Here’s a quick round-up of links you should absolutely check out. Happy reading!
Women’s eNews: Rape Victims’ Privacy is a Matter of Law, not Shame
IWPR: Afghan Women Bemoan Rights Pledges
Jezebel: Today in Sexual Harassment: Suggested Threesomes and Forced French-Kissing
Feministing: Roe v. Wade 38th Anniversary Roundup
If you think that a woman’s right to choose is safely secure, think again.
The New York Times today reports on various anti-abortion measures underway in state legislatures.
Here are some highlights:
Republicans in Congress hope to strengthen measures to prevent even indirect public financing of abortions, but laws in the states have the greatest impact on access to them. Abortion opponents have been emboldened by major changes in the political landscape, with conservative Republicans making large gains.
The biggest shift is in the state capitols, with 29 governors now considered to be solidly anti-abortion, compared with 21 last year
In 15 states, compared with 10 last year, both the legislature and the governor are anti-abortion…those joining this category include larger states like Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, as well as Georgia and Oklahoma. Maine and Pennsylvania are now strongly anti-abortion as well, if not quite as solidly.
The article goes on to outline the top priorities of anti-choice legislatures, such as banning abortions earlier in pregnancy (Indiana, Iowa, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Nebraska, among other states), pressing women to view ultrasounds (Indiana, Maryland, Montana, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Wyoming), and banning any abortion coverage by insurance companies.
So what does all this mean? It’s time to put our boxing gloves on, pro-choicers. Not that we ever really took them off…but it’s going to be a tough road ahead! We can’t rest on our laurels.
Courtesy of NARAL Pro-Choice America
Today is the 38th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade. This decision is the cause of controversy – and relief – for many. For me, Roe is validation of a woman’s right to make decisions that concern her bodily integrity.
The right to choose has inextricable social and economic consequences. Without the ability to determine one’s reproductive future, women face being trapped in lower social, educational and financial strata, which not only impacts her life, but that of her family and community. It also gives rape victims who find themselves pregnant some peace of mind that they will not have to be further tortured by carrying to term the product of their attack.
In an ideal world, there would be no need for abortion, but sadly, with every penny that goes towards abstinence only education, that ideal fades further into the background. Medically accurate sexual education and preventative measures – birth control, condoms, etc. – need to be widely available.
Thankfully, there are many organizations that work hard to make sure this happens, and to keep a woman’s right to privacy on the law books. Several of these organizations have compiled tributes to Roe, which I’d like to share:
Center for Reproductive Rights, PPNYC, RH Reality Check, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (via Huffington Post).
