Every Day Good Women Choose Abortion: I Am One of Them

Here is a letter in response to harassment that Northland Family Planning has faced from Andrew Wilkow's radio show. It is written by "Thelma," who is in the video that the Wilkow criticizes. You can also read more from her on her blog.

Every Day Good Women Choose Abortion: I Am One of Them

Vicious, hateful things have been said about NFP's "Every Day, Good Women Choose Abortion" video, the wonderful staff who work in these clinics, it's Executive Director, women who have abortions... and me.

While I understand that the things that are said directly about the woman in the video are meant to be comments about the message and the pro-choice community at large, I am a person. I am a human being. I am a mother, a daughter, a sister, a wife, a friend... I am not just a face or voice on a screen.

And I have a voice.

The words they have attempted to demonize, to pervert, are not just the words of love, the words of courage and the words of a movement headed by the Abortion Care Network, and Northland Family Planning.

They are my words.

So, what I have to say is this: the video speaks for itself. It speaks for me.

The video speaks to women all over this country and the world who need it the most.

So let my actions in this world be my response to this hate. Let my love for my family and friends, my commitment to women's rights and social justice, my passion for helping those less fortunate then I be my answer to this hate.

I have had an abortion. I know the kind of woman I am. Nothing can take that away from me. And nothing can take that away from your sister, your friend, your wife, your daughter, and your mother who may have had to make the decision to have an abortion.

A dear friend of mine shared something with me tonight. She told me that a friend of hers called her after she viewed the video. And she told her "I had an abortion 5 years ago. And this is the message I have been searching for. I know I am a good person, and now I feel it in my heart."

Love will win over hate.

Truly,

Thelma

Don't Let Sirius XM Radio Bully Women's Health Care Providers!

Sirius XM anti-abortion shock-jock Andrew Wilkow is targeting the Northland Family Planning Centers of Michigan. Since last Friday, Wilkow has urged his listeners to call and harass the clinic on three different shows!

Wilkow's malicious rants are jamming up Northland's phone lines and patients are not able to get through to clinic staff - even if there is an emergency.

When the Northland Family Planning Centers owner contacted the radio show last Friday about stopping this outrageous harassment and to explain how jammed phone lines are threatening women's lives, a man who answered the radio show's phone line said, "Hey, the bitch from the abortion clinic is on the phone!"

Without women's health care providers like Northland Family Planning, there is no choice!

Now it's time for us to tell Sirius XM radio to stop this outrageous harassment! Join us today and send emails to Sirius XM executives, letting them know how outraged you are about Wilkow's attacks. Here's a sample Action Letter:

Dear Sirius XM Chief Executive Officer Mel Karmazin: mel.karmazin@siriusxm.com
Dear Sirius XM President Scott Greenstein: Scott.Greenstein@siriusxm.com
Dear Sirius XM General Counsel Patrick Donnelly: Patrick.Donnelly@siriusxm.com

We are outraged over the unconscionable on-air taunting and verbal attacks by Sirius XM talk show host Andrew Wilkow against Northland Family Planning clinic in Detroit, Michigan and we request that you immediately stop Wilkow from continuing these hateful attacks

Over the past four days, Wilkow has outrageously singled out Northland Family Planning clinic three times, urging supporters to call the clinic with anti-abortion messages. These calls have jammed clinic lines for hours and prevented dozens of patients trying to reach clinic staff to make appointments or to receive follow-up care.

As a result, women’s lives and reproductive health are literally being put on the line by your employee, Andrew Wilkow.

When Northland Family Planning clinic owner tried to call into the station and ask Wilkow to stop his attacks, a man answered the phone; after identifying herself, the man called her a bitch repeatedly. This response is unprofessional, unethical, and outrageous.

Sirius XM radio’s programming and conduct is interfering with a lawful and essential women’s health care provider in Michigan, while promoting intolerance for women’s reproductive rights and health. I am appalled by these malicious actions.

I beseech you to stop hate-jock Andrew Wilkow from continuing to harass and bully lawful women’s health care providers.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Thank you for joining us in the fight to protect vital women's health care services!


Photo courtesy of www.flickr.com/wannabehipster

Expelled for her Mini-Dress

Late October, a Brazilian woman, Geisy Arruda, wore a short dress to her University. Coming from a University in Southern California, where some of us wear mini-skirts with Uggs in December, this doesn't seem all that weird a concept. (Since a lot of warmth escapes from the feet, wearing fuzzy boots somehow magically keeps the rest of the body from freezing. Of course, more people in San Diego prefer flip-flops, and somehow don't freeze to death. 60 F is cold, people!)

She was hounded by hundreds of students, who shouted things like "we want to rape her!" and "whore!" She finally escaped the mob borrowing a professor's long coat, according to the Associated Press.

The School's response? Expell her.

Bandeirante University published advertisements in the newspaper accusing Arruda of disrespecting "ethical principles, academic dignity and morality," that she wore "inadequate clothing," and that she had an "attitude" that was "incompatible with the university environment." The University claimed that it had warned her to change her attitude and dress style, but in an interview with Brazil's Globo TV, Arruda said that she was never incriminated by anybody, the AP news reported.

How about the hecklers? The people who nearly attacked her, verbally abused her and threatened rape? Some of them may be temporary suspended. (The university claimed it would be suspending people, but it didn't say how many or for how long.)

The most recent development is that the University has rescinded their expulsion decree, in response to student protests and a demand from Brazil's minister on women's affairs that they supply a good explanation for their decision. One of Arruda's lawyers said if she does go back to that school, she will need safety guarantees.

Arruda has been offered full-time scholarships from two other universities.

Photo Credit: hello jenny on flickr.com

South Africa also poses dangers for women

We've been talking a lot about the rape epidemic in the Congo, but rape is a serious problem in much of the world. In South Africa, women still face enormous discrimination and violence. In a piece on Huffington Post, Alex Matthews says that despite being a democracy that "ensures" equality for women, most girls and women face a number of horrors.

In his piece, Matthews lays out the abuses women face from strip searches to rape to virginity tests. He also gives his explanation for why such widespread discrimination and abuse exists still.

I think that one of the most serious and pressing concerns of our world today is violence against women and the continuing sexism. If the world worked to eradicate violence against women and maternal mortality, relief efforts will be more effective and lives of millions will be safer and happier. If governments and people want to make our world a better place, they have to start with women.
Photo courtesy of www.flickr/strandloper

Cairo Karate Kids!

As a former karate student, I realize that learning self defense is important, especially for young girls and women. Sexual harassment is a universal dilemma, women leave their houses with a different awareness than men. It's unfortunate but true.

In Egypt, Eighty-three percent of Egyptians and 98% of foreigners in a survey of 1,010 women last year said they were insulted or groped on Cairo streets.

The women in Egypt have decided to take their protection into their own hands by fighting back against the cat calling, grabbing, and unwanted attention. A few Egyptian girls in the working-class district of Embaba practice karate at the youth center, even though it cannot afford mats. Karate student Nada Gamal Saad says, "No one is going to touch me when I can hit them real hard."

Getting these young girls in a predominantly male sport like karate is a huge leap in the right direction. Even in the U.S. there is a divide between "feminine" and "masculine" sports. When I was taking karate in elementary and middle school, my sister and I were two of just a few girls in the class. Encouraging karate only helps to illustrate that girls can be aggressive, rough, tough, and physical just like the boys.

Even our commander in chief has taken initiative to help Egypt become more progressive and safer for women. On June 4th during his speech in Cairo, President Obama said, “I am convinced that our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons,” he said. “I respect those women who choose to live their lives in traditional roles, but it should be their choice."

It's Criminal -- Harassment in Prison

Harassment is lame. Criminals are lame. (For the sake of space, I will leave it at that, but you should know that there will be plenty more lameness for me to rant about in future blog posts...) Anyway, there is some prison in Troy, VA that has spent the last year harassing female prisoners. I do not endorse criminal behavior--which is exactly what some administrators, wardens, and other employees at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women have been engaging in.

For reasons beyond my comprehension, this women's prison started consigning certain prisoners to the "butch wing." That's right-- the butch wing. Basically, women who exhibited more masculine characteristics were segregated from the rest of the prisoners, and then subjected to harassment by the guards.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, this segregated community was often "referred to by prisoners and guards as the 'little boys wing,' 'locker room wing' or 'studs wing'." These women were often verbally harassed by guards who admitted to calling them "little boys" when transporting them to eat meals. Because of their appearances and perceived sexual orientations, these women were subjected to additional punishment... which is totally lame.

Former guard, William Drumheller said, "I heard [the building manager, Timothy Back] say, 'We're going to break up some of these relationships, start a boys wing, and we're going to take all these studs and put them together and see how they like looking at nothing but each other all day instead of their girlfriends."

This harassment only stopped when the Associated Press questioned the practice after prisoners and one employee spoke out about it. I understand that these women committed crimes, and I am sure that some of them are pretty heinous crimes... but I also believe that harassment is pretty heinous, too.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact campusteam@feminist.org.