In an amazing wedding announcement in the New York Times, the couple describes their decision when they had just begun dating to have an abortion, because the time and circumstances were not right. They went on to have a son and are now celebrating their marriage.
This is such an important news story, because it is about women coming out from the shadows. It is about refusing to accept blame and hatred for a responsible decision. It is about letting others see just who we are.
When African-Americans risked their lives to desegregate schools and businesses, they were able to debunk all the nasty myths that had existed because they had been forced to live hidden away.
When gay and lesbian men and women took the courageous step of coming out, and then began to celebrate their existence, those who had denigrated their sexual identity were forced to recognize that these people are in fact their friends, family, co-workers, neighbors.
And as women come forward and tell their stories, and make their abortion decision just another page in their lives, those who have demonized us will no longer have power over us.
Because those who have chosen to terminate a pregnancy are us: our daughters, our mothers, our friends and co-workers, our neighbors.
It is easy to demonize someone you don't have to face, and for whom there is no name. This is the time to stand up to the bullies and let them know we are not ashamed of who we are and how we have lived our lives.
Showing posts with label Forced Pregnancy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Forced Pregnancy. Show all posts
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Left Behind
The Post & Courier ran an article last Wednesday on the local coalition which had organized to send buses to Washington for the "new march," the 50th anniversary of Dr. King's March for Jobs and Freedom. I read through it a few times and then concluded that, once again, women were being left behind.
The purpose of this coalition:
“to stand together against the recent attack on voter rights, against Stand Your Ground and racial profiling, and to continue to raise awareness on unemployment, poverty, gun violence, immigration, gay rights and other critical issues affecting our nation,” according to the National Action network.
Apparently, women's rights fell into the unnamed "other critical issue" category.
Sure, just like in the 60's, we could join up and demonstrate against the war in Vietnam, or for civil rights, but we signed up as helpers, keeping the men happy so they could do the real work.
By the 70's, women like Gloria Steinhem and Betty Friedan confronted that hypocrisy, questioning our second place position in society, from family roles to economic rights. It was a fight that continues today, because we continue to be the second class citizen, with lower pay and less input. While we run more things than ever, we continue to have a supporting role in our own lives.
Our struggle for freedom and equality has never been greater than it is today, when state and federal legislators strike down programs that would provide economic security, and push through laws that make us prisoners of our own bodies.
Imagine vasectomies being banned from government health insurance plans, as are abortions. Suppose a man had to prove he was married before he could buy erectile enhancement drugs? Imagine couples of mixed race being refused service for religious reasons, as pharmacists are now allowed to refuse to fill birth control prescriptions. Just as those of us in the LGBT community are winning hard fought battles for equal rights, women are being threatened with imprisonment for refusing to carry a pregnancy to term.
The public spectacle that we have allowed to exist with women's bodies as the object is as horrific as Russia's attack on its gay citizens. In this country we should be appalled that women would be subject to government control by virtue of the fact that we are capable of getting pregnant.
If so many of our government leaders are opposed to that mythical evil that the ignorant call "Sharia Law," how can they propose the same kind of religious imprisonment and call it Christianity?
Getting back to the article about the 50th Anniversary March, it seems that we -- women -- have gotten so desensitized to our exclusion that we don't even realize that the coalitions that are fighting for freedom and justice are not fighting for ours.
It's time, once again, to open our own eyes, so that we can confront that hypocrisy each time it occurs. Don't let our leaders make a set of rules for free Americans, and another for women. Don't support Democratic candidates who refuse to stand by a woman's right to the same privacy as a man. Stop allowing our government to be controlled by religious extremists that prove their power by exploiting women's bodies.
Don't forget, and don't let our fellow Democrats leave us behind.
The purpose of this coalition:
“to stand together against the recent attack on voter rights, against Stand Your Ground and racial profiling, and to continue to raise awareness on unemployment, poverty, gun violence, immigration, gay rights and other critical issues affecting our nation,” according to the National Action network.
Apparently, women's rights fell into the unnamed "other critical issue" category.
Sure, just like in the 60's, we could join up and demonstrate against the war in Vietnam, or for civil rights, but we signed up as helpers, keeping the men happy so they could do the real work.
By the 70's, women like Gloria Steinhem and Betty Friedan confronted that hypocrisy, questioning our second place position in society, from family roles to economic rights. It was a fight that continues today, because we continue to be the second class citizen, with lower pay and less input. While we run more things than ever, we continue to have a supporting role in our own lives.
Our struggle for freedom and equality has never been greater than it is today, when state and federal legislators strike down programs that would provide economic security, and push through laws that make us prisoners of our own bodies.
Imagine vasectomies being banned from government health insurance plans, as are abortions. Suppose a man had to prove he was married before he could buy erectile enhancement drugs? Imagine couples of mixed race being refused service for religious reasons, as pharmacists are now allowed to refuse to fill birth control prescriptions. Just as those of us in the LGBT community are winning hard fought battles for equal rights, women are being threatened with imprisonment for refusing to carry a pregnancy to term.
The public spectacle that we have allowed to exist with women's bodies as the object is as horrific as Russia's attack on its gay citizens. In this country we should be appalled that women would be subject to government control by virtue of the fact that we are capable of getting pregnant.
If so many of our government leaders are opposed to that mythical evil that the ignorant call "Sharia Law," how can they propose the same kind of religious imprisonment and call it Christianity?
Getting back to the article about the 50th Anniversary March, it seems that we -- women -- have gotten so desensitized to our exclusion that we don't even realize that the coalitions that are fighting for freedom and justice are not fighting for ours.
It's time, once again, to open our own eyes, so that we can confront that hypocrisy each time it occurs. Don't let our leaders make a set of rules for free Americans, and another for women. Don't support Democratic candidates who refuse to stand by a woman's right to the same privacy as a man. Stop allowing our government to be controlled by religious extremists that prove their power by exploiting women's bodies.
Don't forget, and don't let our fellow Democrats leave us behind.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Opening the Door to Alleys and Coat Hangers
The Texas State Legislature had to lie, cheat and steal to do it, but they have managed to pass their forced-pregnancy bill.
Delusional Rick Perry appears to believe that now that he has taken the criminalization of women and their reproductive rights to new depths in his state, he is ready to give the national stage another try, and so has indicated that he will not run for another term as governor.
What does the passage of this bill really mean?
By making it more difficult for women to seek legal abortions, Texas has opened that door to the dirty, dangerous back-alley abortions of the 50's. Teenage girls and women alike will return to the options that were available when I was a teenager. Word of mouth will lead them to the door of the disreputable doctor, or to those old home remedies for pregnancy, like Lysol and coat hangers. If you are poor and have limited resources, an unsupportive family, or are just terrified, these are the options that will remain open to you in Texas, and in many other states across the country.
These lawmakers have done nothing to provide better education, better health care, better nutrition, a living wage. These are the means through which a moral nation fights abortion. In those states where there is hope and means to a decent life, the incidence of abortion is less. And not surprisingly, teen pregnancy and infant mortality rates are lower.
The sad fact is that the anti-abortion movement has been allowed to use the horrors of Kermit Gosnell's abortion practice and trial to push through the very laws that would make such practices more likely.
Wendy Davis did what she could to bring the real issues and arguments to the national stage. It will take many, many more women, and men, to stand up and loudly speak the truth, else this awful reality of back-room abortions will spread again across our country.
Delusional Rick Perry appears to believe that now that he has taken the criminalization of women and their reproductive rights to new depths in his state, he is ready to give the national stage another try, and so has indicated that he will not run for another term as governor.
What does the passage of this bill really mean?
By making it more difficult for women to seek legal abortions, Texas has opened that door to the dirty, dangerous back-alley abortions of the 50's. Teenage girls and women alike will return to the options that were available when I was a teenager. Word of mouth will lead them to the door of the disreputable doctor, or to those old home remedies for pregnancy, like Lysol and coat hangers. If you are poor and have limited resources, an unsupportive family, or are just terrified, these are the options that will remain open to you in Texas, and in many other states across the country.
These lawmakers have done nothing to provide better education, better health care, better nutrition, a living wage. These are the means through which a moral nation fights abortion. In those states where there is hope and means to a decent life, the incidence of abortion is less. And not surprisingly, teen pregnancy and infant mortality rates are lower.
The sad fact is that the anti-abortion movement has been allowed to use the horrors of Kermit Gosnell's abortion practice and trial to push through the very laws that would make such practices more likely.
Wendy Davis did what she could to bring the real issues and arguments to the national stage. It will take many, many more women, and men, to stand up and loudly speak the truth, else this awful reality of back-room abortions will spread again across our country.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Taking a Stand
Earlier I today, I published a blog entry with lots of bad news, and hoped that President Obama would develop a spine on other issues, as he has on gun control. Imagine my surprise and pleasure when I learned of his speech yesterday to Planned Parenthood.
This was an amazing speech. These are the strong words of support that we have been waiting for.
Comment was made by Katie McDonough in Salon that he did not actually say the word "abortion." I think that's okay. If you listen to the words, he does not flinch when he talks about the state laws that are assaulting woman's rights throughout the country. He talks about the law that was passed making abortion illegal at six weeks.
I believe we have allowed Republicans to control the labeling of this debate. We did eventually come up with "pro-choice" to combat the "pro-abortion" label. But "choice" still brings us to "abortion." Which is about the fetus.
It is time we redirected this debate. This battle is about women, not that growth that may be inside of us. That is why I believe we need to call this a fight against "forced pregnancy." We all know, really, that that is what this is about. It is about control, and punishment. It has nothing to do with "preserving life" because there is no Republican support for health care for pregnant woman, much less for care for an infant when it is born. Republicans not only seek to punish women of limited means who have become pregnant, they will punish the children that are born to women of limited means.
Here in South Carolina, we have a shameful record of infant mortality, yet some of our legislators focus single-mindedly on assuring that every woman who becomes pregnant is forced to carry that pregnancy. With or without health care, or even decent nutrition. These men who, across the country, are pushing these bills through their state legislators are cruel and power-hungry; they care not for life much less quality of life. Their goal in each of these bills, no matter what warm-and-fuzzy names they give them, is to force pregnancy upon a woman.
I have said this before, but I keep being reminded that these are often the people who scream loudest for "freedom." What they mean, though, is the freedom to control those who have less power than them.
This was an amazing speech. These are the strong words of support that we have been waiting for.
Comment was made by Katie McDonough in Salon that he did not actually say the word "abortion." I think that's okay. If you listen to the words, he does not flinch when he talks about the state laws that are assaulting woman's rights throughout the country. He talks about the law that was passed making abortion illegal at six weeks.
I believe we have allowed Republicans to control the labeling of this debate. We did eventually come up with "pro-choice" to combat the "pro-abortion" label. But "choice" still brings us to "abortion." Which is about the fetus.
It is time we redirected this debate. This battle is about women, not that growth that may be inside of us. That is why I believe we need to call this a fight against "forced pregnancy." We all know, really, that that is what this is about. It is about control, and punishment. It has nothing to do with "preserving life" because there is no Republican support for health care for pregnant woman, much less for care for an infant when it is born. Republicans not only seek to punish women of limited means who have become pregnant, they will punish the children that are born to women of limited means.
Here in South Carolina, we have a shameful record of infant mortality, yet some of our legislators focus single-mindedly on assuring that every woman who becomes pregnant is forced to carry that pregnancy. With or without health care, or even decent nutrition. These men who, across the country, are pushing these bills through their state legislators are cruel and power-hungry; they care not for life much less quality of life. Their goal in each of these bills, no matter what warm-and-fuzzy names they give them, is to force pregnancy upon a woman.
I have said this before, but I keep being reminded that these are often the people who scream loudest for "freedom." What they mean, though, is the freedom to control those who have less power than them.
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