Actions for a post-Roe world
BTW: Women in some states have been in that world for years now.
What to do if you care about reproductive healthcare and justice
Late last month was the 49th (and potentially last) anniversary of Roe v. Wade decision. Looking ahead to impending SCOTUS decisions, and the slew of restrictive pro-forced-pregnancy state laws all teed up and ready to take advantage if those decisions go the way most experts expect, you would be forgiven if you have a sense of hopelessness about the state of choice in this country.
You would also be forgiven if you’re concerned that if Roe falls, it takes down other civil rights based on the same foundation…like marriagae equality, to name one. Or that if it falls it takes down other reproductive healthcare options…like most forms of birth control.
And if you live in one of the many states where an abortion has become harder and harder to reasonably obtain, despite the supposed ban on placing an “undue burden” on women, you would be forgiven if you looked at the rest of us and said, “welcome to our nightmare; you’re late.”
The question isn’t about the will of the people, because it’s quite clear plenty of legislators and judges are willing to ignore that. The question isn’t whether the federal rights outlook is dire or not, or whether your state’s is just as dire or not. Rather, the question is: What can can we do about it if it is? Here are some ideas, powered by contributions from activist friends like Alison Turkos and Tanya Selvaratnam and worhty organizations to which I donate, like the Center for Reproductive Rights.
Time for a language shift
I no longer say pro-life, I say pro-forced-pregnancy. It’s a bit more of a mouthful, but it’s more honest. I haven’t relied on the phrase pro-choice for a while, but I also only rarely say reproductive rights now, preferring to talk about reproductive healthcare and reproductive justice. Despite the reference to “inalienable rights” in our own founding documents, it’s quite clear that people have been alientated from their rights since the founding. Rights, whether theoretically inalienable or not have been bestowed and have been withdrawn. The quest for justice is eternally part of the effort to form a more perfect union, and a job that’s likely never to be finished. I also try to avoid talking about abortion as a women’s issue, because behind most abortion decisions is a man who’s equally responsible and probably equally relieved. Not to mention being inclusive of those from the LGBTQ community who may be faced with these same decisions. Check out this additional guidance from AVOW.
Language matters.
Time to shift your dollars
There’s no doubt that the big national names in reproductive healthcare and justice do good work, but more of my money is going in two specific directions…to the abovementioned Center, because they are leading the litigious charge to push back on the state laws that each hope to be the mechanism by which Roe is effectively, if not explicitly overturned. And also to more localized and independent abortion clinics and the abortion funds that help people afford to get the abortions they seek, particularly if they need to travel out of their own state to do so. For example, I donate to my local Planned Parenthood Mar Monte service provider, vs. the national organization. [Find your local abortion clinic at this link.] If effective activism is about triage (as I contended in #RoadMap4Revs) then local and independent is the way I’m currently prioritizing my dollars, reserving the right to shift that allocation when it’s called for.
Dollars matter.
Time for innovation and new information
It’s time to share info about (and potentially stock up on) the fact that there are solutions beyond the traditional clinic abortion, and emergency contraception and abortion pills may be exactly what people in the states with the most restrictive laws will need to continue to be in charge of thier own healthcare. Make sure people know about these options.
Innovation and information matter.
Time to keep speaking out
Whether you want to shout your abortion or join people from all walks of life who are sharing their abortion stories, or want to encourage your legislators to co-sponsor and fight for the passage of the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), now is not the time to accept defeat, shut up, and stand down. Even if you’re demographically no longer personally affected (as I am not) the ramifications are critical to us all. And damn, would I love to see more men speaking out. And also: Companies. If you are HQ’ed in Texas or Mississippi or any of the states geting ready to ban abortion, how can you stay silent while your colleagues worry about their right and futures? (If you lead a company, check out the Don’t Ban Equality movement.)
Communication matters.
I imagine not every person who reads this newsletter believes in the right to reproductive healthcare, justice, and yes, abortion. I once spent a trans-Atlantic flight sitting next to, and therefore speaking at length, with a very devout Catholic woman who mos def did not support my views. How did we end up talking about it, you may ask? Well, the flight took place the day after the 2012 election, and it came up, and she was quite disappointed Obama won re-election, because she was one of those mythical one-issue Republican voters. I will give her this: She talked about how she cared for children after they were born. She didn’t put it like that, of course, but her good works did include trying to help “underprivileged” children. She was also anti-death penalty (as am I). It is the pro-forced-pregnancy, but pro-death-penalty, and anti-social services folks who most drive me over the edge with their hypocrisy, so I had to hand it to her that she was consistent in her worldview. We had a rational conversation, understood each other’s perspective and still disagreed with each other. And probably neither one of us spoke often with people on the opposite side of the issue. A decade longer I wonder if we ever could have had that conversation.
Anyway my point is: It’s OK if you disagree with me. I just really felt the need to do something productive and hopefully helpful with the way I’ve been feeling about this.
For the rest of you, I hope if you have other ways you are helping you will click on this purple button and leave a comment to tell us!
Last week-ish
Episode 73 of The Op-Ed Page podcast featured my conversation with activist, developer (yes, that’s a thing…at least Majora has made it a thing) and longtime friend and hero Majora Carter about her work and her new book, Reclaiming Your Community: You don’t have to move out of your neighborhood to live in a better one. We have an interesting conversation about the language around what Majora calls “low-status” communities, and the difference between “giving back” and “investing” in your community. This book speaks to her life’s work, but Majora has always been action-oriented and not about making herself into the hero (I’ll do that though) but rather encouraging everyone to consider their own possibilities to be part of the transformations they’d like to see in the world.
Also last week a couple of new pieces I edited for The Rosie Report as part of my editor-in-residence gig were published: How can play bring your teams back together in these uncertain times? by Jeff Harry and Building the plan to build up to board work by Julie Crabill.
Finally, my LinkedIn Course is finally live! Telling Stories That Stick is a 57 minute course on crafting your stories for different audiences (media, investors, prospects, hiring managers) and making sure those stories stick…and convey exactly what you hope to convey.
Coming this week-ish
Coming soon: For the first time in a while I have couple of speaking gigs to share:
On February 17, 2022, I’ll be in conversation with Thaler Pekar and Chanel Cathey about how to have complex conversations. We’ll connect the communications dots from the management and media expertise you may have and apply it to the challenge of having constructive interactions on potentially fraught topics. I’m still waiting for the registration link on this one (yes, I know it’s soon).
On March 22, 2022 I’ll interview Daisy Auger-Dominguez, Vice Media’s Chief People Officer, about her new book Inclusion Revolution, and why achieving inclusion results is just table stakes for modern leadership for every leader. Register here.
Both are still virtual, but I’m excited to be back on even a virtual stage!
Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on any or all of the above. This is basically my blog now! And as always I appreciate a share of this newsletter or my podcast.
And if I can help you break through the things that are keeping you stuck, set up your first introductory 30-minute consult for free by booking it in my Calendly.