hard questions - answers to the issues

What role do moms play in daughters having abortions?

Catherine Hickem, a licensed therapist, recently identified three core reasons why she believes teenage daughters feel pressure from their moms to have abortions: selfishness, shame and fear.

According to Hickem, "the number one reason that most of the women had abortions was their mothers' belief that having this baby would ruin their lives." Unfortunately, notes Hickem, mothers who pressure daughters into having abortions often fail to realize that not only is one life being thrown away, but that their daughters also suffer tremendous pain. Hickem's full article appeared in the February 2003 edition of Heartlink, a newsletter for pregnancy resource centers.

To read more about the role of a mother in a daughter's abortion decision visit www.family.org/pregnancy