Throwback! The Early Days of Roe v. Wade

Sometimes I get so caught up in the battles we face as activists today that I forget about some of the struggles our foremothers faced back in the early days of the feminist movement. Too often we think about the history of our movement during the "designated" times (Black History Month, Women's History Month) or because of special anniversaries, when we should actually consider our activism as part of a continuum. That way, we can be innovative and progressive while we simultaneously think back on the work and contributions of those who came before us.

My awesome feminist sister found a crazy relic from the early days of Roe v. Wade while doing a research project at Barnard. Meet "Abortion Eve," a comic book heroine trying to decide whether or not to have an abortion. While it is certainly a little dated, it is a revealing look at abortion in 1973 and is pretty brilliant at times:

"Scientific research shows that certain groups of people are immune to this dreaded affliction [unplanned pregnancy]. For example: not one President of the United States has ever been known to suffer from it. In all the wars which our proud country has known, not one General of the Army, Admiral of the Navy, or even a lonely helicopter pilot has ever contracted this malignant plague... You may ask who, then, is it that suffers the most? For some strange reason typists do, as well as nurses, secretaries, welfare mothers, and sopranos. Even some well known actresses and athletes have fallen victim to it. Extensive analysis shows the one common denominator in people who have an unplanned pregnancy: THEY ARE ALL FEMALE!"

Love it! Take a look, this is totally fascinating for feminist history nerds like me. Another one of my sister's finds: What Now?! Under 18 and Pregnant, a guide written by and for teenagers in 1977. We need more honest talk like that and less preaching nowadays, don't you think?