The Future of Abortion Providers

Submitted for your appreciation -- a list of abortion providers and some of their accomplishments!

Debra,
I think young feminists do take for granted abortion access but one solution I see is pushing more states to open up the right to perform abortions to nurse practitioners. Physicians' lobbies continually try to maintain their monopoly over what, in private practice, is an incredibly profitable procedure and if more women's health NP's and midwives could do the abortions that most of them are, in fact, trained to do, we would have less of a shortage problem. Abortion, in most cases, is such a simple procedure that an OB/GYN's training is excessive and not really best applied to it. Or we could always go back to the self-help, menstrual extraction route if we wanted to get really radical...

Who said feminists weren't funny? Can't wait to see the stand-up version of this! You'll have 'em rolling in the aisles.

I'm a 2nd-year medical student. In the Midwest, which is apparently devoid of engaged providers. Not so! Many, many of my classmates - participate in Med Students for Choice, shadow abortion providers and learn how to do the procedures, and work to ensure that they learn about terminating pregnancies during their clinical rotations. I see young women - AND men - working every day on this issue, in the field where it matters most. Not everyone is suited to a career in OB/GYN, but we're going to be well informed and know where to refer our patients. The NYT article also overlooks the fact that some OB/GYN clinicians do not choose to work at Planned Parenthood or an abortion clinic, but will provide abortions. Not all doctors want to do abortions (or appendectomies, or colonoscopies, or any one procedure) all day long.

You read one article saying young women aren't engaged enough in one area, and say all young feminists are pole dancers? You have labeled us with the misinformed names the media invokes when trying to denigrate feminists. Didn't this happen to you when YOU were a young feminist? Think before you blog, please. I write about reproductive rights news in my state, live every second as a feminist and try my best to educate (without alienation) people around me about feminism and its perks. This post belongs on Fox News.

I'm a 20 year old feminist, one of the first declared Gender Study Majors at my small, liberal arts Catholic college--I'm a Political Science Major too. I've 'taken it to the streets' with my work for the Women's Rape Crisis Center, with my fellow women at the campus Center for Women and Gender, and by starting an underground condom distribution ring as my school does not deem it necessary to provide 18-25 year olds with condoms--even though they all blog about their sex lives so much. What have you done lately? Maybe you should blog a little less, and work a little harder--God knows I can't.

I'm a young feminist and I'm taking it to the streets for abortion rights. I work for Planned Parenthood and I advocate for reproductive justice, including abortion rights, on a daily basis. I recruit other young feminists to volunteer and help keep them up to date on reproductive justice issues. I work with many amazing young feminists who are providing clinical services and educating our communities on how to stay healthy and have a positive sexual identity.

The fire in my belly might not look exactly the like that fire found in the women who advocated for legalized abortion. But it's there, burning every day, inspiring me to go the extra mile and make sure women not only have access to abortion services, but also preventitive health care that will allow them to pursue their dreams and break glass ceilings.

And if I could afford medical school and the time it would take to pursue such a degree, I would become an abortion provider. But, I have a family support and I live in an area with no medical schools. It's not a feasible option -- at this time, perhaps in the future.

Instead of putting down young feminists, why not explore and celebrate what they are doing? I think you'd find we're doing amazing things, building on the successes of our the women who came before us.

I'm sorry if it doesn't seem like activism to you, but I don't do too much social fieldwork. It doesn't suit me. Instead, I go to my favourite comic websites, post about what I enjoy reading, and discuss the sexism that's still always there. Or I read my favourite gaming magazine and write a letter asking why there are no female writers on their staff. Or, when one of my guy friends tells me my gaming penis is still too small because I'm sucking in a deathmatch, I glare and say, "I didn't realize a penis was required equipment for this game."

I read feminist books and blogs, and then I get online and talk about my sex life because I'm still not sure which sex I'm attracted to.

Sorry, no marching for me. I'll just write pop-culture fantasy with awesome female characters and continue trying to get an M.A. in English.

I am a "young" feminist and I have never taken "advantage" of abortion providers, pole danced or posted drunken pictures of myself on Facebook. I do, however, work hard at a job I had to go through years of school to get, to work for a cause I believe is fundamentally important to human existence. I volunteer my time and energy to even more causes, advocate constantly for change both online and off-, write poetry, create art, work to make my community better and support other young feminists who are facing cruel discrimination and condemnation from men and women of all ages in all sectors of society.

Maybe you should stop believing patriarchy's bad press of us and start looking at what we're really doing with our lives. One of my best friends works for Planned Parenthood and, you know what? Thousands of young feminists are employed there. I'm sure you're shocked to discover that we are actually involved in what is going on in our society, but we most certainly are.

There's a lot I could say, but I'm going to keep it positive, so because you asked:

Yesterday:
1) Since I run the books for my local feminist organization, I reconciled the accounts. (don't know how to provide abortions, but I do know about accounting)
2) Last night, I attended an information and organizing session (run by a young feminist in fact) about the backlog of 11,000 rape kits in Los Angeles and how we are going to get funding to process them and make sure a backlog doesn't occur again.
3) I wrote my congressperson about the dangers of abstinence only education, to try to counteract the "abstinence only education" day the day before.

I also went to work. I work full-time not as a professional feminist or politician or activist, but in a field that I'm passionate about. I'm not about to drop my entire life for a cause, though I definitely have respect for people who do. I try to bring feminism to my daily life through the standards of treatment I expect from my colleagues and reflected in the work that I do. Although I can't speak for all of us, I think a lot of young feminists are like me, trying to balance the career we were told we could always have and the activism we want to change the world.

Young feminists are out at work, both about feminism and about their own sexual orientation, whatever it may be. Young feminists are attending universities. We are preparing for nursing school, or med school. We are educating our campuses and the towns around them about safe sex. We are educating our parents and family members on the importance of marriage equality. We are being active members of our churches while also not being shy about our liberal politics. We are spending our summers working for Planned Parenthood in places in Utah. We are talking to our mothers about the anatomy of the female genitalia, because they never learned properly. How can you say I don't do anything to promote the cause? How is it that I am dissing you?

As a young feminist of 17 years, I'm insulted by the claim that we don't do anything for the cause. It may not seem big to you since you don't hear about it, but any time I hear about a girl being mistreated in our school because of sexism and related discrimination, you can guarantee that my opinion will be heard. My words are my actions and they do make differences. They generate conversation and conversation leads to not hiding from the issues. So to you, you think young feminists are not doing anything. They are. I'm teaching my parents about gender roles and women's rights. Changing two people has helped branch out the education to their friends.

So, when are we feminists going to stand up and insist on getting rid of the Hyde amendment - which forbids federal $$ for abortion? It is NOT something that has been passed and has to be reversed. It is something that is renewed EVERY YEAR, but we can't stop it? even now with Obama in office?

The federal health insurance covers almost THE most people in the US. and under Obama's plan, to open it up to anyone/everyone, it would be THE largest expansion of abortion denial of coverage... Let's get cracking and make sure that doesn't happen!

Also, as an MD, I was part of MSFC as were many of my colleagues but that did NOT mean I wanted to be a provider. I thought I did. but then after all that school, I was like NO WAY am I willing to die for this. Let someone else.

AND the crazy "students for life" are all applying to med school... NOT good...
How can you be an MD and not realize that people die if we don't allow legal, safe abortions? How many feminists are going to med school and sticking to being an abortion provider? I let that go but am still a feminist.

I agree that NPs should totally be able to provide abortions. But disagree that abortions are profitable. They are NOT profitable with all the legal crap that goes with it... and risk of law suits etc. Don't propagate that anti-choice myth.

"Harsh, you say? Uninformed? OK. Tell me exactly what today's feminists are doing for the struggle."

Debra-

Your post is so incredibly ageist it took me a moment to realize that you weren't joking.

What are young feminists doing?

Running not for profit art galleries dedicated to highlighting women and trans artists:
feminapotens.org

Organizing rallies at UC Berkeley to raise awareness about a sexual predator on campus:
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=6689734

And then writing letters to the editor when people dismiss our actions:
http://www.dailycal.org/article/104740/campus_needs_dialogue_about_attacks

We're putting together amazing Vagina Monologues performances
vday.berkeley.edu

Teaching classes on women's empowerment that have been successfully student run for 15 years:
femsex.net

Blogging about our sexualities to challenge what society sees as normal:
morgasm.wordpress.com
kinkyfeminism.com
jizlee.wordpress.com

Redefining porn and recreating it to fit our sexualities and our feminism:
pinkwhite.biz
nofauxx.com
madisonbound.com

And that's just recent stuff in the bay area.

Personally? I do grassroots outreach to young people educating them on emergency contraception. I'm involved in feminist organizations on my campus. I work at the aforementioned gallery and teach the aforementioned class. I talk to my peers about sex and relationships and their role in the world and how they can challenge sexism, heterosexism, homophobia, and transphobia. I take to the streets and get involved in actions that protect a woman's right to choose. I'm EDUCATED, INFORMED and ACTIVE in society and doing everything I can to change our culture to one that celebrates and respects women.

And I speak up when older feminists think that younger feminists are somehow not doing enough just because we're doing it DIFFERENTLY.

This post would insult me if I knew for a fact it wasn't true. My introduction to feminism was through a blog (feministing.com, RESPECT!) and my activism (yes, activism) has only grown stronger and more effective since then. I work at Planned Parenthood, I'm a future political science and women's studies major, I'm an active lobbying constituent in my state government, next week I'll be attending the NATIONAL YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE in Washington DC, and I raise general awareness all around my high school. And I'm 17-years-old.

We would get so much MORE done if all of the waves of feminism came together, now please, we show you respect, show us ours.

Dear Mama Feminist,

This post was really discouraging. I am 22-year-old feminist, so I guess it is directed at me.

I just came back from a difficult meeting with City Council staff where I felt two men tried to use their physical presence and political power to intimidate me, even though they had asked me and my group to volunteer on the committee after our wildly successful organizing and even though they actually are excited about the policy innovations we are bringing to the table, they still belittle me and attempt to silence me. So it was, needless to say, TOTALLY SHOCKING and disappointing to come back from that experience only to have the same experience on a "feminist" blog.

I want to be nice and educational with you but all I have energy to say is: no thanks to your world view, sis! What are you trying to accomplish? So uninspiring.

Thanks to www.Feministing.com for the heads up BTW.

Well, I am a young feminist, 22 to be specific. I just organized Take Back the Night on my campus with a number of young feminists, and we took "it" to the streets in a march for sexual violence awareness. If that's not literal enough for you, I also "take it to the streets" by being a sexuality educator for teens at high schools all around Los Angeles. Now, I know the older generations have NO IDEA what they're talking about when they talk about young feminists, so I'm sorry you had to broadcast your ignorance in such a public forum. Let me assure you that my friends, a large number of other young feminists, and I are continuing to further the righteous goals of your and prior generation's fight for equality.

As a clergywoman in training, I facilitate all kinds of feminist action for both women and men, and have done so in myriad capacities for the last 15 years. Rather than only write about it, I live feminism 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I have worked in male-dominated industries since I was 16, and because of my diligence and willingness to train other young women and guys with a clue, I'm changing the world one person at a time. The women and men I have taught then go on to train others, or to at least live their lives differently. Aside from short herstory-based blog posts once a day, everything I do is action-oriented.

Perhaps one of the reasons the older generation doesn't know as much about what we're doing is because people like yourself have become complacent, and rather than nurture the Third Wave -- which you don't seem to know much about -- all many of you can do is whine like old men, bummed out by girls with tattoos and how fast the traffic moves outside your windows.

Get back in the trenches with us, and we'll welcome your input. Your fear of the world we live in does nothing to serve the cause. Come home to us, and we'll hold you up as a great mother to the cause.

This is no time for ANY Second Waver to rest on her laurels, which is something I've seen a lot of lately, speaking of "people doing nothing". What you accomplished in the 1960s and 1970s was incredible, but it's the 21st century, and now it's time for you to stand with your daughters and granddaughters and FIGHT WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT!

We promise we won't bring up Ronald Regan or shoulder pads.

I'm a 24 year old woman working at Planned Parenthood to make sure that women (and men) not only have access to abortion services, but also that they have access to preventative health care services and birth control.

If you don't think that young women are engaged and part of this movement, then it's because you're choosing not to see us. We're here, and we care, and no matter how much you may want to believe otherwise, we're not going anywhere.

As a 22 year old woman I've been taking it to the streets since I was 4 years old attending pro choice rallies with my mother, the march for women, and lobbying for EC in NY meeting with senators and legislators, writing letters and then when I moved for college in VA I lobbied for over the counter EC there bc that is the state I went to school in. Before you write such ignorant unencouraging rants get off your butt and try to mobilize young girls instead of demeaning them as strippers or facebook photo whores. Have a great day Debra and grow up.

I'm a 19-year-old feminist. In the past year and a half I have:

-volunteered for Planned Parenthood
-petitioned for lower birth control prices when legislation passed that took hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding away from college and low-income health clinics
-tabled, hand-billed, given out condoms, discussed STIs and promoted various barrier/birth control methods for safe sex
-trained as a peacekeeper during the protest anti-choicers put on last spring
-helped organize a grassroots t-shirt sale that said "THIS IS WHAT PRO-CHOICE AMERICA LOOKS LIKE" when a group that compared abortions to genocide came to campus
-voted for a President that promotes women's rights, particularly reproductive rights
-volunteered my time, effort, and support into helping prepare for a three-day Abortion Speak Out that included Jennifer Baumgardner as a speaker
-joined the Women's Empowerment and Violence Education, also known as WEAVE
http://www.wwu.edu/chw/preventionandwellness/la_weave.html
-faciliated programs that address the role of masculinity and feminity in gender violence and inequality
-facilitated a Survivor Speak Out panel where survivors spoke about their experiences and discussed with the audience what helped or hurt them throughout their healing, particularly through the lens of how to be an ally
-gone door-to-door handing out safety whistles and promoting CASAS (Crime & Sexual Support Services
http://www.wwu.edu/chw/preventionandwellness/vp_casas.html

For Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, alongside WEAVE I will be:

-facilitating Night of Testimony for women to speak out about their experiences
-peacekeeping and speaking at oue Take Back the Night
-facilitating a week-long series of events for Western's Women's Festival
-helping prepare for Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, an event put on by the Western Men Against Violence (WMAV) group on campus
http://www.walkamileinhershoes.org/

If that ain't fire, I don't know what is.

...and I didn't realize the ONLY acceptable career path was to go to med school and become an abortion doctor. Instead I'm getting a PhD in community psychology, I've done research on child commercial sexual exploitation, and culturally appropriate education and I work in treatment foster care with very at-risk teens. So, um, I guess working to improve the well-being of youth in my community isn't feminist enough...? Maybe I should do more pole-dancing and drunken picture-posting.... OH WAIT, I'm already way too busy.