Abortion

The debate on abortion has tended to avoid the psychological significance of an unwanted pregnancy, dominated istead by the strong emotions the subject excites. Eva Pattis Zoja examines the thoughts that surround a woman's decision to end a pregnancy, and presents the challenging thesis that voluntary abortion can often be a violent and unconscious act of self-realisation. Treating a theme which is central to our existence, the author makes no attempt to argue for or against, or to deny the painful nature of the subject which she tackles, but instead looks at the way in which a decision to abort can affect a woman's inner life.

Eva Pattis Zoja is a Jungian analyst in private practice in Milan, Italy, and also lectures in Italy and Austria.

INTRODUCTION 1 ABORTION: A NON-PLACE 2 A SLIP IN BIRTH CONTROL? 3 ANTHROPOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS 4 A COMPARISON 5 THE CHRONICS 6 THE GOALS OF AN ABORTION 7 UNCONSCIOUSLY DESIRED 8 INITIATION AND MATERNITY 9 INITIATION AND ABORTION 10 BEYOND THE MOTHER: ARTEMIS AND ATHENA 11 KILLING 12 TWO CHOICES 13 A SACRIFICE 14 THE GUILT OF BECOMING AN ADULT 15 AN ULTERIOR THRESHOLD 16 ABORTION AND THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT 17 THE NON-FATHER 18 THE ESCORTS