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Feminism, rape culture, and the pro-life movement

August 22, 2018 by Lia Milousis Leave a Comment

In my previous post, I mentioned that I had recently finished reading Yes Means Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power & A World Without Rape. Well, I am back to discuss another one of the incredibly problematic accusations that was made in this book. And yes, we are going to be focusing once again on Jill Filipovic’s essay “Offensive Feminism: The Conservative Gender Norms that Perpetuate Rape Culture, and How Feminists Can Fight Back.” (Prepare yourselves.)

In addition to misquoting religious texts and accusing “anti-choicers” of trying to “give a fetus rights that no born person even has” (Friedman & Valenti, 2008, p. 19), Filipovic also decided to draw illogical comparisons between sexual assault and abortion. This is what she said:

“Sexual assault is not only a crime of violence and power, but also one of entitlement. So long as men feel entitled to dominate and control women’s bodies, sexual assault will continue. While issues like reproductive justice may initially seem unrelated to sexual assault, they are a crucial aspect of women’s bodily autonomy and integrity – legally forcing a woman to carry a pregnancy for nine months and give birth against her will and without her consent, or coercing certain kinds of ‘unfit’ women into not reproducing, are deeply troubling uses of women’s bodies to serve the needs, ideologies, and desires of others” (Friedman & Valenti, 2008, p. 26).

Filipovic then went on to claim that “anti-choicers” were actively supporting rape culture:

“We need to situate sexual assault within the greater cultural battles over women’s bodies, and recognize that anti-rape activism cannot be separated from action for reproductive freedom, anti-racism, LGBT rights, and broader equality; and that the opponents of those movements are the same people who have an interest in maintaining rape culture” (Friedman & Valenti, 2008, p. 27).

Now, there are many, many things that could be said in response to these claims. For example, it is intellectually dishonest to claim that pro-lifers are “legally forcing a women to carry a pregnancy for nine months and give birth against her will and without her consent”. As a pro-life woman, I have no interest in forcing women to give birth. However, I am interested in ensuring that the state does not sanction abortion, which allows doctors to systematically dismember an unborn human fetus/being/child. This has nothing to do with “forcing” women to give birth and everything to do with “forcing” men, women, and physicians to abstain from participating in the destruction of human beings.

But Filipovic’s accusation goes much deeper than this. The real claim that Filipovic is making is this: by opposing a woman’s bodily autonomy, “anti-choicers” are supporting rape culture. So let’s examine this claim.

As a pro-life woman, I would like to clearly state, once and for all, that I believe in, support, and advocate for a woman’s right to bodily autonomy. I mean, let’s be serious. I am a woman. I love women. I believe in women’s rights. I studied feminism. I am a traditional feminist. I am thankful for my bodily autonomy. I support the bodily autonomy of other women. Capiche?

However, there is a massive difference between supporting a woman’s right to bodily autonomy and supporting a woman’s right to exercise autonomy over the body of another human being (ie. the human fetus). This is where pro-life and pro-abortion advocates diverge.

You see, pro-abortion advocates believe that a woman not only has the right to control her own body, but that she also has the right to control the body inside her body (ie. the body of the human fetus). (Side note: This is why the “My body, my choice” slogan should really be “Our bodies, my choice.”).

However, as a pro-life advocate, I reject this belief. I reject the idea that another individual has the right to assert control over, perpetuate violence against, and threaten the existence of another individual. And do you want to know a secret? This is perfectly in alignment with my stance as a traditional feminist who combats rape culture!

When a man rapes a woman*, he is asserting control over and perpetuating violence against another autonomous individual. In simplified terms, he is violating the woman’s bodily autonomy.

As a pro-life woman, it is my belief in bodily autonomy (among other things) that fuels my opposition to sexual assault. And it is also my belief in bodily autonomy (among other things) that fuels my opposition to abortion.

Now, before people begin to freak out and make all sorts of unfounded accusations against me, let’s make one thing perfectly clear: I am not suggesting that abortion and sexual assault are similar. However, what I am saying is that Jill Filipovic’s claim is absolutely false.

Do “anti-choicers” actively support and maintain rape culture by “opposing” a woman’s bodily autonomy? Absolutely not. As I demonstrated, the pro-life worldview is premised on the equal distribution of human rights and bodily autonomy to all human beings, born and unborn. This is what fuels our opposition to abortion. This is what fuels our opposition to human trafficking. And this is what fuels our opposition to rape culture.

One final point: The connection between rape culture, abortion services, and businesses like Planned Parenthood is a lot more problematic than you might think. I would recommend that you watch this video and this video. The reality is that, through our activism, pro-life people have been actively combatting rape culture. And realistically, if you truly want to combat rape culture, you too must oppose the insidious way that abortion is used by Planned Parenthood to cover-up sexual abuse, sexual assault, and sexual exploitation.

 

*Note: I recognize that rape and sexual assault do not always follow this construction. However, in light of the fact that the vast majority of sexual assault is perpetrated by men against women, this is the construction that I have chosen to use.

Filed Under: Featured Posts, Feminism Tagged With: anti-choice, bodily autonomy, feminism, human trafficking, Jessica Valenti, Jill Filipovic, Planned Parenthood, pro-abortion, pro-choice, pro-life, rape, rape culture, reproductive justice, reproductive rights, sexual abuse, sexual assault, Women's rights, Yes Means Yes

National victory begins in our local communities

May 18, 2015 by Natalie Sonnen Leave a Comment

2015tpk
When the mainstream media decides to champion a cause, it can mean millions, if not billions of free advertising for that particular issue. The acceptance of same-sex marriage in our society would be a good example.
Conversely, what the media chooses to ignore is often tragic and catastrophic. Canada’s National Marches for Life attracting tens of thousands from across the county would be a good example.  The Ottawa March consistently draws more people to the steps of Parliament Hill consecutively, year after year, than any other single issue.
But the fact that the media has chosen to ignore this issue is such a great disservice to women that it is difficult to fathom.

Her name was Kate. She was a 28-year-old business woman whose story is told in “What Every Woman Needs to Know about Blood Clots” posted on the National Blood Clot Alliance “Stop the Clot” website. Kate’s symptoms started while she was in Hawaii on her honeymoon. She suffered pain in her calf that was so intense it woke her up at night. She went to an orthopedic surgeon, who ordered scans, found no problems, and dismissed her. She forgot about it. Seven months later she passed out in an airport following a flight. Medical personnel said she was dehydrated. Completely unknown to her, Kate had developed deep vein thrombosis in her calf.

Women who take their daily hormonal contraceptive are not told that it raises their risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) 300 to 500 fold. DVT causes stroke, heart attack, blindness, brain damage, and death. The pill also puts women at increased risks for various cancers, other sexually transmitted diseases, and it acts as an abortifacient.
According to a lone, but significant CBC report, there are at least 23 deaths from the birth control pill in Canada alone, and numerous other serious health affects.  Bayer has paid out over $1 billion to settle lawsuits against their birth control pills, Yaz and Yemen.
So when the media ignores an issue, it is up to us to take up the rallying cry.  American Life League is campaigning to stop the horrors that Planned Parenthood perpetuate, and they are also focusing on the birth control pill.”Organize a local event”, their web-page encourages.  Don’t wait for big media outlets to take up this cause, get active in your local community.
National victory begins at the local level. Planned Parenthood, local pharmacies, and other contraception distribution points and manufacturers are excellent venues for your event. Stand on sidewalks or other public right-of-ways. Make yours a peaceful, prayerful presence. You can hold signs about contraception and our Pill Kills signs, if you wish. Be sure you comply with all local laws.
Women deserve to know the truth about artificial birth control.

Filed Under: All Posts, Featured Posts, Reproductive Technologies Tagged With: Birth control, contraception, Planned Parenthood, The Pill

Way to go, Lila Rose

May 28, 2009 by Andrea Mrozek 2 Comments

A one-woman anti-abortion machine:

Rose stages her own sting operations at Planned Parenthood clinics, posing as a pregnant teenage girl to shine a light on what she says is the taxpayer-subsidized organization’s cover-up of sexual abuse.

She claims Planned Parenthood counselors routinely ignore their duty to report statutory rape when dealing with young girls impregnated by older men and often tell them to lie about their age or the identity of their sex partners rather than alert authorities.

____________________________

Tanya adds:

Planned Parenthood clinics have posted Rose’s picture to alert workers and U.S. News and World Report blogger Bonnie Erbe demanded to know why she had not been arrested for trespassing or fraud.”

Figures, doesn’t it?

Filed Under: All Posts Tagged With: Planned Parenthood

That’s one wealthy not-for-profit

April 27, 2009 by Andrea Mrozek 4 Comments

Planned Parenthood in the USA is a wealthy enterprise.

The abortion giant [Planned Parenthood] took home $85 million in “excess of revenue over expenses” (a nifty way of saying profits) and had an operating budget of over $1 billion for the 2007-2008 fiscal year, according to its latest annual report. Included in that budget was $350 million in “government grants and contracts” (an equally nifty way of saying your tax dollars). An increase in the number of abortions performed helped fuel the profits.

Budgets don’t lie–and 85 million “excess revenue over expenditure” ain’t too shabby. Turns out the abortion industry is recession proof, too–they are doing better business now that people are worried about finances.

Filed Under: All Posts Tagged With: Planned Parenthood

Choice pushers

April 20, 2009 by Andrea Mrozek 6 Comments

witchapple

This synopsis of comments about Sarah Palin saying she briefly considered abortion is interesting. Note the last one which mentions Canada:  

WillSeattle wrote, “…I wish we’d just move on, like they did in Canada, where it’s nobody’s business what the woman and her doctor decide.”

I think the point of Palin admitting she considered abortion shows nothing other than the pull of a bad option that appears to “resolve things” so quickly. The point should not be that Palin is a hypocrit, or that she’s denying the choice to others that she would not herself take–the point is that abortion is a magnetic, whispered seduction–“we can make this go away”–at low cost, at low risk, and you’ll never have to think about your mistake again. Abortion providers are the wicked witch in a fairy tale, holding a bright, shiny apple…

In short, it’s a malicious lie, pushed at the cost of babies’ lives and women’s health–but it’s attractive nonetheless, all in an anxious moment.

I’ve met women who were staunch pro-lifers, competent, in good marriages, OK for finances–and they briefly considered this idea that their unwanted pregnancy could just go away. I think it’s a human thing to admit. The main point is we should not be making such a vicious “choice” so easy.

________________________

Rebecca adds: The point of free will, and the definition of virtue, means choosing the right course of action when we could choose to do otherwise. I don’t think you’ll find an (honest) person on the planet who has never contemplated something they know is morally wrong: having an affair when they knew their spouse would never find out; walking out on a spouse during times of distress or conflict; stealing something under their noses; driving home when they’ve had too much to drink. We don’t judge people based on whether or not such thoughts cross their minds, we judge them based on how they behave. Someone who chooses not to have an affair when they know they could, to make a marriage work when they could end it, to scrimp and save to afford something, or do without, rather than steal it, to call a cab, or their parents, or a friend, for a lift home when they’ve had too many when they’re pretty sure they would make it safely home undetected – that’s someone being virtuous.

Filed Under: All Posts Tagged With: Planned Parenthood, Sarah Palin

Strange role models

April 13, 2009 by Andrea Mrozek 1 Comment

Those old school feminists choose strange role models: 

‘We want fewer and better children . . . and we cannot make the social life and the world-peace we are determined to make, with the ill-bred, ill-trained swarms of inferior citizens that you inflict on us.’

That ghastly message appeared in the introduction to Margaret Sanger’s 1922 book, The Pivot of Civilization.In a little-noticed incident, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently announced that she is “really in awe” of Sanger. “The 20th-century reproductive-rights movement, really embodied in the life and leadership of Margaret Sanger, was one of the most transformational in the entire history of the human race,” Clinton declaimed upon receiving an award from the organization that Sanger founded, Planned Parenthood.

I have to wonder why we don’t highlight these sorts of “women’s rights advocates” more often. Certainly does serve the pro-life cause well because Sanger is a very, er, conflicted mentor at best. And either Clinton doesn’t know all she stood for (unlikely) or she really does agree with her. In which case, I’d agree with the author of the article linked to–this certainly does “puncture the fiction that [Clinton] is a moderate.”

(cross-posted to The Shotgun)

Filed Under: All Posts Tagged With: Hillary Clinton, Planned Parenthood

Get ready for an increase in depressed women

March 25, 2009 by Andrea Mrozek 2 Comments

In a field of research with very very little consensus, it is clear that when a child is wanted–and the mother aborts–depression results.

This article shocks me. And I don’t shock easily. (I think I stopped shocking so easily way back in my Masters with my focus on Holocaust studies. I just needed to learn the material and get my degree. Excellent professors encouraged it, by the way; they didn’t want emotionally-outraged students in the classroom, so we learned to discuss the Holocaust in dispassionate terms.)

I am shocked by news that abortion clinics see women with wanted children who are aborting because they can’t afford it–and no one goes off to raise funds to help them keep the baby.

And this article reports how raising money for the abortion is supposedly deemed compassionate.

What a twisted world.

‘This was a desired pregnancy — she’d been getting prenatal care — but they re-evaluated expenses and decided not to continue,’ said Dr. Pratima Gupta. ‘When I was doing the options counselling, she interrupted me, crying, and said, ‘Dr. Gupta, I just walked here for an hour. I’m sure of my decision.'”

Other doctors are hearing similarly wrenching tales. For many Americans, the recession is affecting their most intimate decisions about sex and family planning. Doctors and clinics are reporting that many women are choosing abortions and men are having vasectomies because they cannot afford a child.

Planned Parenthood of Illinois clinics performed an all-time high number of abortions in January, many of them motivated by the women’s economic worries, said CEO Steve Trombley, who declined to give exact numbers. Abortions at Planned Parenthood’s St. Louis-area clinics were up nearly 7% in the second half of 2008 from a year earlier.

No one ever thought of adoption, either. Many, but not everyone, are feeling the pinch. And I’m quite sure we have the funds to help out here. This is the result of a pro-abortion status quo, that the Vicki Saportas of this world get busy raising abortion funds with my tax dollars (she’s American, but you get my point) instead of raising money for other avenues that don’t involve the death of the child and the subsequent depression of the mother. Well done.

_____________________

Tanya adds: I sincerely don’t understand. I know a woman who, a few years ago, ended a wanted pregnancy due to some financial issues. Two months later, when she normally would have been well into her second trimester, the family’s financial problems resolved themselves. Since then, she’s been trying to get pregnant again.

A few months back, I had a dentist’s appointment that I had to cancel because some expensive doohickey went on the car. No biggie. I just rescheduled.

Pregnancy is not a dentist’s appointment.

Filed Under: All Posts Tagged With: Planned Parenthood, Vicki Saporta

Woah–talk about mission creep

December 15, 2008 by Andrea Mrozek 1 Comment

I stumbled upon this post, which pokes fun at those who would like to see Margaret Sanger removed from the Women of our Time display in the National Portrait Gallery down in Washington DC.

Fine. But there I learned that Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, had this to say about abortion (from Wikipedia): 

Sanger notes that her 1916 opposition to abortion was based on the taking of life: “To each group we explained what contraception was; that abortion was the wrong way—no matter how early it was performed it was taking life; that contraception was the better way, the safer way—it took a little time, a little trouble, but was well worth while in the long run, because life had not yet begun.” (emphasis mine)

Someone should really should let Planned Parenthood know. They need to change their mission and stop taking life, alternatively, they could get a new founding mentor.

If people want to make suggestions, I’ll write the letter.

Filed Under: All Posts Tagged With: Bread and Roses, Margaret Sanger, Planned Parenthood

For the gal who has everything

November 26, 2008 by Brigitte Pellerin 6 Comments

A, ahem, different kind of gift certificate. To help celebrate the holiday we observe in honour of a very famous, er, whatchamacallit, oh yeah, birth.

I wish I were making it up.

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, November 26, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Planned Parenthood of Indiana has announced just in time for Christmas that it will begin selling gift certificates at its clinics and online, which can be used for all PP services, including payment for birth control, STD testing, and abortions.

The Planned Parenthood of Indiana website says the gift cards can be used for “services or the recipient’s choice of birth control method,” and poses the question “Why not buy a loved one a gift this holiday season that they really need”?

Filed Under: All Posts Tagged With: Christmas, Planned Parenthood

Suicides on the rise

October 22, 2008 by Andrea Mrozek 1 Comment

Suicide rates are on the rise for both women and men. Read about this, here.

Suicides for white adults ages 40 to 64 rose 17 percent from 1999 to 2005, researchers said. For middle-age white men, the rate rose 14 percent to 26.9 per 100,000 in 2005 from 23.1 per 100,000 in 1999. For white women in that age group, the rate rose 19 percent to 8.2 per 100,000 from 6.9 per 100,000.

From time to time, pro-abortion advocates tell me that if abortion were so bad, really, we’d be seeing an epidemic of wounded women. Which, they then say, we’re not seeing.

Really? Seems to me we do have some problems in our culture, generally speaking, with too many people on anti-depressants, and visiting psychiatrists and all.

Now I know the difference between causation and correlation, and I am not saying abortion is causing or even correlated to this increase in suicides. What I am saying is that there’s a problem when suicide rates go up that much that suddenly–and we won’t necessarily ever be able to find a direct link. Oftentimes social problems experienced broadly can’t be directly traced to one single source.

Yet there’s no doubt that abortion causes an increase in depression, suicide and suicide ideation–on that the literature is quite clear, in spite of what the American Psychological Association claims. And so when I saw this report about increased suicides, it made me think of a possible link to abortion. The walking wounded–they are all around us–if we care enough to see.

________________________

Tanya thinks this is no coincidence. Quebec not only has the highest abortion rate in Canada, it also has the highest rate of suicides. In fact, it has the third highest rate of suicides in the industrialized world.

Filed Under: All Posts Tagged With: increased suicide, Laura Wershler, Planned Parenthood, quebec suicide rate, suicide

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