MetaFilter posts tagged with abortion and feminism

Fourth Wave?

eviemath — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:35:15 -0800

'I'm sick of being ashamed." Three days ago, an anti-harassment activist said those words to me in a flat above Cairo's Tahrir square, as she pulled on her makeshift uniform ready to protect women on the protest lines from being raped in the street. Only days before, I'd heard exactly the same words from pro-choice organisers in Dublin, where I travelled to report on the feminist fight to legalise abortion in Ireland. I had thought that I was covering two separate stories – so why were two women from different countries and backgrounds repeating the same mantra against fear, and against shame?

The mood of hope that so recently swept Europe, America, the Middle East and cyberspace is collapsing into confusion and social tension, and social tension is being channelled, in part, into suspicion of minorities, immigrants, people of colour, and women and girls. Sexism often functions as a pressure-release valve in times of social unrest – and when it does, it takes different forms, depending on local values. Right now, in Egypt, it's groping, heckling and mob attacks; in Ireland, it's rape apologism and a backlash against abortion and sexual equality; on the internet, it's vicious slut-shaming and "revenge porn". But this time, women are refusing to take it any more.

If they are going to legislate my anatomy, I see no reason why I cannot mention it.

emjaybee — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 19:35:29 -0800

"And finally, Mr. Speaker, I'm flattered that you're all so interested my vagina, but 'no' means 'no.'" After this pointed observation, Michigan Representative Lisa Brown (D) was subsequently barred from speaking on a bill about the retirement of school employees. Twitter responds. Meanwhile, many remember a similar kerfuffle over the word "uterus" in Florida last May.

Stag Party

Artw — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:01:53 -0800

The GOP’s woman problem is that it has a serious problem with women. Frank Rich on George Stephanopoulos's unanswered question, how the Republicans have shifted to being the party of misogyny since the 70s, and why Mitt Romney would be just as bad as Rick Santorum.

Machisma

the young rope-rider — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:46:53 -0800

Machisma: How a mix of female empowerment and steamy soap operas helped bring down Brazil’s fertility rate and stoke its vibrant economy.

"Clay and many magazine people told me not to include a lesbian article in the first issue—and so, of course, we did."

zarq — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 08:19:25 -0800

The December 20, 1971 issue of New York Magazine came bundled with a 40-page preview of the first periodical created, owned, and operated entirely by women. The first issue sold out in eight days. 40 years later, New York Magazine interviews Gloria Steinem and the women who launched Ms. Magazine. (single page version.) From the same issue: How the Blogosphere Has Transformed the Feminist Conversation From the preview issue: Ms. Magazine's Declaration of Independence. Mentioned in this article: * Editor's Letter: What Is Ms. and What Is It Doing in New York? * "The Housewife’s Moment of Truth" * "I Want a Wife" * "Down With Sexist Upbringing" Also: * "Sisterhood" * "How to Write Your Own Marriage Contract" The 30th Anniversary issue of New York Magazine included a brief interview/profile of "Gloria Steinem: First Feminist"

A womb with a view

dejah420 — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 08:30:41 -0800

Abortion has always been a hotspot in the culture wars. But of late, the anti-abortion movement has had some huge wins, often sliding in under the radar of pro-choice supporters. Idaho bans abortions after the 20th week, claiming that mother's shouldn't have the right to make a fetus uncomfortable. Nebraska also banned abortion after the 20th week, so did Oklahoma. Oregon, Minnesota, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Florida, Missouri, and Ohio are also considering joining the 31 states that currently have such a ban. Virginia passed a law that will shut the doors of almost every abortion clinic in the state. And various areas are now enacting laws that suggest a fetus is significantly more important than the carrier of said fetus. One judge ruled that a girl couldn't have an abortion because she had bad grammar. It is quite possible that women who are in their 40s right now may be the only generation of American women that possessed full reproductive rights for their entire child bearing years.

my secret healthcare superpower is invulnerability to other people’s cognitive dissonance.

emjaybee — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 08:11:11 -0800

Hello! I am a person who is training to become an abortion provider. As you can imagine, it is really fucking weird to be one of me, especially lately!

Choose Life.

emjaybee — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 21:24:04 -0800

It's Only Rape if They Say So House Republicans decide to fight abortion access by redefining rape.

what you need right now isn't the righteous anger the rest of the blogosphere will give you. You need more.

amberglow — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 12:28:14 -0800

For the women of South Dakota: an abortion manual --building on the history and expertise of Jane, , an underground referral and abortion-providing group in Chicago in the 60s, Molly provides the vital info women in South Dakota (and maybe elsewhere soon) need.