Comparing some feminist ideas on abortion...

[archangel__7]

Something I've noticed during my studies which touches briefly on the topic of abortion politics; and I'd like your input to make sure I'm seeing this clearly.

One feminist mantra since the sixties has been "The personal is the political." On this view, the personal situations a woman might encounter in her everyday life are not to be seen as

Comments

[stefka]

They certainly seem so to me, but most people who currently claim the title of feminist would consider me hopelessly reactionary and willingly oppressed. :) I consider them either amusing or dangerous, depending on how they happen to strike me at the time of the discussion.

Logical thought, what?

If people are absolutely determined to see oppressors behind every tree, they will find them there whether they're there or not ... or they'll create them with traps like the two conflicting statements you posted above.

[lavendersparkle]

I think your definition of 'political' is too narrow, in that you're assuming that 'political' implies something that requires government action. As a feminist, I understand that women's liberation depends upon widespread attitude changes and the reformation of many non-governmental institutions. When I decide to comfortable in my body and not be a slave to mainstream beauty standards, it is a political act. When I make attempts to examine my own privaledge and tackle my own prejudices, it is a political act. When I perform acts of random kindness, it's a political act. None of these political actions require direct governmental involvement

[mary_goodnight]

The ability to not make one's own decisions about her own body is personal and political. Women suffer a lot in that regard, rape, domestic violence, sexual harassment. etc. The problem is people think the natural conclusion to that is abortion and given the fact women are constantly treated as though they are disposable, it's no wonder they've learned to treat their children as disposable 'choices

[5010]

Laws can oppress or protect from oppression. The 2 statements say they want laws that protect them from oppression and they don't want laws that oppress them.

[magdalene74]

yeah but there you have the idea that anti abortion laws necessarily oppress women....considering how many abortions are forced on women by the men in their lives wouldnt anti abortion laws actually be liberating to a great many woman, not to mention the children they carry...

[5010]

Agreed, yet I don't think they see it that way.