Maria Shriver says she’s ‘pro-choice’ but that doesn’t mean she’s ‘pro-abortion’

Author defines pro-choice as being in favour of ‘a woman’s right to choose’

Journalist Maria Shriver during an interview on January 8, 2014 (Getty Images)

Journalist Maria Shriver has said she is “pro-choice” but not “pro-abortion”, adding that she believes “it’s a woman’s right to decide what to do with her body”.

The 63-year-old has spoken out on several occasions against recent restrictive abortion legislation in the US, such as the Alabama abortion ban and foetal heartbeat bills.

In May, Alabama’s state Senate passed a bill to outlaw nearly all abortions, with exceptions only to protect the mother’s health.

In a new interview with People, Shriver said that she has “always been pro-choice".

“And I think it’s a woman’s right to decide what to do with her body and to have access to that,” she added.

The Chicago-born journalist continued, explaining that she “always” makes the distinction between pro-choice and pro-abortion”.

“It’s pro a woman’s right to choose,” she said of the former. “To choose what to do with her body, her life, what job to take. I’m not pro-abortion.”

Shriver added that throughout history, women have been refused autonomy over subjects such as voting, property ownership and divorce.

“There are a lot of things women have not had a choice about that have been changed in my lifetime by women raising their voices,” she added.

In May, Shriver posted an article about news of Alabama lawmakers postponing a vote on a near total ban on abortions, captioning the post: “This!!! This is beyond-infuriating beyond-belief.

“It’s #WomensHealthWeek and by the way – it’s 2019. Women will not stand for this! [sic]”

The current abortion law in Alabama allows for terminations of pregnancy up to 20 weeks in all cases, and beyond 20 weeks for rape, incest or health of the mother.

After the governor of Alabama, Republican Kay Ivey, signed the bill to ban almost all abortions, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit against the state on behalf of abortion providers, who have asked a US federal judge to block the legislation.

During the interview, Shriver – who was previously married to actor Arnold Schwarzenegger – also spoke about other areas of women’s healthcare, saying that “women are often dismissed for their symptoms” when seeing a doctor.

Speaking from her own experience of gender inequality in healthcare, she explained: “I had a thing with my eyes, and the doctor said ‘you’re fine’, and I said: ‘No, I don’t feel fine. Of course, I’m getting a second opinion.’

“But that’s not an option for many people, because it takes time, it costs money. Women need to be listened to.”

Last month, an American pro-life activist sparked outrage on Twitter after describing abortion as “the holocaust” of the US in a new documentary.

Kandi Cox, who runs an adoption agency in Arkansas, made the remark in an episode of Panorama, America’s Abortion War, which aired on BBC1 on 19 July.

During the programme, Cox said that she maintains her pro-life views even in cases of rape and incest, stating: “I would absolutely like to see abortion abolished in America. We see this as the holocaust of our nation.”