What Michigan’s Prop 3 Could Mean for National Abortion Rights

PUBLISHED 10/28/2022 by

Ahead of the midterms, feminist and civil rights groups are urging Michiganders to vote yes to Proposal 3, a ballot measure that would add an amendment to the state constitution explicitly establishing the right to abortion, as well as a broad range of other reproductive healthcare, including prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, sterilization, miscarriage management and infertility. 

The ballot measure will determine whether the state’s 1931-era abortion ban can remain on the books—a law prohibiting abortions without exceptions for rape, incest or health of the pregnant woman. (It only allows abortions that “preserve the life” of a patient.)

From Black Death to COVID-19, Pandemics Push People to Honor Death and Celebrate Life

PUBLISHED 10/27/2022 by

Even though death is symbolically very much present in Halloween, it’s also a time to celebrate life. The holiday draws from mixed emotions that resonate even more than usual during the COVID-19 era.

Looking at the ways survivors of past pandemics tried to celebrate the triumph of life amid widespread death can add context to the present-day experience. Consider the Black Death—the mother of all pandemics.

#MeToo, Five Years Later

PUBLISHED 10/27/2022 by

In the five years since it took off like wildfire, the #MeToo campaign has made widespread sexual abuse in the U.S. visible for the first time and inspired a record number of sexual harassment lawsuits against employers. It exposed how our decades-old workplace anti-harassment laws were outdated and often ineffective. In the last five years, 22 states and the District of Columbia passed more than 70 workplace anti-harassment bills in the last five years—many with bipartisan support.

Even still, U.S. rape culture persists and creates an environment where women and girls are disbelieved, survivors are discouraged from reporting abuse, and male abusers are forgiven—or even rewarded—for sexually abusive behavior. Congress must do more.

Iconic Book ‘Our Bodies Ourselves’ Goes Digital

PUBLISHED 10/26/2022 by

In September, Our Bodies, Ourselves went digital as Our Bodies Ourselves Today (OBOS Today)—a definitive knowledge hub for trusted, peer-reviewed information from a feminist perspective, with content by over 100 experts.

“We are living in an era where our civil rights and human rights are being taken away from us—not only the right to abortion in many states but also the right to talk about it,” said Amy Agigian, director of OBOS Today.

Why You Should Always Talk Politics at the Dinner Table

PUBLISHED 10/25/2022 by

People think elections are run by a boogeyman—a faceless man behind the curtain, pulling the strings. But, the truth is, elections are run by everyday people with familiar faces—the face of my grandmother, the face of your uncle, our neighbors, friends. People who believe the right to vote is precious and should be protected. People who believe what I do: that elections are the lifeblood of our government.

The ballot is our greatest equalizer. It is how we can give everyone an equal voice and an equal impact on our government. But that is only true if people show up to the polls, cast their vote and trust the results.

Voter ID Laws Put Women’s Votes at Risk

PUBLISHED 10/25/2022 by

Millions of American women—including the remarkable wave of women voters who registering for the first time—are currently at risk of being prevented from casting a ballot that counts. The reason? Voter ID laws that create additional barriers and cause confusion and uncertainty about people’s ability to vote.

Making sure that women know the precise documents they’ll need on Election Day will ensure they can have their votes counted with minimal bureaucratic hurdles. 

Citizenship Requires Informed Voting

PUBLISHED 10/25/2022 by

Twenty-first-century citizens should embrace the opportunity to vote. They should study their ballots. They must research politicians, their positions on key issues, and their proposed policies.

If we expect the government to provide services such as national defense, education and health services, the best we can do is show up to the voting booth prepared. Citizens owe it to the country to inform themselves about the options before stepping into the ballot box. Citizenship is not free from obligation. In the United States, voting is a right. But we should treat it as a privilege and cherish it accordingly. 

Telemedicine Abortion, Explained: The Ms. Q&A with Choix’s Cindy Adam

PUBLISHED 10/24/2022 by

As abortion bans mount in states across the country in the wake of the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, abortion seekers in states where the procedure is banned are increasingly turning to online telemedicine providers.

“It really helps to alleviate the stress and the barriers that come with accessing such a highly stigmatized and politicized form of care, even in the states where abortion care remains legal,” said Cindy Adam, co-founder and CEO of Choix, of telemedicine abortion. “It puts that power to decide back into the hands of the person seeking care.”