January 24, 2008

Celebrating 35 years of Roe v Wade

Posted by Samhita Mukhopadhyay at 10:26PM

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It is indeed something to celebrate that for 35 years we have managed to maintain the right to obtain legal abortions, despite animosity from those against women having the right to control their own reproductive health. But the fight has not been easy and the reproductive rights of women world-wide are tenuous because of the anti-woman, anti-choice policies mandated by conservative politicians in the United States. While we may celebrate the anniversary of Roe v Wade, let's not forget the fight it has taken to keep it alive and remind ourselves it has been a continual battle against laws that systematically and fanatically attempt to prohibit Roe's application. Laws such as the global gag rule that came into effect during George Bush's first term, the partial birth abortion ban held up by the SCOTUS this past year, or the Hyde Amendment a 30 year old law that severely restricts access to abortion by poor women and women of color, show us the fight to keep Roe alive and abortion accessible has been a difficult one.

Furthermore, it is important to remember during the anniversary of Roe v Wade, that reproductive justice for women is not just about the right to abortion. As a result of organizing groups such as Sister Song, California Latinas for Reproductive Justice and Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice, among others the definition of choice has been expanded in scope and has led to the development of the reproductive justice sector. According to ACRJ,

We believe reproductive justice is the complete physical, mental, spiritual, political, economic, and social well-being of women and girls, and will be achieved when women and girls have the economic, social and political power and resources to make healthy decisions about our bodies, sexuality and reproduction for ourselves, our families and our communities in all areas of our lives.

A campaign for reproductive justice includes a more holistic approach to women's health, rights and the health of our families. Reproductive justice is not just about our right to choose, but about sex education, access to reproductive health services, health care, healthy families, immigration rights, queer rights and the fight against racism. It is the fight for all women, despite race, class, gender, sexuality ethnicity or citizenship status, to have the right to make healthy choices for their own personhood. A fundamental right that has been made invisible by an anti-choice movement that has pandered to the religious right.

Mainstream coverage in the fight for reproductive justice has been shifted to the right by right wing messaging that has become one of our greatest challenges. Anti-choice, or as some like to call forced child-birth propaganda, has pitted communities against each other, characterizing pro-choice folks as anti-family, irresponsible, anti-religious, anti-faith, promiscuous and anti-baby. Outside of the straight up shaming of women, the worst piece of messaging young women have received through the anti-choice campaign is that we are in some way deserving of our "ill-found fate" (be it pregnancy or STD's) because of bad choices we have made. Pro-lifers use imagery of happy families, religion and a supposed moral authority to cover up the vicious nature of anti-choice laws that diminish the lives of women and is a serious threat to our health and well-being.

But this year, let's take it back. It is time for us to steal our words back and remind the world that we care about our families, our health and our communities. That we are fighting for rights and choices, not the destruction of our society as the social conservatives will have us think.

To commemorate the anniversary of Roe v Wade it is blog for choice day and the focus is on politics and why we should not only be pro-choice, but also vote pro-choice. In an election year it is that much more important for us as women and feminists and supporters of women and their rights, that we insist on voting for candidates that support the reproductive rights and justice of all women.

I vote pro-choice because I believe that women have the right to choose what happens to their bodies. I vote pro-choice because I love myself, my friends, sisters and my communities that would be deeply hurt by any more cutbacks to their reproductive rights. I vote pro-choice because I believe that women have the right to live healthy lives and be treated as citizens that get basic human rights. I vote pro-choice because I believe women should not have to die from lack of access to reproductive health care. I vote pro-choice because I believe we can win, because I believe we can take the debate back and we can organize a successful movement for reproductive justice. I vote pro-choice because I am sick of women having to continue to stay poor and if one choice can help them get out of the cycle, I support it. I vote pro-choice because I believe government that doesn't allow half its constituents basic human rights--is not a democracy--and therefore treats women as second class citizens. And finally, I vote pro-choice because I don't believe we live in a time we can afford to not be pro-choice.