Disclaimer/Context: I am a 22-year-old single, straight, middle class, college educated, white, non-religious, feminist, self-identified woman. In the four years that I have been sexually active I have had seven sexual partners, two pregnancy scares, and used emergency contraception once. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and not necessarily representative of NOW or NOW-GR.
This Sunday, January 22, 2012, marks the 39th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade, which prohibited many state and federal restrictions on access to a safe, legal abortion. The majority opinion, written by Justice Harry Blackmun, states that “[The] right of privacy, whether it be founded in the Fourteenth Amendment’s concept of personal liberty and restrictions upon state action…or in the Ninth Amendment’s reservation of rights to the people, is broad enough to encompass a woman’s decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy. The detriment that the State would impose upon the pregnant woman by denying this choice altogether is apparent.” However, he goes on to say that the court does not support completely unrestricted access to abortion and the issue of “viability” comes into play when considering an abortion, and so privacy ends up being conditional.
I’ve always found it interesting that the (provisional) right to privacy—rather than women’s rights or even the separation of church and state—was cited as the reason for the ruling. Don’t get me wrong, I completely agree with the concept that what I do with my body is none of your business. But in my experience, all anti-choice arguments are rooted in either patriarchy or religion (usually both). If you believe that abortion is murder and therefore in violation of one of God’s commandments, fine. If you believe that life begins at conception, and from then on that single-cell entity which cannot think, breathe, or survive on its own takes precedence over your own health, habits, financial situation, desire (or lack thereof) to be a parent, and anything else you may have had planned for your life, fine. If you believe that a woman’s sole purpose in life is to bear children, or that women are incapable of making mature, healthy decisions about their own bodies, fine.
But that is your belief system, your morals, your religion. NOT mine.
In a nation founded on civil liberties, inalienable rights, and the separation of church and state, the very idea that a fetus’ right to life trumps a woman’s right to a life of her own choosing seems utterly ridiculous. But the controversy surrounding Roe v. Wade continues to this day, proving that the personal is extremely political. In fact, 2011 showed record levels of new restrictions on abortion, demonstrating that our fight for reproductive justice and bodily autonomy is far from over.
So this Sunday I will be celebrating the ownership of my own uterus by enjoying some sushi and wine, and I encourage everyone to take a moment to think about the choices we take for granted, and—if the tenuous premise of Roe v. Wade and the mass efforts of conservatives in 2011 to undermine it are any indication—how easily some of our choices could no longer be ours.
November is Native American Heritage Month. NOW GR devotes much of its time on this website to talking about current events and issues that impact women’s lives. In honor of Native American Heritage Month, this article is dedicated to raising awareness about issues facing Native American women.
Due to the fact that Native American populations often live lives that are segregated from the larger population combined with romanticism about their cultures perpetrated by the media, the very real problems facing Native Americans, and Native American women in particular, are often overlooked or ignored. These problems, while similar to those faced by women nationwide, are perpetrated on a much grander scale and occur within a quagmire of confused legal jurisdiction and tribal rights.
Consider these facts:
1 out of 3 Native women will be raped in her life.
3 out of 4 Native women will be physically assaulted.
Native women are murdered at 10 times the national average.
Domestic violence and assault occur at 2.5 times the rate of other groups in the United States.
88% of the violent crimes against native women are committed by individuals of another race.
Over 70% of sexual assaults are never reported.
Native governments are allowed to prosecute 0% of cases involving non-Indian perpetrators.
While domestic violence, assault, and rape occur throughout the general population, Native American women are particularly vulnerable to these crimes for a myriad of reasons. Alcohol use is high in reservation-based populations, as is poverty and unemployment. Education is generally less accessible and underfunded. These factors combine with tribal versus federal land rights, legal jurisdiction for prosecution, the history of the federal government’s treatment of Native American populations, and geographic and cultural isolation. All of this can result in a volatile and dichotomous situation – combining powerlessness and cultural pride, forced dependence and independence of spirit, and victimization and victimizing behaviors.
There have been some promising changes, recently, including the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010, which is intended to give tribal governments more power on their lands. However, there is still a long way to go. Native women still hang in a limbo of lack of legal protection and societal vulnerability.
So, this month, we challenge you to Do Something: learn more, educate yourself, talk to your friends and family about issues facing Native American women. Watch the video below and visit the following websites for more information.
Last Friday night witnessed the launch of a new women’s magazine: KHLOE . The name is an acronym, standing for:
K- Klothes & Style
H- Health & Fitness
L- Love & Relationships
O- Opportunity
E- Empowerment
While the first three letters are expected components of your typical women’s magazine, the last two are what sets KHLOE apart. Opportunity highlights a few women each month who are making their mark on the creative world, while Empowerment features everyday activists who are changing the world by chasing their dreams, speaking their minds, and encouraging others to do the same. One such individual featured in Empowerment is our very own Social Media Chair, Jef McClimans. Jef was interviewed about his involvement with feminist issues and activism for the premiere issue, print preview available for a limited time here.
NOW-GR President, Dani Vilella, delivered an entertaining and informative keynote speech at the launch party that addressed mainstream media images and expectations of women perpetuated by existing magazines that also claim to “empower” women, and explained how KHLOE’s implementation is much different (video clip/excerpts from speech).
While KHLOE is not a hardcore political/feminist magazine with exclusively intellectual and activist content, it is neither one of the vapid fashion magazines we are so used to passing (and even occasionally buying and reading) in the check-out lane. KHLOE seeks to “change the face of women’s media, one issue at a time,” and we at NOW-GR are incredibly excited to see where these driven young women will take that mission.
On Saturday, November 12, 2011 from 2pm-6pm in Smith Hall the National Organization for Women’s Greater Grand Rapids Chapter will be holding their annual 50/50 Holiday Craft Sale. Come get an early start on your Holiday shopping. Choose from creative crafts and baked goods to give for that special someone on your list. We will have a wide range of vendors present that will be donating 50% of sales back to the Grand Rapids chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Please consider stopping by and seeing what we have to offer and make sure to invite your friends too!
If you are interested in being a vendor at the event, or have questions, please contact Kelly at fundraising@nowgr.org
Love Your Body Day is just around the corner. October 19th is a day to celebrate your body the way it is, even if it doesn’t fit the ideal that is portrayed by popular culture and media. This year the Grand Rapids chapter of the National Organization for Women and Grand Valley State University’s Women’s Center will be hosting a showing of Jean Kilbourne’s Killing Us Softly 4. In the documentary, Kilbourne discusses the negative impact that advertising has had on how women are viewed in our society, and how they view themselves on an individual level.
Negative body image is a struggle women and girls deal with around the world. 81% of American girls have dieted by the time they are 10 years old, 25% of Swedish 7 year olds have dieted to lose weight, and 41% of Japanese schoolgirls who were as young as 6 think they are too fat. This is not an issue that girls grow out of. One study indicated that 80% of American women are dissatisfied with their bodies
Such a large issue needs attention. Love Your Body Day aims to spread awareness of not only negative body image, but also the consequences that stem from it such as depression and eating disorders. Please join us October 18th at 7 pm at the Eberhard Center Auditorium on GVSU’s Pew Campus. It’s sure to be a great event that provides a lot of food for thought!
‘Domestic violence stops when men challenge men.’ Tom Cottrell’s simple statement Thursday night at the Step Out, Step Up March underlined a desperate need for male accountability in American society. It is an unfortunate reality that Americans live in a culture of violence, and that there is a sickeningly skewed percentage of male perpetrators of this violence. The Bloom Collective teamed up with NOWGR Thursday evening to literally blow the whistle on this societal disease.
Step Out, Step Up – Men Against Violence was not only a call to men to speak up but also a chance for all attending to give a voice to the anger and pain of those that have and continue to suffer due to violence. Armed with whistles and signs, participants braved the rain and marched to various significant points of the city, hearing speakers along the way.
Dani Vilella, President of NOWGR, kicked off the march at Rosa Parks Circle, highlighting Rosa Parks and her struggle against culturally accepted violence and degradation against African American women and men. Marchers then walked to a point behind Van Andel Arena where Colette Seguin Beighley recounted the beating that took place against a member of the LGBT community this past year. Colette underlined the refusal of Grand Rapids Police to report this beating as a hate crime, even when faced with substantial evidence that the beating was motivated by homophobia. Participants next marched to Tini Bikinis, where Jeff Smith explained why the bar is one of many examples of the use of women as marketed products for men to consume at will. Jeff explained how objectification plays a role in normalizing violence. Participants lastly marched to the YWCA, where Tom Cottrell spoke of the history of the organization and the need for men to stand up to other men and challenge one another’s views concerning violent behaviors.
If you or anyone you know is a victim of violence please contact the YWCA of greater Grand Rapids at (616) 459-4681. If you would like to get involved in stepping up against violence please contact Jeff Smith of the Kent County Sexual Assault Prevention Action Team.
Resources:
Kent County Sexual Assault Prevention Action Team:
Many times in statistics women will be referenced before men as they are more commonly the victims of domestic violence, but men are victims of domestic violence too. Approximately 15 % of males report being a victim of domestic violence. Taking a look at the Kent County Victims, of the 4,046, 2,698 were women and 1,332 were men (16 victims, sex was unknown).
Domestic violence is one of the most chronically under reported crimes. Victims may choose not to report their abuse for several reasons. They may be afraid of retaliation, don’t want to be judged, or fear authorities will not believe them.
NOW’s mission is dedicated to making legal, political, social and economic change in our society in order to eliminate sexism and end all oppression. One of NOW’s core tenants is to end all forms of violence against women.
WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
Domestic violence is commonly thought of as only physical or sexual violence against an intimate partner. Physical or sexual abuse are NOT the only dynamics included in domestic violence. Some other common characteristics of domestic violence include power and control, threats, intimidation, isolation, and emotional, verbal, and economic abuse that many times under the law are not considered criminal acts and many can not see with the naked eye. Domestic violence is systematic pattern of violent and coercive behavior used to control the thoughts, beliefs, or behaviors of an intimate partner. Domestic violence affects everyone and does not discriminate between gender, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic groups, or sexual orientation. For example, 50% of transgendered and intersex individuals have been raped or sexually assaulted by an intimate partner.
**If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence call: the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE (7233)) or the local YWCA at: 616-451-2744.
On August 1, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), headed by Kathleen Sebelius, adopted the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to include several women’s health services in the “No Cost-Sharing” category of services under the Affordable Care Act.
These services include: the full-range of FDA-approved contraceptive methods and counseling, well-woman visits, HPV testing, counseling for sexually transmitted infections, counseling and screening for HIV, breastfeeding support and supplies, domestic violence screening, and screening for gestational diabetes.
While the Affordable Care Act is complicated and there will be many details to work out in the coming months, this is a huge victory for women in several ways. First, to have an independent medical agency (IOM) make recommendations that are so in line with what the reproductive justice movement has been fighting for provides scientific legitimacy to the importance of reproductive health as a necessary service. Second, for HHS to adopt these recommendations means that, over the next few years, millions of women will gain access to services that have been elusive for many.
These new guidelines will take effect on August 1, 2012. They will apply to all new health care plans. Many plans, particularly employer sponsored plans, will be grandfathered in and will not be immediately subject to these rules. Over time, as plans develop and are adjusted, all plans will be required to comply. (Please note: Since this mandate applies to private health insurance plans, it does not apply to Medicaid and other public health insurance programs. But there is an existing protection in Medicaid that guarantees Medicaid patients access to family planning services without co-pays.)
TAKE ACTION FIn order to speed up this process, people are encouraged to call their health insurance providers and ask them to voluntarily adopt these guidelines ahead of the scheduled requirement date.
In addition to the HHS recommendations there is a Religious Exclusion Clause that has been introduced. This clause will allow religious employers to opt-out of providing the above mentioned services through the insurance offered to their employees. This clause is very narrowly worded and would not included major religious health providers, such as large hospital groups.
TAKE ACTION FHHS is holding an open public comment period on the Religious Exemption Clause. This lasts for 60 days and all comments will be considered in the final decision to include or exclude this clause. This is your chance to tell HHS that we want these services to be available to all women, regardless of their employer. While NOW GR believes that all people have the right to exercise their freedom of religion, institutional services and basic rights need to be available universally. To leave a comment, please visit: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=HHS_FRDOC_0001-0414 and click the SUBMIT A COMMENT button on the right side of the page.
Disclaimer/Context: I am a 22-year-old single, straight, middle class, college educated, white, non-religious, feminist, self-identified woman. In the four years that I have been sexually active I have had seven sexual partners, two pregnancy scares, and used emergency contraception once. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and not necessarily representative of NOW or NOW-GR.
An article about our President Dani V. and the work she is doing in West Michigan for women.
On August 1, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), headed by Kathleen Sebelius, adopted the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to include several women’s health services in the “No Cost-Sharing” category of services under the Affordable Care Act.
