Yeah, there is
nothing rare nor new about this. One of the 'inconvenient' little truths for neo-feminists (i.e. most 2nd and almost all 3rd wave) about feminism's past is that in large part, before the late 60's, early 70's, most feminists were decidedly opposed to abortion. Not only in practise, but
ideal and concept as well. Believing it to be and referring to it as a form of "infanticide" and "child murder."
Abortion advocates often try and put words in their mouths, "reinterpre" or rewrite what they've said.. history. Claiming that the true origin of their opposition was due only to the health risks to women from it. (As would any procedure of the time have, because of the fact that antibiotics had not yet been invented.) A view which has been long since debunked. Unfortunately the view is still sometimes perpetuated. A lot of times by people who know no better or never really looked into it. Or just flatout choose to ignore the truth.
The other major fallacious (when used as a reason in this context) argument used against them/it is that they really only condemned abortion because women would sometimes be forced into having one, whether through circumstance or actual force. (but much like the other excuses) Despite the fact that yet again, no mention or hint that said theories are actually espoused in the articles as the reason (major or otherwise) for the opposition, quite the opposite.
(*See last line of my first paragraph and later quotes.)I've heard people read a pretty unambiguous line in a quote, which denounced it as infanticide or child murder, and yet have them give a completely, ludicrously different explanation of what was "really" meant, what they were "really" talking about.
neutral Here are a few sites to checkout -
Feminists for LifeIndependent Women's Forum - (it's a site about all issues, not just abortion.)
And here are a few of the quotes I've found. From some of feminism's foremothers.
"Guilty? Yes. No matter what the motive, love of ease, or a desire to save from suffering the unborn innocent, the woman is awfully guilty who commits the deed. It will burden her conscience in life, it will burden her soul in death; But oh, thrice guilty is he who drove her to the desperation which impelled her to the crime!" - Susan B. Anthony
"We want prevention,
not merely punishment. We must reach the root of the evil [abortion]...It is practiced by those whose inmost souls revolt from the dreadful deed." - Susan B. Anthony
(And with that, goes the claim that though against it, they wouldn't want it banned.)"When we consider that woman are treated as property, it is degrading to women that we should Treat our children as property to be disposed of as we see fit." - Elizabeth Cady Stanton -In a letter to Julia Ward Howe, October 16, 1873, recorded in Howe's diary at Harvard University Library.
"There must be a remedy even for such a crying evil as this. But where shall it be found, at least here begin, if not in the complete enfranchisement and elevation of women?" - Elizabeth Cady Stanton - In "The Revolution"
Elizabeth Cady Stanton classified abortion as a form of "infanticide" in "The Revolution." Abortion was referred to as "child murder" In The Revolution.
"Men must no longer insult all womanhood by saying that freedom means the degradation of woman. Every woman knows if she were free, she would never bear an unwished-for child, nor think of murdering one before its birth." - Victoria Woodhull - The nation's first female presidential candidate.
"We are aware that many women attempt to excuse themselves for procuring abortions, upon the ground that it is not murder. But the fact of resort to so weak an argument only shows the more palpably that they fully realize the enormity of the crime. Is it not equally destroying the would-be future oak to crush the sprout before it pushes its head above the sod, as to cut down the sapling, or cut down the tree? Is it not equally to destroy life, to crush it in the very germ, and to take it when the germ has evolved to any given point in its line of development?" - Victoria Woodhull - Woodhull and Claflin's Weekly.
"The rights of children as individuals begin while yet they remain the foetus." - Victoria Woodhull
"Child murderers practice their profession without let or hindrance, and open infant butcheries unquestioned...Is there no remedy for all this ante-natal child murder?...Perhaps there will come a time when...an unmarried mother will not be despised because of her motherhood...and when the right of the unborn to be born will not be denied or interfered with." - Sarah Norton
"When a man steals to satisfy hunger, we may safely conclude that there is something wrong in society - so when a woman destroys the life of her unborn child, it is an evidence that either by education or circumstances she has been greatly wronged." - Mattie Brinkerhoff
"Abortion is the ultimate exploitation of women." - Alice Paul, author of the Equal Rights Amendment.
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So, as you could see, this puts an end to the myth that being either pro-life or anti-abortion = being anti-women or anti-feminism!
Pro-life or anti-abortion =/= anti-feminism or anti-women
Well that's all I have to say for today.... need sleep now!
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