Last Tuesday (Oct. 5th) Sarah Palin spoke at a fundraiser in Texas, in the course of her speech Palin pulled out some alarming words to describe pro-choice opponents. Our political system is no stranger to fear mongering and playing politics with words, especially considering the past 2 years. During her speech Palin plays on many of the major fears harbored by Pro-Life Americans: she simplifies both sides into the “Culture of Life” and the “Culture of Death” (take a guess at which camp pro-lifers claim), she states that Obamacare funds abortions (Federal Funding for Abortions was Banned in 1976 by the Hyde Amendment) , and that the clinics providing abortions make up an “abortion industry” which is massively benefiting from our “pro-abortion” president. Stir in suspicion that women are using abortions as birth control (because they are so inexpensive…) and add some fear of a pending genocide, and you have a recipe for what many Americans think is at stake in this political struggle: life.
As a feminist I contend that the political struggle between pro-life and pro-choice citizens has much more to do with the politics of a woman’s body. Access to abortions falls under a broader characteristic of women’s lives called reproductive choice. Reproductive choice means having access to safe and affordable birthing and parenting options: birth control technology, freedom from forced sterilization, and the availability of abortion. Limiting a woman’s control over reproductive choice decreases the quality of her life and the availability of opportunities for advancing socially. When the Comstock Law limited contraception because it was considered obscene, women realized that denial of contraception kept them in the domestic sphere and exposed them to continuous and frequently dangerous pregnancies. Controlling a woman’s body is a very effective means of controlling a woman’s life. I don’t find it any coincidence that those seeking to make abortion illegal frequenly advocate for abstinance only sex education, strict control over contraception, and ending or scarcely funding programs which aid disadvantaged mothers. The desire to control women’s bodies is frequently masked by claims to “protect life”, but the reality of the politics surrounding pro-life arguments reveals something else.
For good measure I am linking you to Ms.Magazine’s blog entitled The Next 10 Myths About Abortion, it goes beyond standard myths so I highly recommend it.
Until next time,
Killer Tofu
ShoutOut! James Madison University 
What amazes me most is this tactic that pretends the Hyde Ammendent doesn’t exist, which means 1 of 2 things:
A) Palin is using dishonesty to rally voters, which is typical fear tactic crap.
B) This woman who may be gunning to run for Public Office in 2012 has no idea about the Hyde Ammenment. Which is very very pathetic.
With Palin, you can never tell!
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