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[Ginger]

I am not looking to get into a debate surrounding the morality or legalities of abortion, but would like to know the following:

Is it possible to be anti-choice and still be a feminist?

I need to write a paper for a political theory class on a debate currently being waged in feminism and have decided to go with this.  I'm torn because I think that feminism is about equality plain and simple and is something that should be all encompassing.  However, reproductive rights are something I take very seriously and don't want them infringed upon by anyone. 

Just looking for some opinions.

[sassypurple]

Hm.  Last semester I watched Therese Shechter’s film “I was a Teenage Feminist" for my WS class and there was some discussion of this topic.

[Marianne]

Is it possible to be anti-choice and still be a feminist?

My initial reaction is-no way!

But I suppose some may see it as women-positive to "save" them from the trauma of abortion, etc.

But personally,I can't see it that way. If you are for empowering women, you can't be anti-choice.

[Barmaid]

Hmm...that's a good question.

I'll take a completely different approach for argument's sake:

Being a feminist does not mean believing that women can do anything and everything they want.  We don't believe that being a woman gives a person the right to commit murder, to steal, to rape, etc.

So, if a person truly believes that abortion fits into the same category as those things, then yes, it's very possible.  It's just another thing on their list of things that no one should do.  If men could have babies, they don't think men should be able to have abortions either.

Of course, that's the point.  Since it is a choice that only women encounter, it can't escape being a gender issue.  And because this huge difference between men and women exists, there are simply some issues where you can't just use the "complete equality" yardstick.


I miss college...

[sassypurple]

That's a good point Barmaid, I found an interesting article that said this

"

Breaking down that one very basic definition, feminism has three components. It is a movement, meaning a group working to accomplish specific goals. Those goals are social and political change -implying that one must be engaged with the government and law, as well as social practices and beliefs. And implicit to these goals is access to sufficient information to enable women to make responsible choices. "

It followed up by saying that feminism wants you to be who you are but with a political consciousness.     We provide our own definitions of feminism and it morphs to our needs, not vice versa. It is individual and fluid.

And yes, I did have a very strong drink after work.

[Ginger]

Thanks ladies!  I love good discussion.  I'm with Marianne, my initial gut reaction is a big hell no, but I hate that.

I have also gotten to the point where I refuse to call it "pro-life".  I'm all pro-life, but for me, it's not my freaking right to determine what a woman should or should not do with her body; thus, it's "anti-choice". 

I am also having a heck of a hard time finding prolife feminist peer reviewed lit on the subject.  It's so hard to wade through all the right wing religious nut stuff.  I also worry because it's totally tilting my bias towards the subject.  Fuck, I have to have an annotated bibliography done for Wednesday and have a midterm on Monday for a class I hate and haven't been attending. Ugh!