Category Archives: Political Corner

Changing Your Name After Marriage and Why I’m Doing It

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Eleanor

I’m getting married next year – which is very exciting, of course.

I have a confession to make, though: I’m changing my last name after I get married.

As an ardent feminist (and by the way, Katy Perry and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, if you’re for the progress of women, you’re a feminist – be proud!), it kind of made me hurt a little inside. I thought for years that I would absolutely refuse to change my name; after all, your name is part of your identity and why does it have to be changed?

But then I went to my doctor’s office one day (not Planned Parenthood, mind) and my doctor asked me how my medication was going – a medication that I had never heard of and didn’t take. That was when I realized that they had picked up the wrong chart. And when you’re dealing with medication, a wrong prescription written for a condition that you don’t have? It can kill you.

I have a common-ish name, but it’s not THAT common. Nonetheless, this was the fourth time that I could remember that my chart has been mixed up with someone else. And you know what? That was the final straw. Not-so-common last name, here I come.

There’s really three reasons I’m doing it:

To ensure I get the right medical information – always.
My fiance asked me very nicely. I’m not really wedded to my own last name – it’s OK, but not awesome. On the plus side, I get a nice & memorable name now.
It gives me an opportunity to get rid of the middle name I’ve hated since birth – it’s also OK, but not really me.

And by the way? If you feel that you must change your last name so that you and your children can have the same last name? Don’t worry about that – advice from the mouth of someone whose own mother didn’t change her last name on getting married. I assure you, she’s still very much my mom – and I didn’t have a single question asked about it all through school.

Feminism is about having all options available for women, right? So, for once, I’m going the traditional route. (Weird.)

Women Rule in New Hampshire

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Mary

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Recently, the Motherlode blog of the New York Times online posted this article celebrating the fact that New Hampshire now has an all-female and all-mother Congressional delegation and Governor. I read the article and appreciated that the author noted how far we’ve evolved in terms of having it all. The author was also quick to celebrate that the fact that these women are also mothers was more of a footnote during their campaigns. Politician or beautician, she was celebrating the fact that working parents have similar experiences, and that we’re all in this together. At least that’s how I took the article. The comments highlighted a few other important perspectives.

While some took a celebratory tone, others were not as romanced by the all-mom election results . . . “Just being female and having children doesn’t mean that you’ll do anything to press a female-friendly or family-friendly political agenda.” Case in point: Sarah Palin.

And another person, whom I have no doubt is a feminist, said “. . . any implication that it is even better to have women who are mothers elected than to have women who choose not to have children doesn’t help the cause of gaining equal representation for all women.” Touché “Sue,” touché. A person’s value is in no way related to their desire to parent.

While I agree with “Sue,” I have to add my two cents. I added “Mom” to my resumé almost three years ago and I must say that it has given me insights into the intricacies of how families make decisions, how some legislation meddles with decisions that should only be made within my family unit, and how usual people will do unusual things to protect their children. That may not set me apart from people who are not parenting, so I can only speak for myself when I say that parenting has deepened my sense of empathy for others, and if I were a politician, my experience as a parent would most definitely influence my political decisions. I suppose you could say that is exactly what would make me a terrible politician, but then again, empathy, relatability, and a sense of humanness are exactly the kinds of traits (and many more) Americans are looking for in politicians. And while it may be sad that an all-female, all-mom Congressional delegation and Governor is still “news,” isn’t this, in part, what we’ve been fighting for? We can have it all, it does take a village, and damn it, we should celebrate how far we’ve come. But don’t spend all of your energy celebrating because you and I both know that there’s still so much more work in the equality arena left to do . . .

When the Least Powerful Become the Most Powerful: An Afternoon with Gloria Steinem

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Firdaus

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Over the weekend I had the opportunity of a lifetime: to stand arm in arm with Gloria Steinem, one of the founding Feminist Warriors of our time, and founder of Ms. Magazine.

Gloria was speaking at a “get out the vote” engagement in my city, and she revved up the small crowd of about 150 supporters. She reminded us that Election Day is the one day when the least powerful become the most powerful. She reminded us that the United States plays a large and important role in the lives of people all over the world, and that this election will affect not only the citizens within our borders, but also the lives of humans internationally. When we step into the voter booth we are making a choice that ripples far across the globe.

I had not thought about my ballot in such impactful terms, but when I think about the international support we offer in the form of reproductive health monies and HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns worldwide, I realize the personal is the political, and what one does effects others.

No matter who you vote for this election season, I encourage you to utilize your constitutional right to have your voice heard. Your vote does matter, and the only way we can continue in a direction of democracy is to actively participate in it. Early voting has started in some states, and begins 10 days before Election Day in Florida. Whether you get there early, send off an absentee, or stand in line on Tuesday, November 6th, please remember that if you don’t speak for yourself, someone else will speak for you.

Vote No on Amendment 6: Florida’s families need your help

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Eleanor

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I know, I know, we usually have brand new content every day. But Amendment 6 is so important for Florida’s families that we wanted to bring it to your attention again. We’ll be back tomorrow with a brand new sexual health topic! -e

In this bitterly fought election season, you may have not heard about the dangers of Amendment 6, a ballot initiative that Florida voters will see in November at the end of a very long ballot, perhaps as long as 5-10 pages.

Simply put, Amendment 6 is a flawed and poorly written initiative that could allow Tallahassee politicians to interfere with a woman’s personal health care decisions, decisions that should be made by a woman, her doctor, and her family. Women should be trusted and respected to protect their own health, but Amendment 6 makes no exceptions for a woman’s health. This flawed amendment could deny women access to insurance plans that cover care they count on and you know as I do that it is not for politicians to decide the best health insurance coverage for women.

Here is just one real story that demonstrates the impact of Amendment 6. Three years ago, Fran and her husband received the news no expectant mother wants to hear – that their genetic testing came back showing a severe fetal abnormality. Their genetic counselor told them there was no hope for the survival of the fetus and suggested they immediately end the pregnancy. Amendment 6 doesn’t take Fran’s situation into account at all. If passed, Amendment 6 would allow politicians to interfere in this personal medical decision best made by Fran, her doctor and her family and as a state employee, Fran would not be allowed to use her health insurance benefits when making this difficult decision.

There are women like Fran in every community and neighborhood throughout the state – some of them may be women you know. We have to ask why our lawmakers are so focused on placing these kinds of amendments on the ballot at a time when working families are struggling just to make ends meet.

It is why we must Vote No on Amendment 6.

Share Your Story and Build a Movement: Why Do You Believe in Equality?

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Eleanor

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If you’re a regular reader of the Feronia Project, chances are that you’re interested in issues of sexual health. But here’s a question for you: how did you come to be interested in the movement of sexual health, reproductive justice, and equitable health care? And how can you use your story of self to bring people into the movement as well?

This is just one of the things that you’ll learn at the Youth Organizing and Policy Institute. Are you 18-24 and interested in this work? Join the YOPI closest to you this summer – find out more here.

I was lucky enough to go through YOPI training this summer, and learned that nothing is as important as sharing your story. So, I’ll share my story if you’ll share yours:

When I was 13 years old, I stood in the dark in my childhood bedroom, holding the phone. On the other end, my 41-year-old father was telling me that he had just been diagnosed with lung cancer. Every parent deserves the opportunity to watch their child grow up – and during his two-year battle with the disease, he and his health care company underwent every treatment possible to have that happen. Because he was insured, he was given every opportunity to try.

Ten years later, I decided to move to the United Kingdom to get my master’s degree. I spent a few years there and decided that while the United Kingdom was lovely, there was no place like home. In 2009, I moved back to the United States and got a job – but didn’t have health insurance and couldn’t afford it. I was too rich for Medicaid and too poor to afford a monthly insurance premium, so where did I go in my time of need? Where did I go to get my yearly checkups? Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood helped me when I needed it, and the compassionate care of the staff at the health center remains one of my best health care experiences. While I now am fully covered by health care, I still go to Planned Parenthood for my checkups. Those patients in the waiting room, waiting for their care? It wasn’t too long ago that I was one of them, waiting and wondering when I could afford to get health care in case, God forbid, something catastrophic happened to me – like I, and many others, know all too well.

That’s why this movement is important to me. That’s my story of why I do what I do every day.

What’s your story? Why did you get involved in reproductive justice and equitable health care – and why is it important to you? Would you like to use your story to build a movement? Join your nearest YOPI.

You Might Be A Feminist If…

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Firdaus

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As I’ve been reading through the Feronia Project lately (oh, I’m so proud of our brainchild!) I realized that we’ve never covered some topics fundamental to our message, predominantly feminism.

Now, if you just cringed as you read that “F” word, this post is for you. There are a lot of pop culture stereotypes about feminism as a philosophy/perspective and feminists as people who follow said movement that aim to pollute and dismiss its legitimacy. It’s probably got you, too.

My favorite false definition about feminists comes from the always-entertaining misogynist, Pat Robertson: “Feminism is a socialist, anti-family, political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.” Oh, Pat, so funny I forgot to laugh!

Or my second favorite, Mr.“It makes her a slut, right?” himself, Rush Limbaugh: “Feminism was established to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream.”

Mainstream media perpetuates these stereotypes about feminism, and general stereotypes about women (easy, bitchy, catty, stupid, weak, inferior, naturally submissive, etc.) to the point that people who would otherwise agree with feminist philosophies are shrieking in horror if someone labels them a … wait for it … feminist.

Lucky for you, I have a simple test. Raise your hand if you self-identify as a feminist. Anyone? Ok, now raise your hand if you believe in access to equal wages for equal work. Did you know that, on average, women only make 74% of what men do? Did you know that women account for about half of the U.S. workforce? Additionally, many women experience the “double day,” in which they are primarily responsible for the household labor and child raising in addition to their paid work. Clearly women must be more natural at vacuuming and caravaning than our counterparts, right? Why else are all cleaning advertisements targeted toward women? Please sense my sarcasm and blame the patriarchy.

Did you know we’re still not covered by an equal pay act? Just this year, the U.S. senate voted it down AGAIN. If you think that people should not be discriminated against because of their sex, gender, race or origin, and that domestic labor should be equitably divided, you might be a feminist.

Next, how about the ability to live a life free of sexual exploitation and violence? Yeah, us too. As we’ve reported many times, sexual assault rates around the world are beyond comprehension. In the U.S., 1 in 4 women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime. In many cultures, sexual violence and oppression are used as tools to control a society, bring shame to human dignity, and justify discrimination. In many cultures, women are systematically raped as a practice of war; within our own military, 60% of women have experienced sexual trauma while serving. Feminist philosophy proposes that people, regardless of sex, gender, color, creed or origin should never fall victim to physical, sexual, mental, or emotional violence.

You with me yet? How about the right to vote or hold political office? Feminists think that all people have the right to participate in their government, regardless of their gender identity, chromosomes, or physical characteristics. That all people are born with intrinsic value equally, and while we are of different perspectives, we are of the same worth. Fortunately, a relentless gang of feminists fought for almost 40 years to rectify voting rights in this country, because before 1920 only white dudes could cast a ballot.

The US ranks 90th globally in the amount of women holding office in national legislature. When you digest that only 6 states hold female governors, only 17% of seats in the Congress are held by females, and zero presidents have ever used a tampon, it’s not difficult to see how reproductive health is on the back burner.

Reproductive rights is a biggie within the “feminist” community. Feminism argues that all people should assume control of their own bodies, and that females have the human right to control their fertility. Think we’ve always had the right to buy Emergency Contraception the morning after? Think again. Yes, the feminist movement is still relevant, and fighting tirelessly for you to maintain ownership over your own body.

Feminist philosophy argues that no people deserve to be oppressed by a hierarchy of power regardless of sex, gender identity, color, ethnic identity, ability/disability, origin, or access to resources. It believes that all people deserve dignity, respect, and the right to a life free of violence, discrimination, and oppression.

Do I have your attention yet?

Feminism is a life perspective spoken from the “feminine” perspective, one that encourages traits such as compassion, compromise, non-violence, community, and human dignity for all. Opposed to this are patriarchal practices of discrimination, hierarchies, conflict, systematic violence/aggression, and dominance/subordination. In a nutshell, feminism believes in freedom, justice and harmony – woot!

Before I go, a couple more things. Contrary to faux news, feminists are people who are in alliance with the guiding principles I’ve laid out before you, and they are not confined to any particular gender, sex, race, class, ethnicity, origin, or other demographic characteristic. You do not need to reject femininity to be a feminist. That’s a biggie. In a culture such as ours that is obsessed with image and categorizing people, it’s often assume that in order to be a “true feminist,” you must reject things like shaving, wearing make-up, being heterosexual, enjoying the company of males, wearing a bra/dress, or being a stay-at-home mom. For me, feminism isn’t about the physical, it’s about the spiritual.

Simply put: “Feminism is the radical notion that women are people.” -Cheris Kramarae and Paula Treichler

A Victory for Women’s Health and All Americans

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Eleanor

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The Affordable Care Act marks the biggest advance for women’s health, men’s health, Americans’ health in a generation. As the nation’s leading women’s health care provider and advocate, Planned Parenthood stands firmly alongside women, families, and patients across this country whose access to affordable, quality health care is transformed by the Affordable Care Act. Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court means that these Americans will have access to affordable, quality health care – many of whom had no coverage or inadequate coverage before.

Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida knows firsthand how important this law – and this decision – is for women and families, because we see the need for affordable health care every day.

One in five women in America rely on Planned Parenthood at some point in their lives and more than 90% of the services Planned Parenthood health centers provides is preventative, such as cancer screenings, birth control, and STD tests.
More than 45 million women have already received coverage for preventative health screenings at no cost since August 2010 – including mammograms and Pap tests – and millions more will be able to get free screenings in the coming years because this law will remain intact.
3.1 million young adults have already been able to stay on their parents’ insurance because of the Affordable Care Act. In the next year, millions more who would have otherwise lost coverage will continue to be insured under their parents’ plan.
The Affordable Care Act will end discriminatory practices against women, such as charging women higher premiums and denying coverage for “pre-existing conditions.”

Because of today’s ruling, millions of women will have access to birth control without a co-pay starting in August 2012 – protecting their health, saving them money, and giving them control over whether and when to start families.

Planned Parenthood health centers have been serving patients with private insurance for decades and the nearly 800 Planned Parenthood health centers around the nation will be here for newly insured women who want quality health care from a provider they can trust – no matter what.

Fired for Using Contraception? Maybe in Arizona!

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Firdaus

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Just when you thought the contraceptive coverage mandate through the Affordable Care Act had been settled, Arizona’s war on women continues in the form of House Bill 2625. This creative, slimy, and downright privacy-violating bill proposes that women who choose to purchase contraception through their employer’s health insurance must provide medical evidence that the contraception is used for some other medical condition besides preventing pregnancy. The bill would also allow an employer to legally fire a woman for using contraception as birth control if it is against the moral values of the employer.

Lawmakers continue to discriminate against women by proposing legislation that specifically targets their ability to plan their pregnancies. Again, I cannot believe that in 2012, lawmakers have the audacity to propose such blatant misogyny. As I have stated before, if women cannot plan their pregnancies they cannot plan their lives.

I am very concerned about this, Feronians. These anti-women’s health/safety/autonomy measures continue popping up around the country, from proposals to define “life” as beginning at conception (therefore outlawing all abortion and hormonal contraception), to mandating unnecessary ultrasound procedures before abortions, to de-funding all of Title X programs (see Texas), to now making it legally possible for women to lose their jobs for planning their pregnancies. What are we going to do about this blatant discrimination within our borders?

Well, November is just around the corner, and with it, the ability to vote out these conservative bigots who continue to put the lives of women on the chopping block.

I’ll be voting in November. Advocates of women are watching.

Abortion: New Language for a New Generation

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Eleanor

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I was lucky enough to spend time a few weeks ago talking about the language we use as a society to describe abortion. (Not everyone’s chosen way to spend a Saturday, but you can see why I enjoy my work at Planned Parenthood now, right?)

Continuing legal access to abortion has been one of the most important – and bitterly divisive – fights of the last 39 years. And yet we’re still using the same language to talk about abortion as we were 39 years ago – choice, privacy, rights – as society has changed all around us.

It’s time for some new words.

Let me make this very clear: no one wants to make the decision to have an abortion. But that’s what we are entitled to do – make a decision, not a choice. It’s not a choice of breaking the law anymore or disappearing from your hometown in shame. It is a decision that you are legally allowed to make and no one, especially the government, should be able to take that away from you. Women are not like livestock, much to the bewilderment of a Georgia State Representative; we are empowered individuals who can decide what is best for us. No bureaucrat should be involved in important life decisions better left to a woman, her family, her doctor, and her faith.

If we have to ask permission to make a decision that we are legally entitled to make? If there are restrictions put in place to hinder us from making this decision, from 24-hour waiting periods to forced transvaginal ultrasounds to being forced to carry a stillborn fetus to term?

Then, in a very real sense, the power to make a decision on abortion has been taken away from us and we are seeking reproductive justice. It’s justice for being wronged, justice that we deserve, justice for all to make a decision on whether or not to have an abortion. It’s a difficult decision, but it’s ours to make.

I don’t know about you, but the words “choice,” “rights,” and particularly “privacy” don’t mean anything to me, a woman born post-Roe and who grew up in the Facebook era, where your life is very public. Whether or not to have an abortion is a decision that I have been able to make my entire life – and maybe you have, too.

So, what words do you think we should use when it comes to talking about abortion and reproductive health? What words resonate with you?

2012 Florida Legislative Session: A Victory!

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Political Corner

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It’s hard to believe, but it’s true: the 2012 Florida Legislative session officially ended Friday night and not one anti-choice bill was passed this year!

Despite persistent threats to reduce women’s access to reproductive health care – 10 anti-choice bills were introduced during this session, while a whopping 18 were introduced during 2011 – the Florida Legislature did not send the Governor any legislation for his signature that would reduce women’s access to essential health care services.

This is a great victory for women!

For those energetic souls who called, wrote or visited state legislators on behalf of women – thank you so much for your efforts and dedication! Without supporters like you, we would not have been able to stop the dangerous, invasive and restrictive bills that had been proposed. We are particularly encouraged that many legislators said “no” to efforts targeting health centers that provide the reproductive health care and family planning services that women need.

The “Women’s Health at Risk” report, released by the Florida Association of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, reveals that women’s health is in crisis in Florida, as women struggle to access affordable, quality health care. Nearly two million Florida women do not have health insurance – and nearly as many are in need of contraceptive services.

Would we be out of minds to hope that, now, legislators will work with Planned Parenthood to help women access quality reproductive health care services?

Well, we’ll just keep showing up in Tallahassee, and asking, and testifying – and we’ll continue growing our army of women and men who will not stop until women in Florida have full rights to health care!