Submitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger
The abortion issue is not solely about a women’s right to choose, it is about the hatred and fear of women’s sexuality. There is a subtext to this movement, shown plainly by the actions of many Anti-Abortion supporters, that goes way beyond the issue of whether abortion is murder. This is not asserting my opinion as to the validity of either side in the Anti-Abortion debate. It is not to stir up a debate for or against abortion. I’ve commented here enough for people to know where I stand on the issue. What has bothered me for a long time on this issue has been whether it is just about being for or against a women’s right to choose? If it is only about the right of choice, then I could at least accept that those who would deny it have sufficient beliefs to justify their actions, without there being another unspoken agenda. Indeed, the original initiator of the anti-abortion issue was the Roman Catholic Church.
The RCC’s position is that society should ensure a safety net to take care of babies and children after they are born. I may not agree with the Church’s teachings, but I applaud the fact that they at least recognize that if you are going to have the State ban abortions, then the State must also have responsibility for taking care of those children not aborted. This makes sense to me as a viable belief to have if you are solely against abortion.
An article in Friday’s Huffpost, got me thinking about this issue and the implications of trying to de-fund Planned Parenthood, a Non-Profit that I believe is providing extremely important services throughout our country. Fully 96% of Planned Parenthood’s services go to identification/treatment of STD’s, Cancer Screening, Contraception, and other vital women’s health services. None of these services include abortions. These are essential services needed by all women. However, the viral opposition to Planned Parenthood funding and the de-funding of its’ programs by various States, comes primarily from those opposed to abortions. Planned Parenthood provides very necessary services to the community at large that government should support. Remember it is a private not public institution, cheaper in provision of these services than can be offered by profit making institutions. Why do anti-abortionists hate Planned Parenthood and other similar Non-Profit services?
One female member of Congress, discussing Planned Parenthood de-funding put it this way:
“The real purpose here, as I’ve come to view it, is to impose a traditional view of a women’s role,” Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) told HuffPost. “Republicans don’t really care what the benefits of Title X funding are in terms of women’s health, so women’s health is held hostage. Planned Parenthood can prevent 4,000 women a year from dying of cervical cancer with screenings and vaccines, but that is not of interest to them because of a personal and philosophical agenda.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/14/defund-planned-parenthood-birth-control_n_899334.html
What is the personal and philosophical agenda to which Rep. DeLauro is referring? It goes far beyond some peoples deeply held beliefs that abortion is murder. Beyond that belief is that women do not have the right to sexual autonomy and therefore are in need of punishment if they have sex outside of marriage. Therefore, women should be denied birth control counseling, STD identification, and treatment to ensure that they are sufficiently chastened for daring to go beyond the bounds of some people’s religious beliefs. This is the only logical inference to be drawn, and yet if one examines this logically this is highly inconsistent with the ostensible aims of the anti-abortion movement. If they were actually worried that abortions are murder of a fetus, then you would think that birth control, which would prevent many abortions, would be a good thing.
We know that this is not the case. Since the Roman Catholic Church doesn’t approve of birth control, we know what answer they would give. I would suppose those religious fundamentalists who believe in abstention until marriage would also be against it. However, what is a worse sin? Is it “murder” as the anti-choice people deem it, or is it preventing an unwanted pregnancy in the first instance?
I find answer obvious. We generally see murder as the worst of human crimes. One would think that if something could prevent “murder”, better the lesser of the two sins, than the ultimate one. The reasoning of the anti-choice people doesn’t seem to follow that line of logic. Therefore, I can only conclude that the concern to halt abortions is only secondary to the real agenda of some leaders of the anti-choice movement.
My conclusion is that the subtext of this anti-choice movement, at least its leadership, is a hatred of women being autonomous sexually and the concomitant desire to punish them for having sex outside of marriage. This is why they also oppose birth control education. The “abstinence only” meme they push is a failure. As a result we find that incidences of teen pregnancy are higher in states more aligned with anti-choice, anti women’s sexuality values.
“Only a quarter of evangelical teens abstain from sexual activity more than other teens. And expanding access to contraception, rather than abortion, is the best way to delay marriage and promote stable families.”
The above article, a book review, delves more deeply into the subject. The quote I’ve presented provides interesting evidence of the fear that fundamentalist anti-choice people have about female sexuality. Despite all their preaching of abstinence, their teen women are having sex a lot and it makes them angry. Angry at a “permissive” society where sexuality is rampant and angry enough at their “disobedient” children to see them punished for not following their rules. There is probably another dichotomy that exists in that many men are proud when their son has loses his virginity, but enraged if it is their daughter.
The notion of female sexual autonomy is frightening to many religious people, since all major religions have a history of male domination. If women can assert their own right to be sexual beings, then this would also give them leave to assert that they are to have equal footing with men in all respects, including in marriage and worship. This would represent such a radical revolution of ideas to those of religious fundamentalist bent, as to create fear and loathing, which of course translates readily into hatred.
Anticipating objections to funding Planned Parenthood, FactCheck.com presents the following article detailing the funding of Planned Parenthood and showing that the opposition to it can’t possibly be all about abortions. The following relevant quote is from this article:
“Abortions represent 3 percent of total services provided by Planned Parenthood, and roughly 10 percent of its clients received an abortion. The group does receive federal funding, but the money cannot be used for abortions by law.”
Bob, yes I knew that. I was oversimplifying to make a point. Murder is a felony in all foreseeable circumstances. Abortion is, by ruling of the SCOTUS, legal, subject to controlling laws and ordinances. I was responding to a comment that flatly equated abortion with murder, which it is not, according to law.
Bob,Esq.,
Is correct the way the laws have been enacted and signed by the governors of many states….
Otteray Scribe,
Abortion is a felony if it doesn’t fall under the specific statutory exceptions.
Antonio:
If you knew any history of the topic, you’d know the current thinking is pretty much inline with the thinking of Aristotle and many fathers of the Christian Church, but why bother you with that “new” information either. You do much better with you hands over your ears proclaiming “I can’t hear you” over and over. That makes you very pious, of course.
Antonio, you are certainly entitled to your opinion, but not your own facts. Murder is a felony. Abortion is not. End of story.
A new era.
New sacred rules.
Looks like abortion is a new modern rule. People should accept it as normal.
For me it is murder (even if people consider sex is most important, it is murder anyway)
“I like the old ones, that way you at least know it hasnt been edited to much”
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Yeah. Why disturb perfectly antiquated ideas and attitudes with new, relevant, and possibly conflicting information. Thanks, Roco, for your most revealing comment to date. I often wondered what you do with new information. Now I know. I’ve forwarded your application to the Flat Earth Society.
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2011/07/11/264866/new-hampshire-council-defunds-planned-parenthood-clinics-stop-offering-birth-control-health-screenings/
Tootie:
Websters 1828 dictionary:
MUR’DER, n. [L. mors.]
1. The act of unlawfully killing a human being with premeditated malice, by a person of sound mind. To constitute murder in law, the person killing another must be of sound mind or in possession of his reason, and the act must be done with malice prepense, aforethought or premeditated; but malice may be implied, as well as express.
2. An outcry, when life is in danger.
MUR’DER, v.t.
1. To kill a human being with premeditated malice. [See the Noun.]
2. To destroy; to put an end to.
Canst thou murder thy breath in middle of a word?
I like the old ones, that way you at least know it hasnt been edited to much [who knows if the website takes liberties]
“Does the Anti-Abortion Movement Hate Women’s Sexuality?”
Yes
This has been another episode of “Easy Answers to Stupid Questions”.
Anon Nurse: “Contraception, by this logic, encourages sexual promiscuity, sexual deviance (like homosexuality) and a preoccupation with sex that is unhealthful even within marriage. (end excerpt)”
The last minute (starts at 3:15) of this vid from Bill Maher’s last episode perfectly encapsulates that thought, and is quite funny.
Elaine,
Love it!
Blouise,
LOL!
And any women worth their salt should also respond by telling the fellas they ain’t gonna get another bite of the apple…ever again! Let them mull that over for a while.
😉
Transference … for those who believe that their god punishes individuals and groups, the old Adam trick of standing back and pointing a finger at Eve whilst loudly proclaiming, “She made me do it!” is typical.
Any woman worth her salt should respond, “You’re full of shit and that voice you claim to hear ain’t god’s.” … then turn and walk away.
LK an AN,
Thank you for reinforcing my point that many in the anti-choice movement are really anti-women and anti-sex. I think that is the reflection of a goal-driven leadership that has used anti-choice as a smokescreen to hide their
real agenda. However, as shown in your citations occasionally their true purposes leak out. What has made them successful is that almost everyone loves babies, even though some might not even like children and teens. We’re hard wired to be emotionally moved by infants and toddlers. By playing on human emotion they rope in supporters who even may feel quite differently then them about sexuality. Anti-Choice at its highest levels is really anti-woman and anti-sex.
The efforts of some to control people, be it for power, money or their own personal predilections always comes down to controlling women and controlling sex. Both, interlocking as they are, present the wild card of opposition to totalitarian rule. Orwell’s “1984” a masterpiece in examining the totalitarian mind and its’ methods, featured “The Anti-Sex League” as a prominent methodology of control. The RLC, once taken over by Constantine, relegated Jesus’ teachings to the background and promoted sexuality as the worst sin. Many of the sects of Protestant Christianity have done the same. Orthodox Islam is so infected by it we all know the examples. Orthodox Judaism is highly patriarchal but at least considers sex within marriage as a blessing and obligation. Perhaps the less immoderate view of sex is why Judaism has always be a minority religion. The religions of the East also have a more reasonable view of marital sexuality, but they too are for Patriarchy and against sexuality outside of marriage.
Sex is of course among our most powerful drives and for a humanity where for the many life is short, dismal and painful, sex can represent a transcendent respite from the woes of life. A person’s allegiance to the one they love can shake the foundations of a society and therefore in the totalitarian mind must be replaced by imposed “controls” and made up sins.
“The people who protest abortion and even birth control, are among the same ones who rail against the government getting into their private lives.”
OS, this hypocritical dichotomy is often ignored as a clear way of understanding that much of the faux-Conservative movement is founded not upon a particular philosophic outlook, but upon a propaganda based campaign to gain power and wealth, via influencing susceptible people to act against their own self interest.
Thanks for the link, lottakatz. An eye-opener… I had no idea that Rep. Ryan was sent packing by “Democrats For Life of America” for his pro-contraceptives stance. (He was on their advisory board.):
Excerpt:
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) has been, in his words, “booted” from the national advisory board of Democrats For Life of America. The group’s mission is to elect and support pro-life Democrats; Ryan served on the board for four years but the relationship had recently soured when he co-sponsored the “Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act”:
Ryan said he tried to convince officials with Democrats For Life of America, which he referred to Monday as a “fringe group,” that the use of contraception is needed as part of any plan to reduce unintended pregnancies but that failed.
Kristen Day, Democrats For Life’s executive director, was ready to move on. “DFLA gave Congressman Ryan ample opportunities to prove he’s committed to protecting life, but he has turned his back on the community at every turn.”
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Contra-Contraception
by Russell Shorto
Published: May 7, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/07/magazine/07contraception.html
Excerpt:
Many Christians who are active in the evolving anti-birth-control arena state frankly that what links their efforts is a religious commitment to altering the moral landscape of the country. In particular, and not to put too fine a point on it, they want to change the way Americans have sex. Dr. Stanford, the F.D.A. adviser on reproductive-health drugs, proclaimed himself “fully committed to promoting an understanding of human sexuality and procreation radically at odds with the prevailing views and practices of our contemporary culture.” Focus on the Family posts a kind of contraceptive warning label on its Web site: “Modern contraceptive inventions have given many an exaggerated sense of safety and prompted more people than ever before to move sexual expression outside the marriage boundary.” Contraception, by this logic, encourages sexual promiscuity, sexual deviance (like homosexuality) and a preoccupation with sex that is unhealthful even within marriage. (end excerpt)
Yes. I too feel that it is about slavery as Winski alleges above. If you are not allowed control of your own body, the only thing inherently yours, you’re no better off than a slave. This position of slave (at worst case) or dangerous, insolent child (at best case), comes directly from the bible. Women are the originators of original sin.
That makes them dangerous to the spiritual and real well being of themselves and all those they can influence. If it weren’t for women we would still be at play in Eden.
I also think that the desire for women to be little more than vessels for new life is a symptom of self hatred and hatred of god himself. If the world taints all, then the only hope of spiritual perfection available is a new, untainted life that has been cleansed of original sin (baptism) but is as yet untainted by the world through their own bad choices.
This is IMO the primary reason for the drive among pro-lifers to do away with contraception, a long standing movement but one that has flown under the radar for years. If a group believes that their mandate from their god is to strive for spiritual perfection then that group needs to encourage a mechanism to maximize their opportunity for that perfection. Even if one can not perfect ones self the striving will count in ones favor. As a group endeavour for perfection, ensuring that one has the raw material for perfection at hand (over time) is necessary to benefit the group.
In that regard female sexuality, directed and controlled, is crucial. Unfortunately, women are not trustworthy historically. Their desire to control their own bodies is a danger to the sanctity of the group and jeopardises the groups future benefits as promised by their god. This gives women extraordinary power. This puts power into the hands of the least worthy among the group. If one can’t question or hate your god for doing something that disrespectful to one, then you have to turn that hatred somewhere.
I personally think it goes way beyond just hating women’s sexuality, I believe it’s a movement that has at its heart the fear and resultig hatred of women.
http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/pro-life-really-means-anti-contraceptio
a smart dog doesn’t crap in his own yard
Dagmar
1, July 16, 2011 at 4:19 pm
I think the question is why is the Catholic Church so highly mobilized on abortion politics in the US, when it apparently is not in Italy, which has an 87 percent Catholic population yet has legalized abortion?
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Dagmar raises a most interesting questions.
Dredd,
You’re talking about female circumcision/genital mutilation.
Here’s some information from the World Health Organization:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/