Someone once asked me: John, why are you a feminist? It is always a jarring question because I believe all people should be feminists and we should all fight for gender equality no matter what. I’ve been drawn to Martin Niemöller’s prolific quote:
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
Right now, it seems like a full on frontal assault against all of us. No matter what community you’re in, you can draw back to an instance of discrimination you’ve faced both pre-2016 as well as after the election of President Trump.
While we know attacks against minority communities are not a new phenomenon, in the world of social media and 24/7 news coverage, it seems like the world has completely flipped on its axis.
Why am I a feminist? There are a lot of reasons but right now I point back to the fight I find myself in every day: the struggle to make sure a woman’s right to safe and legal abortion remains the law of the land. If you haven’t been paying attention, numerous states have passed some of the most restrictive abortion bans in the history of the United States.
Bottom line: abortion is healthcare. Nearly a fourth of women in America will have an abortion by age 45. Every day, people across the United States make deeply personal decisions about their pregnancies. Those decisions deserve respect.
We need to make sure that we are organizing in our community or making sure these organizations are funded so they can continue to provide the lifesaving care on a day-to-day basis.
Usually, I have words of wisdom for you but today I have a call to action: get loud. I have listened to many members of the feminist community about what life was like before Roe and I know I am not alone when I say: We must never go back to that. We must always stand up and fight. We must also show up for communities that are under attack because if we don’t, they might not be anyone to stand up for the community I identify with when I need them.
If you can donate, please consider donating to these critical organizations on the ground and doing work in these various states:
- Sister Song
- Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates Access to Reproductive Care – Southeast
- Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity
- The Yellow Hammer Fund
John Erickson is a Ph.D. Candidate in American Religious History and holds two MA’s from Claremont Graduate University. John serves as a commissioner on the California Commission on the Status of Women. He is President of the Hollywood Chapter for the National Organization for Women, a boardmember for the City of West Hollywood’s Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board, a board member for the ACLU of Southern California, the Legislative Action Chair for Stonewall Democratic Club, and a board member for the National Organization for Women.
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Thanks for sharing the list of organizations we can donate to.As someone who donates on a regular basis to abortion rights organizations I am always looking for new groups to donate to.I believe it is so important to donate. financially. to the causes we believe in.
The quote mentioned above is a long time favorite of mine. I use to pass it out to my students.
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Important work.
There’s also
NARAL: Pro-Choice America
https://www.prochoiceamerica.org/
and
Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada
http://www.arcc-cdac.ca
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You’re completely welcome and there are so many episodes that we can give to. This was only a few but please comment on the others here if you have them.
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John, it’s men like you that will help change the world for all of us. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
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I’ll always be in this fight. We must never go back. If they come for Roe they can come for anything and anyone. The gay marriage rulings were won because of Roe!
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I feel exactly the same way John. Everything is connected and we don’t seem to be able to fathom that what we do to women we do to everyone…
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John, many thanks for being a masculine feminist. I wish the world were more full of men like you. And fewer like the Abuser-in-Chief.
I grew up in Missouri. Now I’m ashamed of my home state. Well…..I guess it’s better to be from Missouri than it is to be living and struggling there. I wouldn’t go back.
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John, I do agree with you whole heartedly and thank you for this post. I wonder if perhaps we should re-phrase the argument to a “freedom of choice for all women”, rather than the “right to abortion” angle. Right now wealthy women do have a choice, they can go anywhere. It is poor women who are denied that choice. It is poor women who are forced into dark alley butchers. “Choice” should not be determined by wealth. “Choice” should be part of health care for all women. It really is, once again, “us” vs “them”, and “they” (wealthy, powerful white men) are winning. You are so right, we all need to stand up, and arm in arm we need to reach into our pocketbooks.
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I just think the fact that we’re still debating a safe medical procedure in 2019 is insane but hey, we still can’t even get our legislators to realize that we have 20 years to get our act together in regards to climate change. Thank you, for your comment!
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By this Friday, they could be the first state in the nation to not have a place where women could get a safe and legal abortion. That is truly scary and why we must sound the alarm!
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