EDITORIAL
When Planned Parenthood Action Fund president Cecile Richards repeated Feminists for Life's trademarked line “Women Deserve Better®” while addressing the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, she missed the point.
The Guttmacher Institute, formerly Planned Parenthood's research arm, has documented the long list of reasons that drive women to abortion—primarily lack of resources and support.
Feminists for Life is working to systematically eliminate the root causes that drive women to abortion. Guttmacher has given us our task list. And they report half of all abortions are performed on college-age women.
Feminists for Life’s own nationwide survey and subsequent report, Perception IS Reality, explained the reason why. Last fall we asked pro-life student leaders across the country to see if they could find the resources pregnant women say they need. Overwhelmingly the answer was “no.”
If student activists who are not in a crisis can’t find resources, how do we expect pregnant students to be able to truly consider choices like marital parenthood, partnered parenthood, single parenthood, and an array of adoption options?
No wonder the abortion rate is highest among college-age women.
Some may be happy with business as usual, but Feminists for Life says NO to the status quo.
Women deserve better.
That is why we have worked with Senators Casey, Dole and Nelson and Representatives Kaptur and Myrick to introduce a bipartisan bill, the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Pregnant and Parenting Student Services Act, which would help up to 200 U.S. colleges and universities address the underlying needs of pregnant and parenting students including housing, child care, maternity coverage, telecommuting options and more.
There is nothing in this bill that Planned Parenthood should oppose.
As millions of students go back to school, we invite Planned Parenthood to get behind the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Pregnant and Parenting Student Services Act…
Because women deserve better.
Serrin M. Foster President "Abortion is a reflection that we have not met the needs of women. Women deserve better than abortion."
Say NO to the Status QuoTM
[27Aug08, www.feministsforlife.org]