Male-led anti-abortion society at UK university leaves female students fearing for their safety
An anti-abortion society led by men was recently formed at the University of Manchester — leaving female students at the British school fearing for their safety and calling for the club to be disbanded.
The Manchester Pro-Life Society has received massive backlash since its creation in mid-January as the once all-male group aims to promote “respect for the dignity of human life from conception,” according to its Instagram page.
When the group initially launched, it did not appear to have a single female among its ranks. George Vincent serves as the club’s president while fellow student Jacob Karinatan is the treasurer.
As of Tuesday, two women were added to the group — Inge-Maria, who will serve as vice president, and Lajoie, who will be their diversity and inclusion officer, according to their social media.
It is unclear if the two newest members were recruited due to blowback.
A Change.org petition was launched on Feb. 12 — before the newest members joined — with nearly 18,000 people demanding the club be disbanded.
“I am a concerned student at the University of Manchester, [and I am] deeply troubled by the potential harm that could be caused by our university’s Pro-Life Society,” an anonymous student wrote.
“The existence of this society adds to an already prevalent stigma surrounding abortion, a legal right in our country. Women at our university should not have to face additional pressure or judgement on such personal matters.”
Abortion has been legal in Great Britain since 1967.
The University of Manchester’s student union said the society established itself under its rules and was properly registered.
The student union also said it would be unable to disband the group due to the 1993 Education Act, 2010 Equality Act, and the 1986 Education Act, according to ITV.
“From a legal standpoint, it’s not possible to stop a society from affiliating for their legal views that are contrary to the views of other students,” a representative told the local outlet. “That means, despite concerns over student safety, the students’ union can’t block a society from forming because of their beliefs.”
In addition, the Freedom of Speech legislation passed in 2023, and the school will fully implement it by September, the union said.
But to many students on campus, the club makes them “fear for their safety,” according to Heather Bowling, who told The Independent that the group made her feel “weak and inferior to my male counterparts.”
“My heart dropped [when I saw the society] – it felt like I was at the beginning of a new Margaret Atwood novel,” she said. “The SU [student union] are directly enabling misogynistic hate speech. It is so upsetting and disappointing. It actively promotes a harmful rhetoric- this society’s goal is to create a pro-life culture – does the University of Manchester not realize what this entails?
“Universities are supposed to be centers of progression, yet they are allowing societies which debate women’s bodily autonomy and rights.”
Bowling said she felt the student union was choosing the club’s creators over the rest of the student body, which consists of more than 40,000 undergrad and graduate students.
“Don’t get me wrong I am all for having different political views, but I think women’s bodily autonomy is not up for debate,” she told The Independent.
A former student, who had an abortion while studying at the university, told The Independent that the club’s existence allowed a “bunch of boys to externally reinforce” negative views about the medical procedure.
“I completely understand the need for free speech but this is not something they need to speak up on. I don’t see why men form anti-abortion groups when there are so many men’s issues they could work on,” she said.
The Post has contacted the University of Manchester, the student union, and the group for comment.
