Ann lovett

I would be devastated if i found out that i was pregnant at the age of 15. I’m 16, I have a boyfriend, and I do want to have sex. So if i wasn't able to get hold of contraception, maybe I would have been pregnant by now. In Denmark we’re actually lucky to have the opportunity to protect ourselves, when we do want to have sex, without getting pregnant. In Ireland contraception was banned in 1930, because of the catholic sexual morality. In 1980 it became possible to buy condoms, if you were over 18 and married. First in 1992 it was allowed for everyone to buy condoms and spermicides. But contraception is in general still hard to get a hold of in Ireland. When i heard about Ann lovett, i couldn't help but think how this could have been avoided? If she’d just been able to protect herself when she had sex, or if she’d told some one when she found out that she was pregnant. What made her keep it a secret? Ann Lovett, was a 15 year old school girl from Ireland. She got pregnant at age 15, she concealed her pregnancy, she wore sweaters and clothes that were way too big. No one had a clue, not even her family witch shared house with her, knew about her pregnancy. Ann grew up in a very religious catholic family. It would be humiliating to the family, if people found out that their 15 year old daughter who was still in school and unmarried, were pregnant. On january 31 Ann got up, long before her parents, it was a normal school day. She made her way to a grotto near a statue of the virgin Mary, where she give birth to her infant son. In the afternoon, a group of people where on their way home from school, and found Ann lying beneath the statue of our lady. She was still alive at the time, but she’d lost a lot of blood. When the ambulance arrived it was too late. They were both death. I’ve read endless stories on the internet of girls that were in similar situations. They all had one thing in comment. They were ashamed, embarrassed, afraid. An abortion weren't an option in Ireland until 2018. Having a child outside of marriage is against the catholics beliefs and everyone would think less of you. More than 170.000 woman in Ireland has traveled to another country to get an abortion since 1980. Ann’s mother writes about her daughter to “the irish times” about 2 weeks after her death. “We never expected a girl like Ann to get pregnant before she got married. She went to a catholic school, she’d almost dedicated her life to god, she was conscientiously, never missed a day of school. But with that said, if she’d just come to me, I would have helped her, and she would still be here today.” Now I’m beginning to understand why she didn't tell anyone. But everyone can make mistakes, and everyone can be forgiven. As long as you learn from your mistakes. Ann lovett’s story, made a huge debate, and is what i believe also one of the many reasons why abortion is now an opportunity in Ireland.