Taking away my choice to decide what I do with my body is nothing less than tyranny.
I am an advocate for women’s rights. I want what I deserve as a woman and a human being: the right to choose how I live my life; the right to control my sexual and reproductive health and choices, the right to live with dignity, and the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
I am not going to highlight the recent attacks on Planned Parenthood in this country in this blog. I will say, however, that the fight for freedom is far from over. I am writing to encourage you (especially if you are a woman) to read Gloria Feldt’s, The War on Choice: The Right-Wing Attack on Women’s Rights and How to Fight Back.
Gloria Feldt, former president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and founder and president of Take The Lead, has compiled an easy-to-read argument for the right-wing fundamentalist attack on women and their reproductive rights. She argues for and very convincingly proves that the fundamentalist right’s agenda is not only to outlaw abortion, but that it goes far beyond that: it is to control women’s full reproductive and sexual rights.
Feldt gives countless pieces of evidence in her book showing how a minority of right-wing, misogynists are trying to control women (not just outlaw abortions) for political purposes. They do not care about the life of the unborn, and they surely do not care about women! They care about controlling women by controlling their reproductive rights. Let me be frank: they want to control women because they are afraid of women.
Although The War on Choice by Gloria Feldt was published in 2004, it is still relevant because the fight is not over, and only the tactics have changed (as evident by the recent faked videos to discredit Planned Parenthood, for example). In her book, Gloria illustrates how those opposed to women’s rights have fabricated lies and manipulated the public to believe nonsense. It clearly shows how propaganda and very strategic campaigns have deceived people.
In case you did not get my point above, let me be crystal clear: the fight for a women’s right to choose is not a gray area. It is black and white. It is no one else’s choice but mine whether I want to reproduce or not. And, if you are a woman reading this blog, it is also yours. It is not a politician’s right; it is not your husband’s or boyfriend’s right; it is not your mother’s, and it is not your doctor’s. It is yours and yours alone. I do not get to choose what you do with your body. If you are against abortion for religious reasons, then by all means, don’t have one. But, do not impose your religious beliefs on all women in the United States or abroad.
The following list is from The War on Choice: The Right-Wing Attack on Women’s Rights and How to Fight Back.
Imagine a country where:
- The government promotes the myth that a safe medical procedure causes a deadly disease.
- Laws require physicians to give false, ideologically-based information to trusting patients.
- The government’s largest and best-known public health organization censors its own publications under pressure from the administration.
- Appointees to scientific advisory committees claim condoms are ineffective and can cause promiscuity and disease.
- Leaders ban promising scientific research into a range of diseases because of fundamentalist religious beliefs.
- Government “experts” are appointed to health committees because of their right-wing ideology, not their knowledge.
Now guess what country this is? You got it: The United States of America!
I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking information on the subject of women’s rights, especially reproductive rights and abortion. I especially recommend this book to young women because it is vital that you understand how your basic rights are being systematically removed. I was shocked by what I read.
A bit about the author, Gloria Feldt:
Gloria Feldt is co-founder and president of Take The Lead, the new women’s leadership movement to prepare, develop, inspire, and propel women to take their fair and equal share of leadership positions across all sectors by 2025.
The bestselling author of No Excuses: 9 Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power, Gloria is an acclaimed expert on women, power, and authentic leadership. She is an inspiring keynote speaker who motivates with heart and humor as a practical activist. She is the former President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
To learn more about Gloria Feldt, visit GloriaFeldt.com. To obtain a copy of The War on Choice: The Right-Wing Attack on Women’s Rights and How to Fight Back, go to Amazon.com.
Vilma Reynoso 