Can you be both pro-life and a feminist?

[eveglass]

Yes, that's right! It's time for another round of "debate Julie"! In today's Gazette, there was a letter to the editor by Mary Ann Davis, who says that "you cannot be pro-life and call yourself a feminist." She's referencing this article, in which Janet Bagnall states, "Feminism is about equality, about a woman's right to make her own choices in life, including whether to continue a pregnancy. Without that right, women lose control over their lives."

I'm conflicted about this one. Personally, I'm pro-choice and totally against the idea of telling a woman that she must carry a pregnancy to term. However, if you truly believe that life begins at conception (as I think most pro-lifers do), and that abortions at any stage of a pregnancy are equivalent to murder, I imagine that you could still be pro-life and a feminist. I imagine that there are still ways of supporting women both before the pregnancies have started (comprehensive sex ed, free birth control pills and condoms, etc.) and after their pregnancies have ended (easy adoption services for women who would otherwise have aborted, affordable daycare and support networks for those who choose to keep the children, etc.).

So I'm not sure I agree that being pro-life necessarily excludes you from the feminist camp. Anyone want to take a side in the debate and tell me where I'm going wrong?

Comments

[loreleiskye.livejournal.com]

The whole feminist movement is as confusing to me as the pro-life movement.

The right to choose is not just about the right to have an abortion, its about the right to carry a pregnancy to term sanely and with health of mother and proto-being in tact. Too many people in both camps forget that part.

Both movements have too many fingers in too many pies, too broad to have a clear-cut idea what any one person who identifies this way actually thinks / feels / believes, too many exceptions and exclusions. As well as too many stereotypes to live up or live down or explain away.

You're posing this question about feminism and pro-life; you could also put similar arguments about the environment, animal rights, alcohol consumption or gay rights and what to do about either - pro or con.

This is why I consider myself a hardened old-time suffragest, which doesn't exclude men as much from advocating for women's rights and continued fight for equality, and emancipation (of which the right to choose one's fertility and marraige status is definately apart of).
:)

[eveglass.livejournal.com]

Dicea makes the excellent point above that this debate is essentially meaningless until you define your terms. I think you both make an excellent case for that.