People Atwitter about Twittered Miscarriage
October 3, 2009 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Womens Health
Penelope Trunk, a controversial blogger, has raised a firestorm of a debate: she tweeted about her miscarriage during a meeting and she was happy about it. It meant that she didn’t have to wait for an abortion.
www.twitter.com
Ms Trunk’s tweet about her miscarriage raised a lot of eyebrows and considerable uproar. Surprisingly, much of the uproar was from women who felt that Ms Trunk was not feeling the “right” way after having had a miscarriage. That she should be mourning the loss instead of being happy about it. This despite the fact that she was about to abort the fetus anyway.
I think the uproar is more about twittering about something very personal, something very deep and something that touches most women in some way.
Women fall into a few categories: mothers who wanted to be mothers, mothers who didn’t want to be mothers, women who want to be mothers but who can’t biologically, and women who don’t want to be mothers and do whatever they need to do to prevent this from happening.
This is where the discomfort from the twittered miscarriage affects so many in so many different ways.
Mothers who want(ed) to be mothers may not be able to understand joy at miscarrying, let alone announcing the joy to the world. I can understand relief, particularly if you’ve made the decision to abort, but you aren’t overly comfortable with making the actual move yourself – but joy?
Mothers who are mothers but don’t want to be may be more understanding of Ms Trunk’s position, but some may feel a little uneasy with the idea too.
Women who want to be mothers but can’t biologically would likely be the hardest hit group emotionally when learning about Ms Trunk’s situation. It is understandable in many ways because they are hurting and would do just about anything to have the chance that she had.
And finally, women who don’t want to be mothers could fall on either side of the debate. They could be one with Ms Trunk, saying “more power to you,” or they could feel uncomfortable with the whole thing.
Which side do you fall in? Personally, if she’s relieved about the miscarriage, then I have no right to be upset or condemn her for it, particularly if she had already made the decision to abort. But I am uncomfortable with the twittering and the announcement of it. It just doesn’t sit right with me.
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I was shocked and still think this was her attempt at fame, or a PR stunt, still unsure which. I mean I get that she’s all about trying to upset people, I’ve read her twitter and her blog recently and noticed that’s what she does but she is also a life coach. I just don’t think this was a twitter that should’ve been done. She made it sound like this miscarriage was no big thing, like she never gived a care. I understand not wanting a child (not me personally but understand the rights of others) but to make it sound like it was nothing more than trash or a bad period. Ugh. Okay well obviously I didn’t think what she did was right.
I don’t reaaly agree with abortion as a birth control option. I waver when I think, ” Bit what if my daughter or son for that matter’.
Having had miscarriages, live births and yes a preemie who didn’t make it , I am honestly surprised that anyone would find this a time for celebration and announcement. Surely we mourn for moments, hours, days and yes much longer than it takes to Twitter. She sounds like a twit!
I continue to be amazed at the very personal information people blog/Twitter/Facebook about for the whole world to see. Some do it for fame, attention, PR. Others because they don’t realize how many people will see what they’ve written. Some because they don’t realize they can’t retract it or tear it up. Still others because they just want to express themselves and don’t care what others think. Probably many don’t realize the long range and long term ramifications, unless they are posting for a strategic reason.
I agree with you about this. I guess there are some things I don’t think should be shared with the entire world.
Ugh!What she does is her own business. But how she does it is nobody’s business. Personally I think this is a distasteful and ridiculous use of Twitter.