know women. C. M. Summers (May 6) unwittingly perhaps, gets to the crux. of the contention when he shows that one of the five - involved with the woman concerned is male and three others are most likely male. Does he want five put of five to be males with at best “do as I say not as I do” advice? The thought comes through that, though physically different, women should be encouraged to think as men for, in

Professor Higgins’s words, “Why can’t a woman be more like 'a man!” — Yours, etc., .... ; ,' B. ROBERTS. May 6, 1980. ‘ ,