Case Study

In Jane Condon's book, A Half a Step Behind, the author provides a case study of a Japanese woman who had an abortion done in the 1970s during the time of student protests in Japan. Some interesting quotes:

"At that time I was living with my boyfriend, and I was -- so to speak -- ignorant. I thought I was being careful about contraceptives, but I guess I wasn't careful enough. We used the condom-and-rhythm method, the most popular method. I tried to stick to the rules. At times I did, but at times I didn't. So I got pregnant, I was only twenty-one and not in a position to have a child myself" (Condon).

"So I didn't consult my boyfriend. I made the decision myself, and I got an abortion. Actually my boyfriend was supposed to sign a paper giving his approval, but at some clinics they'll do the abortion without the boy's signature. A friend of my friend's had told me about this doctor, that he was the kind who'd do it without both signatures. He knew the signature wasn't really my boyfriend's, but he didn't investigate it any further. I didn't think the pregnancy was an issue for both my boyfriend and me. I thought it was my problem. I never told him about it, and he never knew" (Condon).

"After the abortion, he prescribed some birth control pills. In general the pill is illegal. The Ministry of Health and Welfare says there are enormous side effects. Maybe Japanese pharmeaceutical companies are not very adva nced in this area. It's hard to tell" (Condon).

While this case study recalls an abortion that was done almost 20 years ago, the conditions surrounding the abortion have changed a small amount in this period of time.

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