Amid Palin hype, a pro-life feminist's dilemma

[RadicalTexan]

Yes, that's actually the title of this article, published today on the Christian Science Monitor's web site: http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1015/p09s02-coop.html

Amid Palin hype, a pro-life feminist's dilemma
Both the Republican and Democratic parties force me to betray my core values.
By Angela Kays-Burden

from the October 15, 2008 edition

Wallkill, N.Y. - I am still not sure about Republican motives behind the choice of Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate. As I try to sort out the truth and fiction behind the barrage of attacks against Governor Palin (and my confidence in her ability to lead our country), one thing is certain: The 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling made for women during this campaign have not been made for me.

As a social worker who believes that life begins at conception, I am both pro-life and pro-woman. Both parties' platforms force me to betray my core values and choose between the two.

The White House Project, a nonprofit organization, states that support from other women is critical to increasing the number of women in politics. But, in general, feminists have led the attacks on one of their own who is close to shattering the ceiling. To them, Palin's pro-life position alone is proof that she is not fit to lead.

The sabotage of pro-life female leadership by other women is a bipartisan effort. Political action committees – Emily's List for Democrats, and WISH for Republicans – have been established on both sides to advance the careers of female political candidates. Each give money and deliver a bloc of voters to all women interested in running for public office, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religion. Only one issue determines whether a woman is worthy of their resources: abortion. The candidate must be pro-choice.

Pro-life feminism is not a contradiction. Conveniently under our progressive radar is the hushed fact that the feminist movement is rooted in pro-life activism. Founders such as Victoria Woodhull, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were active crusaders both for the progress of women, and for the unborn child. Stanton was the organizer of the nation's first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, N.Y. In 1873, she wrote: "When we consider that women are treated as property, it is degrading to women that we should treat our children as property to be disposed of as we see fit," (Julia Howe's Diary, Harvard University Library).

(snip)

more at link above


:puke:

[Sabriel]

1. I don't see anything wrong with a pro-life feminist

As long as she doesn't try to force it on other women.

Hey, Angela, it's possible to be personally pro-life and stay out of other people's lives!

[Warpy]

3. That's what Angela just doesn't get

She thinks she needs to force her religion on unwilling women to exercise her beliefs.

She's neither pro life nor a feminist. She's just another religious busybody.

[EFerrari]

7. She's a liar, too. There is no exodus from the Democratic Party.

On the contrary, we've registered so many new voters, election boards are freaking out over how to accommodate all of them.

[RadicalTexan]

8. Yes, that

nt

[SteppingRazor]

2. Meh. It's on the Monitor's op-ed page. No biggie as far as I'm concerned. n/t

[amdezurik]

4. the onlt "delimma" seems to be

picking and choosing what the author wishes to mis-characterize as the "only" reason palin has met opposition. And really in the time the quptes are from it was abortion forced on womem by the men. Since that is not the case mostly today it really does not apply. Also being anti-abortion does not equal "pro-life" much as they want to be known as that...

[pitohui]

5. if you're anti-choice you're not a feminist

i realize anybody call themselves a feminist, even my parrot call himself a feminist, but words have meaning

pro-life is just a pretty name for being anti-abortion, and the fight for safe, legal abortion is the cornerstone of being able to determine your own life story as a woman

so i don't want to hear from pro-life "feminists" they can shut the fuck up about their "dilemma" because you know what? i just don't care!

if you believe life begins at conception and the needs of a few cells outweigh the rights of a grown woman, then you are not a feminist, you have already made up your mind that a grown woman can't have the right to self determination and that a few cells are more important than her life, her decisions, her future, her happiness

i'm not a walking womb that any rapist can come along and stick his baby in me and i have to take care of it, sorry, no, that's crap

where's the dilemma? palin hates women and made rape victims pay for their own rape kits because there was a morning after pill in there to stop them from having a monster's baby -- palin is an evil person and anyone else who supports forcing a woman to have a monster's baby is evil too -- there is no dilemma here, christ

i'm tired of sociopaths pretending it's cute to pretend they have a conscience when they don't

there's no dilemma, a few cells here, a grown woman there, if you really have to struggle to decide whose rights are more important...that says all i have to know about you!

it's sad that somebody can get published spewing this crap

i agree with your :puke:

[sinkingfeeling]

6. I don't understand the 'dilemma'. You either look at a party's platform and see there are many

reasons for agreeing with them and keep your religiously-taught belief on when 'life begins' to yourself or you decide your religious beliefs are more important than anything else and need to be forced on everybody.

I find it very strange that these anti-abortionists have taken up the title of 'feminists', a term that they derided for decades. Without the ability to make choices regarding pregnancy, no woman can achieve the same level of personal freedom that males have.

Women should be free to make up their own minds regarding children without the government's involvement in any way.

[Scout]

9. "pro-life feminist" .... no such person exists n/t

[Solly Mack]

10. Piffle

[sakura]

11. Hey, Angela Kays-Burden,

Hyphenating your last name doesn't make you a feminist. Neither does calling yourself a feminist. The fact that you are married to pastor of a pentecostal church-- a church associated with groups that are against prop 8 and which believes that those who do not convert to Christianity will be eternally damned tells me an awful lot about your beliefs. And WTF is with the extreme prophecy stuff? Why not be honest and admit that you like Palin because she's an awful lot like you? You're obviously not a democrat-- why are you pretending to speak for the supposed 30% of dems that you claim are pro-life?

see http://www.midhudsonchristianchurch.com/links.php-- for links to the stuff referenced above-- Elim Fellowship, Hudson Valley Regional Prayer Movement, and ElijahList


edited to add: Also see link on her church's website for the International House of Prayer, a dominionist/latter rain/Joel's army type group.

Interesting that a woman who could be Sarah Palin's sister (based on her beliefs) is writing an article where she pretends to be torn between two parties.