Monday, April 19, 2004
Some Feminists Won't Participate in "March for Women's Lives"
Feminists for Life will not join the upcoming "March for Women's Lives" sponsored by a coalition of abortion advocates on April 25, announced FFL President Serrin Foster. "What organizers don't seem to recognize is that too many women know the gut-wrenching truth about abortion," Foster said. As many as 25 million to 30 million American women have had one or more abortions.
Women continue to die from legal and lethal abortion, just as they did before Roe. California teen Holly Paterson, age 18, died in 2003 after taking RU-486. In February 2002, in the same state, Diana Lopez' cervix was punctured during an abortion. Though rushed to an emergency hysterectomy, she died of trauma. Foster asked, "Who will mourn for them now? This march won't bring them back."
Women are also rendered infertile, and risk future miscarriages. Dana Powell of Ohio was given RU-486 in October 2002. But Dana was left infertile after her left fallopian tube ruptured due to an undetected ectopic pregnancy. "How will this march help Dana?" asked Foster.
Twenty-nine of 38 worldwide epidemiological studies show increased risk of breast cancer after an abortion, including 13 of 15 studies on American women. Will March organizers continue to deny medical research?
March co-sponsor and outgoing President of NARAL Pro-Choice America Kate Michelman asks, "Who decides?" She had an abortion after her husband left her pregnant with three children, no house, no car, no job, and no money. "Didn't Kate deserve better than abortion?" asked Foster. "Women need to know there are perfect strangers who will help when those she counts on most let her down. The decision should not be left to those who would abandon pregnant women."
Another March organizer, Planned Parenthood's President Gloria Feldt, has said, "Roe v. Wade enabled women to participate in the social, financial and political life of this country." Foster responded, "Abortion does not 'enable' women. Women need housing, childcare, health care that includes maternity benefits, maternity leave, the ability to telecommute, a living wage and a supportive family for themselves and their children. A woman needs and deserves support from the father of the child-both emotionally and financially. The lack of support and resources are what concern women the most. Addressing these unmet needs must become our priority-not abortion."
"Abortion just masks the problem-and creates new ones," says Foster. "This march is misdirected energy."
According to the Center for the Advancement of Women, founded by former Planned Parenthood president Faye Wattleton, 51% of U.S. women of all ages oppose abortion in all or most cases for the first time since Roe v. Wade. A recent survey conducted by the Polling Company indicates that 63% of people aged 18-24 are pro-life.
"March organizers are leading women in the wrong direction. Abortion is a reflection that we have not met the needs of women. Abortion is not the best we can do. We need to focus on systematically eliminating the root cause of abortion-primarily a lack of practical resources and emotional support. We need our leaders to know that women deserve better than abortion," said Foster.
Like Susan B. Anthony and other early American feminists who celebrated women's life-giving capacity and opposed abortion, FFL seeks to address the root causes that drive women to abortion. "We refuse to choose between women and children. We refuse to choose between sacrificing our education and career plans or sacrificing our children," Foster explained.
Feminists for Life is challenging the status quo, redirecting energy of those on both sides of the debate towards woman-centered solutions.
The stories of women who have lost their health or lives to legal but lethal abortion can be found at:
http://www.feministsforlife.org/voices/index.htm and http://www.feministsforlife.org/weremember/index.htm
Women continue to die from legal and lethal abortion, just as they did before Roe. California teen Holly Paterson, age 18, died in 2003 after taking RU-486. In February 2002, in the same state, Diana Lopez' cervix was punctured during an abortion. Though rushed to an emergency hysterectomy, she died of trauma. Foster asked, "Who will mourn for them now? This march won't bring them back."
Women are also rendered infertile, and risk future miscarriages. Dana Powell of Ohio was given RU-486 in October 2002. But Dana was left infertile after her left fallopian tube ruptured due to an undetected ectopic pregnancy. "How will this march help Dana?" asked Foster.
Twenty-nine of 38 worldwide epidemiological studies show increased risk of breast cancer after an abortion, including 13 of 15 studies on American women. Will March organizers continue to deny medical research?
March co-sponsor and outgoing President of NARAL Pro-Choice America Kate Michelman asks, "Who decides?" She had an abortion after her husband left her pregnant with three children, no house, no car, no job, and no money. "Didn't Kate deserve better than abortion?" asked Foster. "Women need to know there are perfect strangers who will help when those she counts on most let her down. The decision should not be left to those who would abandon pregnant women."
Another March organizer, Planned Parenthood's President Gloria Feldt, has said, "Roe v. Wade enabled women to participate in the social, financial and political life of this country." Foster responded, "Abortion does not 'enable' women. Women need housing, childcare, health care that includes maternity benefits, maternity leave, the ability to telecommute, a living wage and a supportive family for themselves and their children. A woman needs and deserves support from the father of the child-both emotionally and financially. The lack of support and resources are what concern women the most. Addressing these unmet needs must become our priority-not abortion."
"Abortion just masks the problem-and creates new ones," says Foster. "This march is misdirected energy."
According to the Center for the Advancement of Women, founded by former Planned Parenthood president Faye Wattleton, 51% of U.S. women of all ages oppose abortion in all or most cases for the first time since Roe v. Wade. A recent survey conducted by the Polling Company indicates that 63% of people aged 18-24 are pro-life.
"March organizers are leading women in the wrong direction. Abortion is a reflection that we have not met the needs of women. Abortion is not the best we can do. We need to focus on systematically eliminating the root cause of abortion-primarily a lack of practical resources and emotional support. We need our leaders to know that women deserve better than abortion," said Foster.
Like Susan B. Anthony and other early American feminists who celebrated women's life-giving capacity and opposed abortion, FFL seeks to address the root causes that drive women to abortion. "We refuse to choose between women and children. We refuse to choose between sacrificing our education and career plans or sacrificing our children," Foster explained.
Feminists for Life is challenging the status quo, redirecting energy of those on both sides of the debate towards woman-centered solutions.
The stories of women who have lost their health or lives to legal but lethal abortion can be found at:
http://www.feministsforlife.org/voices/index.htm and http://www.feministsforlife.org/weremember/index.htm
