Text by Nefertari Williams, Copyright 2023
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Tall Tales
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WOMEN YOU NEED TO STOP GETTING YOURSELVES PREGNANT
1. Things got hot and heavy at the end of a date and you wanted to stop and he kept going. That’s your problem.
2. You are now pregnant and the morning sickness is causing you to miss work so you have no money – don’t you bother that good man.
3. You don’t have insurance to see a doctor because you can’t work because you are too sick from low iron and constant vomiting – that man should not have to worry about your problems
4. You need bigger clothes for your growing belly and more food because of the growing baby – you should have thought about that when you grew a uterus
5. The baby needs a crib, clothes, diapers and formula. Strap a vomit bag around your neck and get a second job – don’t you dare bother that man about your problems
6. The delivery will cost thousands of dollars and you need a bigger place to live – you should have thought of that when you were born a woman. Oh well
7.) Baby is born and you need to go back to work but can’t afford child care. Mike Pence says that you need to be more patient and good things will come if you are patient so just keep hope alive.
Men (husbands and spouses) some of you are being quiet about the “freedom of choice” debate.
When I had my heart attack it was unknown what was wrong with me. I was nine months pregnant. My baby was alive but the doctor pumped me full of blood thinners as soon as they realized what was wrong. At that point, a Caesarian section was not an option without killing me however without the medication I would not have survived.
My doctor made the choice.
If this happened today, in some states, I would not be alive right now. Politicians would have made the choice.
Because my MEDICAL professional was able to make the choice my child and I are both alive.
Please don’t let politicians decide what’s best for my body. Please leave it to the medical professionals. One day it might be someone you love.
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Editor’s Note: These pictures are from Tony Ward’s first book Obsessions, published by Editions Stemmle, Zurich Switzerland in 1998. An exhibition of photography by Tony Ward of the Obsessions pictures from the years 1993 – 1998 will be on display at Prism Arts Philadelphia from October 6th – October 27, 2023. For more information, link here: https://www.prismartsphiladelphia.com/events/obsessions-by-tony-ward