Archive | May, 2011

RIP Dr. Tiller

31 May drtiller

Today marks the 2-year anniversary of Dr. George Tiller’s murder at the hands of an anti-abortion extremist. Dr. Tiller was a brave man who provided abortion care for women who desperately needed it, but couldn’t find it elsewhere. While the loss of Dr. Tiller remains devastating, it is heartwarming to see so many feminists paying tribute to his life and work today.

Unfortunately, today also serves as a stark reminder of the violence perpetrated by terrorists in the name of “pro-life” (the irony is never lost on me). According to NARAL,

Since 1993, eight clinic workers – including four doctors, two clinic employees, a clinic escort, and a security guard – have been murdered in the United States. Seventeen attempted murders have also occurred since 1991. In fact, opponents of choice have directed more than 6,100 reported acts of violence against abortion providers since 1977, including bombings, arsons, death threats, kidnappings, and assaults, as well as more than 156,000 reported acts of disruption, including bomb threats and harassing calls.

And this nonsense didn’t stop when Tiller died. Case in point: just last week, a man was arrested for plotting to kill clinic personnel at a Madison, Wisconsin Planned Parenthood.

Given the high level of violence and intimidation aimed at abortion providers and clinic staff, it is not surprising that the number of doctors who are trained, qualified and willing to provide abortion services is declining. Extremist anti-choice forces have succeeded in creating an atmosphere of fear that deters doctors from entering the field and others from providing services, thus further restricting women’s access to abortion. When coupled with other anti-choice efforts — including (but certainly not limited to) parental interference laws, mandatory waiting periods and counseling, the uneven geographic distribution of abortion-related services, and allowance of physician refusal — this paints a bleak picture for women seeking abortion care.

So here’s a virtual high-five and cheers to those doctors and clinic workers brave enough to stare down threats the size of Oklahoma City to help women and provide them with the medical care that is their right. I thank you.

Be sure to check out posts on Dr. Tiller’s work and life at Feministing, Feminists For Choice, PRCH, and RH Reality Check.

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Abortion Rates in U.S. Drop, Except for Poor Women

25 May i-am-pro-choice-7

Abortion is in the news again (shocker). According to TIME, the U.S. abortion rate has dropped overall, except among poor women:

Between 2000 and 2008, abortions among American women aged 15 to 44 fell 8%, reaching a low of 19.6 abortions per 1,000 women. The decline applied to most groups: notably, the abortion rate declined 18% among African American women over that time period and 22% among teens aged 15 to 17.

However, women living in profound poverty were the one exception. Women whose incomes fell below the federal poverty level ($10,830 for a single woman with no children) accounted for 42% of all abortions in 2008. Between 2000 and 2008, the abortion rate among the lowest-income women climbed from 44 to 53 abortions per 1,000 women — an increase of 18% overall.

Why do poorer women seem to be bucking the trend? Well, it doesn’t take an Einstein to figure out it’s likely because economic hardships limit women’s access to contraception, including emergency contraception, which leads to more unintended pregnancies. And it logically follows that for those living below the poverty line, abortion is a necessary alternative to expanding one’s family.

Cue the anti-choice cries that abortion “targets” the poor and people of color. Whomp, whomp. It’s more like the poor and people of color are on the receiving end of the capitalist, economic shaft. Which is why so many pro-choice advocates are in favor of taxpayer funding for abortion services — and contraception. Forced motherhood for those with reduced economic opportunities only breeds a cycle of more poverty and hardships.

And apparently, not only do the costs associated with unintended pregnancies fall on the backs of the poor, but also on taxpayers:

At the national level, the current costs to taxpayers of unintended pregnancy — including births, abortions, miscarriages and infant medical care — reach $9.6 to $12.6 billion per year, according to a study by the Brookings Institution Center on Children and Families. At the state level, the annual costs are similar, about $11 billion, according to a study by Sonfield.

Call me crazy, but the solution doesn’t seem to be further reducing access to abortion or family planning services, but rather investing in underserved communities.

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Women Around the Globe: News Roundup

22 May globe

A Saudi Arabian woman behind a social media campaign encouraging women to drive cars has been detained by authorities for her actions. See Jezebel.

Hundreds of Ugandan women marched in a protest against rising food and fuel prices and recent brutality by police and other security operatives. See Ms. Magazine.

British Justice Secretary Ken Clarke suggests some types of rape are more serious than others. See Huffington Post.

Family planning hits cultural gap in rural Nepal. A woman who conceived 26 children during the last 30 years shares her story. See Women’s eNews.

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Are SlutWalks Awesome…Or Offensive?

16 May alg_slutwalk3

It seems you can’t read a paper or blog these days without articles about SlutWalks — protests against victim-blaming and rape culture — popping up. I’ll take this opportunity to add to that growing pile of stories.

I admit, when I first heard of SlutWalks, I was instantly conflicted. While I will fight to my death defending the notion that dressing or behaving a certain way is — under NO circumstances – an invitation for rape, I couldn’t help wondering how using a pejorative term furthers the rights of sexual assault victims. Luckily, as quickly as I had become conflicted, I came to my senses. I realized the term “SlutWalk” bothered me because I was buying into the myth of the slut.

This is very alarming. Me, a die-hard feminist whose existence centers on the belief that women have every right to choose their lifestyles, had succumbed to this irrational stereotype. Momentarily, but nevertheless, I had. And that, my friends, is a huge red flag: the acceptance of slut mythology is so ingrained in our culture that it can set up camp in an otherwise sex-positive, feminist brain.

Once I regained my sanity, I realized how genius the concept is. Much like Inga Muscio’s Cunt, SlutWalks are reclaiming the word “slut.” The founders of SlutWalk in Toronto explain,

Historically, the term ‘slut’ has carried a predominantly negative connotation. Aimed at those who are sexually promiscuous, be it for work or pleasure, it has primarily been women who have suffered under the burden of this label. And whether dished out as a serious indictment of one’s character or merely as a flippant insult, the intent behind the word is always to wound, so we’re taking it back. “Slut” is being re-appropriated.

We are tired of being oppressed by slut-shaming; of being judged by our sexuality and feeling unsafe as a result. Being in charge of our sexual lives should not mean that we are opening ourselves to an expectation of violence, regardless if we participate in sex for pleasure or work. No one should equate enjoying sex with attracting sexual assault.

YES! I applaud this movement for its boldness and ingenuity. Despite advancements over the years for sexual and victims’ rights, true success will never come to fruition so long as society embraces victim-blaming. Nor will perpetrators sufficiently be brought to justice if law enforcement — who are supposed to protect and advocate for victims — participate in slut-shaming or sexual profiling. To that police officer in Toronto who said that women “should avoid dressing like sluts in order to not be victimized,” I say try being on the receiving end of sexual harassment or assault and see what it’s like to be called a slut.

The bottom line is that no woman should ever be asked what she was wearing or how she was acting in response to reports of unwanted sexual advances. Rape is rape, period. It doesn’t matter whether you’re wearing a skirt, pants, a low-cut dress or a freaking snow suit. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been drinking or even if you’re considered sexually “promiscuous.” No means no, and the onus should never fall on the victim.

If you are interested in supporting or participating in a SlutWalk, see if one is coming to your town!

*** Please note, this post was originally published on FeministsforChoice.com, where I am a contributing writer***

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Links We Love

15 May extra-extra-paper

Is Obama Pro-Choice?, Feministing

Mother Loses Custody Battle for Having Breast Cancer, Ms. Magazine

Cheer Her Rapist? Let’s Make Noise Over This, Women’s eNews

Kansas Passes Restrictive Abortion Insurance Law, Jezebel

An Entreaty to Rational Pro-Life Supporters, Feminists for Choice

10 Things I Learned From My Mother

8 May mother-daughter

As this Mother’s Day comes to a close, I’d like to thank my mother for all that she has done for — and with — me these past 29 years. She mastered the art of parenting while remaining one of my closest confidants, even during those rocky adolescent years, which is a skill I still admire to this day. She also taught me a crap load, whether I realized it at the time or not. While it would be impossible to catalog everything she has taught me, I’ve jotted down the top 10 lessons my mom passed on to her youngest child (moi!). In no particular order (well, except for #1):

1. Girls can do anything boys can do. And more often than not, they can do it better.

2. It’s ok to talk about poop. And farts.

3. You may not agree with someone’s choice(s), but you can — and should — love and support them anyways.

4. Having a period sucks, but you have to just suck it up and hope your cramps go away sooner rather than later.

5. Love and respect yourself above all else; otherwise, you open the door for others to treat you badly.

6. Treat others how you would like to be treated.

7. Honesty is the best policy. Even if/when it can get you in trouble.

8. The kids who make fun of you during childhood are really just jealous of you. (While this may or may not have been true, it sure made me feel better!)

9. Travel the world, read tons of books, go to graduate school, take that wine tasting class… In short, do everything you’ve ever wanted to do before settling down (if you so choose).

10. Do the best you can do. This applies to all facets of life — school, love, friendships, being human.

Thanks, Mom! And happy Mother’s Day to all the mamas out there!

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Reproductive Coercion is Abuse, Too

5 May DomesticViolence

I caught last night’s Law & Order: SVU episode, which featured John Stamos (yummm) as a reproductive abuser (not yummm), and it got me thinking. How many viewers dismissed the episode, not recognizing reproductive abuse as a real and viable threat?  After all, Stamos’ character wasn’t slapping, punching or violently raping his victims. So how is impregnating women without their knowledge and consent abuse?

The most basic answer is that reproductive abuse is an extension of domestic violence. Men who are physically and emotionally abusive may also sabotage their partners’ birth control as a means of further control over the relationship (“Now you’re mine forever”). This in and of itself may be shocking to some; but what is most disturbing is how pervasive the practice is.

A study by the National Domestic Abuse Hotline found that:

1 in 4 women who agreed to answer questions after calling the hot line said a partner had pressured them to become pregnant, told them not to use contraceptives, or forced them to have unprotected sex… There were stories about men refusing to wear a condom, forcing sex without a condom, poking holes in condoms, flushing birth control pills down the toilet.

Another study, conducted by UC Davis professor Elizabeth Miller, found that a third of women reporting partner violence experienced reproductive coercion, as did 15 percent of women who had never reported violence.

Reproduction coercion is a means for abusers to further entrap their partners in a cycle of violence and control. Think about it: once a child is introduced to a relationship, the ties between mother and father are deepened and, particularly in the case of abusive relationships, further complicated. Now with a child to care and provide for, victims may feel trapped and unable to leave their abusive partner for fear of breaking up the family unit, because of financial difficulties, or for fear of retaliation — or any combination of these.

This phenomenon is not a far cry from what people generally think of as sexual abuse and rape. In both cases, one party does not or can not consent to what is being done to them. Furthermore, the power structures are unequal in both scenarios: one party is vulnerable and the other is manipulative and abusive.

Reproductive coercion is also a very cunning way for abusers to solidify control over their partners, as their victims may not even be aware of the sabotage at play or recognize it as problematic. Scary, right?

So, to recap: reproductive abusers are abusers too. Even if they don’t leave black and blue marks on their partners, they are controlling their partners through coercion and undermining their right to bodily autonomy.

If you suspect you are a victim of reproductive abuse, or someone you know may be, please call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Hotline at (919) 929-7122.

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HR3 Up For Vote Tomorrow

3 May capitol-hill

I know, it feels like a nightmare replaying over and over again. HR3, one of the most anti-woman pieces of legislation in Congress right now, is up for a vote tomorrow.

As a refresher, here’s HR3 in a nutshell:

  • It manipulates the tax code to push forward an anti-choice — and anti-woman — agenda
  • It would make it virtually impossible for private insurance companies that participate in the new health system to offer abortion coverage to women (it eliminates tax credits for any insurance plan that covers abortion care)
  • It denies pregnant women access to life-saving procedures via expanded conscience clauses

This bill is likely to pass the House; so likely in fact, that I’d bet my life savings on it. But, there may be a light at the end of the shitty conservative tunnel. If HR3 passes the House and went on to pass in the Senate, Obama’s senior advisors are recommending he veto it.

Here’s what the Office of Management and Budget had to say about it:

The Administration strongly opposes H.R. 3 because it:  intrudes on women’s reproductive freedom and access to health care; increases the tax burden on many Americans; unnecessarily restricts the private insurance choices that consumers have today; and restricts the District of Columbia’s use of local funds, which undermines home rule.  Longstanding Federal policy prohibits Federal funds from being used for abortions, except in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the woman would be endangered.  This prohibition is maintained in the Affordable Care Act and reinforced through the President’s Executive Order 13535.  H.R. 3 goes well beyond these safeguards by interfering with consumers’ private health care choices.  The Administration also strongly supports existing provider conscience laws that have protected the rights of health care providers and entities for over 30 years, and it recognizes and supports the rights of patients.  The Administration will strongly oppose legislation that unnecessarily restricts women’s reproductive freedoms and consumers’ private insurance options.

If the President is presented with H.R. 3, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill. (Via RH Reality Check.)

Let’s hope Barry does the right thing.

While we wait, however, YOU can do the right thing by contacting your Congress representatives and telling them to vote NO on HR3!

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Equal Opportunity Policy Now Includes Gender Identity, Pregnancy

2 May eo

Well, this is certainly a step in the right direction. The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a revision to its Equal Opportunity policy, which now covers current and future federal government employees based on gender identity and pregnancy.

Ms. Magazine explains,

Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis updated policies on gender discrimination as part of an annual requirement for a written policy statement expressing its commitment to equal opportunity in employment. “I am expressing my personal commitment to ensure that the U.S. Department of Labor is a model workplace, free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, which fosters a work environment that fully utilizes the capabilities of every employee,” said Secretary Solis. “It is my goal that we achieve and maintain a high-quality, diverse workforce at all organizational levels throughout the department.”

This is great news, especially for the transgender community and its supporters.But wouldn’t it be more awesome if the Department of Labor would guarantee equal pay? There will never be a “model workplace” when women are denied equal pay.

It’s truly disgusting that despite major advances for women in educational and social strata, we are still underpaid in virtually every employment sector compared to our male counterparts. It’s one of those things that my brain refuses to wrap around. How does having ovaries decrease one’s economic worth?

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Get Involved: The No More Excuses Campaign

1 May rapeisrape_big

I love a good activist campaign, so you can only imagine how stoked I was to learn of Ms. Magazine’s & the Feminist Majority Foundation’s No More Excuses campaign.

In a nutshell, the campaign’s goal centers on encouraging law enforcement to take rape seriously, with two specific goals. First, to get the FBI to update its archaic definition of rape — “the carnal knowledge of a female, forcibly and against her will” (note the inclusion of “forcible,” which, as you’ll recall, was used by conservatives earlier this year in an attempt to restrict abortion access). Second, to ensure that city police departments quickly test all available rape kit evidence in order to help combat the serious backlog of untested kits sitting in precincts across the country.

Please check out their online campaign headquarters. From there, you can quickly take action and make a difference! For example, you can email the Department of Justice, send a message to the Chiefs of Police Association and even find out your community’s rape kit backlog. And of course, tell a friend about the campaign.

Make sure all levels of law enforcement know: RAPE IS RAPE and it must be taken seriously.

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