"Women's Issues" Across the Atlantic

Suzanne Reisman — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 08:10:21 -0500

My friend Mara (pictured at left with her adorable husband and even cuter baby at the CapitalWoman conference) moved to London in October 2005. While I miss her very much, I do enjoy hearing about the interesting feminist happenings that take place across the pond. A perfect example is capitalwoman.
According to the website:

Every year, capitalwoman brings London women of all ages and backgrounds together to discuss the issues affecting them. Open and free to all women, the conference coincides with International Women's Day.

capitalwoman enables women to question the Mayor directly on issues affecting them, and debate subjects ranging from childcare and education to workplace issues and travel safety with policy makers and women's representatives.

Just thinking about a free city-wide forum for women to express their concerns and opinions gives me goosebumps. I haven't heard of anything like it in the US, or anywhere else for that matter. (Please speak up, though, if you have!)

More similarly to the US, however, is the assault on reproductive rights that is taking place in Britain. When Mara sent me the picture of her family at capitalwoman, she also explained that:

Currently, the law in the UK (with the exception of Northern Ireland, where abortion is still illegal) is that women can have an abortion up to 24 weeks (or after in severe cases of disability) but that to get any abortion through the NHS, women need to get 2 doctors to sign off on the procedure. This can cause delays and also costs when women feel â€œforcedâ€ to go to a private clinic and pay for their abortions. Also, in the last year or two, a lot of UK media outlets have been furthering the anti-choice cause by printing many stories that focus on premature babies, â€œscientific advancesâ€ in foetal development (which are not supported by orgs like the British Medical Association or the Royal College of Ob Gyn). And there is a conservative MP who is for a second time calling for a law to reduce the time limit on abortions and also require a â€œcooling off periodâ€ for women who request them.

(Incidentally, the MP calling for these restrictions is a woman, which reminds me why I don't vote for candidates solely based on gender. I think we all know that all women do not think alike. Just because a politician is female does not mean that she will represent my personal interests, but I digress.)

Mara volunteers at Abortion Rights, he UKâ€™s only pro-choice campaigning organization. Like pro-choice organizations in the US did a few months ago, Abortion Rights is hosting a campaign for people to speak out about abortion. As the website states, "It is time the pro-choice majority was heard and the law brought into line with public opinion. Here, you can break the taboo on abortion â€“ tell your story or add your support for a modern law." Check it out, and add your story or support for the cause.

Suzanne is an Anglophile (how can anyone not be given that Cadbury chocolate is from there?) on her other blog Campaign for Unshaved Snatch & Other Rants

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"Women's Issues" Across the Atlantic