Carrol wrote: >So our task -- as in almost all the >key issues for the left -- is simply (!) to find ways to shift the locus >of struggle. That is a subject of two or three years (or decades) >of discussion. And then Ellen wrote: >I think this is absolutely correct. I would add one thing. >It would also help to "de-isolate" the abortion process. >In this regard, pressing medical schools to teach abortion, >pressing doctors to provide abortion, increasing >public awareness of/access to pharmacueticals >that obviate the need for abortions (morning-after >drugs and - soon - RU-486). Getting rid of the clinics >would get rid of a visible symbol and make the >right-to-lifers job strategically quite difficult. Ellen's post meets Carrol's proposal that we shift the locus of struggle, and we should pursue her suggestions. Michael Hoover also wrote (on M-Fem) of the important struggle Medical Students for Choice are waging, among other suggestions he made here and elsewhere. Further, I think that it is important that we remind ourselves of how easy it is to provide a safe abortion (as long as pregnancy is in its early stage and uncomplicated), in terms of skills and expertise. (Remember the experience of JANE.) We had better let doctors & medical students know that we can do it ourselves & we will, if they don't want to. Feminist midwives and nurse practioners may become our allies. I also take a page from gay & lesbian rights struggles and propose the coming out of women who had an abortion and are happy to discuss it and its relation to feminism. As Carrol says, we've won in the realm of practice as to the acceptance of abortion in USA; coming out may help us to win an ideological victory as well. We are here, we've had an abortion, get used to it! We are everywhere! Yoshie
