September 29, 2008

Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards come to LA Oct.11!

Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards will be making an appearance at Skylight Books in Los Feliz to discuss their new book, Abortion and Life.

Details here.

I am crazy about Baumgardner and Richards!  Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism and the Future has become a staple part of my courses for the last several years.  Their ability to speak to young women in an intelligent and down-to-earth manner is unprecedented.  Their visit to Los Angeles is not to be missed.

September 16, 2008

New blog:The Culture Wars: Abortion Edition by Laura Frankel

Filed under: Politics — Tags: , , , — Melanie @ 6:37 pm

Check out Laura Frankel’s watch on all issues and propositions related to our right to choose.  Click here.

Posted September 12, information on Prop. 4 on California’s ballot.

“Proposition 4, legally named Waiting Period and Parental Notification Before Termination of Minor’s Pregnancy is an initiative that, if passed, would change California’s constitution. It is worth noting, however that many propositions that go to voters in California are in the form of amendments to the constitution, and it is not at all on the same level with amending the federal constitution. In this election alone, there are three other constitutional amendments on the ballot. If passed, the initiative would prohibit abortion for un-emancipated minors until 48 hours after a doctor has notified the minor’s parent or legal guardian. If there is REPORTED child abuse (i.e. incest/molestation/rape) then exceptions can be made—but these exceptions, it is worth noting, require a judicial hearing and permission of a judge. Most experts who understand youth cultures and the psychology of rape/incest/molestation, or anyone with children and/or common sense, understand that this initiative is not a way to get parents notified about their daughters choices, but is, in effect, a ban on abortion for minors. Supporters of the initiative would argue that this is in fact the point; if you eliminate abortion for minors then you eliminate teen pregnancy by eliminating sex—the theory being that girls under 18 are only sexually active because they know they can simply attain an abortion if necessary. This, however, remains to be seen, and is both infantilizing and paternalistic…in my opinion, of course.”

« Newer Posts