The ways of talking about the "war on women" that leave people out

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

There’s been a lot of talk lately on the feminist internets – everywhere, really – about the Republican “war on women.” The bevy of anti-choice legislation is absolutely that – Republicans intend to go after women. But I’m finding much of the feminist response hurtful in its conflation of “women” and “people who can make babies.”
http://feministing.com/2012/03/19/the-ways-of-talking-about-the-war-on-women-that-leave-people-out/

[blake 3:17]

Thanks for the piece. I liked the two links in it as examples of trying to create new forms of inclusion.

The giant questions around gender essence can't be resolved overnight, but glad people are working on it from the Left.

It's exciting to hear feminists fighting against oppression on both a universalist and difference acknowledging basis.

[isaacston]

I'm a trans* man who can still get pregnant. I am affected by this issue, but at the same time, I recognize that this isn't a war against my gender--in the words of (I don't remember hir name) whatthefreshhellisthis on Tumblr, people aren't even counting our dead. That being said, this is an issue of misogyny, and I have male privilege. I don't mind this being called "the war on women" because it's aimed at women. We're caught in the crossfire, but this is rich, old white men not wanting women to have control over even their own bodies.

[It might also be helpful to note that there is one poster I've taken issue with, which was a drawing of the entire typically female reproductive system with text over it saying that women needed to have autonomy over their bodies. I felt somewhat dysphoric about it all, but I liked actually having an ad that had the typically female reproductive system in all its glory without there being disgust surrounding it.]