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March 6, 2003

Mean Woman Blues

International Women’s Day is coming up, March 8. Now, I don’t put too much faith in observing particular days having much power to actually change things (with the exception of, you know, Pie Day) but I think it is important to be mindful of these things at the very least. So this is a day set aside to honor all of the progress that has been made for women’s rights around the world, and that’s notable, important. It’s also very important to be aware of all the shitty, shitty things the current administration is up to, especially with regards to women’s reproductive health.

Let’s have a little run-down.

The Global Gag Rule has been reinstated, cutting off US aid to international family planning organizations whose services included— but did not use US funds for— informing women of legal abortion options, providing safe and legal abortion options, or lobbying for abortion law reform.

The United Nations Population Fund has had $34 million in family planning aid withheld.

Support for the Senate ratification of CEDAW (the International Women’s Treaty) has been withdrawn. The treaty stands to require nations to remove barriers of discrimination against women in areas like legal rights and health care.

In my opinion, one of the biggest failings of the Bush administration is in regards to sex education. They have changed federal funding to only support “abstinence-only sex ed” wherein there can be no mention of contraceptives, and only the directive to abstain until marriage can be taught. Any fool can see how effective that should turn out to be.

The Feminist Majority Foundation is an excellent resource and it’s where I gleaned all of this information. They urge you to write some letters, and I do, too.

Posted by pogo at March 6, 2003 1:06 PM