“Power” must include respect for the right of women to make decisions regarding their lives. Without that, there is no power.

BAC

The women of this country are roughly split 50/50% around the issue of choice; although a recent gallup poll shows that 73% of women, despite their personal beliefs, do not think that there should be restrictions.

When we split the women of this country in half, we take away our power as a voting block. Period.

So what we are suggesting is that since you are pro-choice, you should further those aims through many of the wonderful national organizations. When you come to TNA, we work together on the 85-90% of issues that impact all women. We find our common ground.

The women of this country are moving backwards. It is time that we all work together (with like-minded men) and take back our power. Then, Joy, our gov’t which is composed of 84% men will not be telling us what to do with our bodies!

However, I can’t agree that feminists would or should invite into the tent people with all views about reproductive rights. Equal pay is important, but women’s control over our own bodies is fundamental. Anyone who doesn’t get that is not a feminist.

Joy

I do hear what you are saying. I’m just not sure how much power women can achieve if we are not allowed control over our own bodies.

I am not suggesting that everyone must support abortion rights. My point is that for me a “feminist” is someone who respects women and the decisions we make regarding our lives.

Former FL Gov. Lawton Childs is an example of what I’m talking about. He personally opposed abortion, but said that he would never sign into law any bill that would restrict women from making decisions about abortion for themselves.

Reproductive justice is central to many other issues that affect women. Unplanned/unwanted pregnancy can disrupt a young woman’s ability to complete her education, causing economic hardship. Pregnancy can trigger domestic violence. And not being able to have control over when to start a family can hinder women from advancement in their careers.

But more than that it’s about respect. Women must be seen as individuals capable of making decisions for themselves.

I wish you the best of luck in getting The New Agenda going.

BAC

Ms. magazine was instrumental in my identifying myself as a feminist so many years ago, but I haven’t looked at it in a very long time This past year was like deja vu consciousness raising all over again. Is it really true Ms. never had Hillary Clinton on it’s cover for the entire campaign? If so, shameful and sad.

I believe the women of this country are ready for a new movement. Count me in.

Hear, hear!

It’s really quite simple. TNA is focused on the 85% of all issues that we can agree on that impact ALL women (see our goals).

Choice has been used by political parties and religious groups to separate and divide women and take away our power. Women are roughly 50/50 split on choice; however, a recent Gallup polls shows that 73% of women do not think that reproductive rights should be restricted, regardless of their personal beliefs.

Here’s what we say – belong to many of the wonderful national organization that represent your point of view on choice. When you come to TNA, leave that issue aside and focus on OUR COMMON GROUND.

Women of this country will never have true power so long as we let political party and choice divide us.

Where I disagree with you is in the suggestion that someone can be a “feminist” even if that person does not think women are capable of making decisions about whether or when to become a parent.

Reproductive rights to me is the acknowledgement that women are intelligent and moral beings, capable of making this decision for themselves.

Reproductive justice doesn’t have to be a partisan issue, but the rise of the religious right within the Republican party has made it one. Leaders of some of the largest religious right organizations in the country were pressuring McCain to select Sarah Palin, precisely because of her position on birth control and abortion. That’s why I opposed her.

I also think there needs to be some acknowledgement of how the backlash harmed the second wave feminist movement. I think the turning point came with Ronald Reagan’s election, and his swift move to deregulate corporate America.

I began my career in broadcasting, and when I graduated from college in 1975 there was a limit on how many television and radio stations could be owned by a single corporation. In today’s media market, broadcasters are only limited by the amount of cash they can get their hands on. Clear Channel, for example, owns more than a 1,000 radio stations — so they get to decide what is news and how it’s covered.

Hundreds of corporations owned media in 1975 — today the number is about five. That has had a huge impact on the ability of women’s groups to get their message out. I think one of the best examples of this was coverage of the 2004 march on Washington. More than a million women and men came to DC, yet the event received almost no media attention.

I agree that issues of violence against women, pay equity and gender balance in government, education and corporate America must be addressed — and I think the best way to address these issues is as an organized movement. I have concerns about how effective a movement will be if it includes individuals who don’t fundamentally respect women.

BAC