Feminists for Life of America (FFL) is a non-sectarian, non-partisan, nonprofit pro-life feminist organization established in 1972. The organization describes itself thus: Pro-life feminism is the opposition to abortion based on feminism. ...

[FFL] seeks real solutions to the challenges women face. Our efforts are shaped by the core feminist values of justice, nondiscrimination, and nonviolence. Feminists for Life of America continues the tradition of early American feminists such as Susan B. Anthony, who opposed abortion. ^[1]

Feminists for Life of America recognizes that abortion is a reflection that our society has failed to meet the needs of women. We are dedicated to systematically eliminating the root causes that drive women to abortion—primarily lack of practical resources and support—through holistic, woman-centered solutions. Women deserve better than abortion." ^[2]

As these statements show, Feminists for Life believes that being pro-life is not only compatible with feminism, it is the natural conclusion of feminist values. Members and supporters of the organization frequently claim that being a pro-life feminist "is not an oxymoron, it's redundant". The president of the group, Serrin Foster, describes the organization as opposed to all forms of abortion, including those in case of rape, incest, health, major birth defects and according to Katha Pollitt, "some abortions most doctors would say were necessary to save the woman's life"^[3]. Susan B. Anthony. ... Pro-life advocates make a silent complaint in front of the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Pro-life is a term representing a variety of perspectives and activist movements in bioethics. ... Feminism is a diverse collection of social theories, political movements and moral philosophies, largely motivated by or concerned with the experiences of women. ... Feminism is a social theory and political movement primarily informed and motivated by the experience of women. ... Pro-life feminism is the opposition to abortion based on feminism. ... This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ... A congenital disorder is a medical condition or defect that is present at or before birth (for example, congenital heart disease). ... Katha Pollitt (born 1949) is an American feminist writer. ...

In its broader vision, "FFL members oppose all forms of violence, including abortion, as they are inconsistent with the core feminist principles of justice, nonviolence and nondiscrimination."^[4] Basic human rights, including the right to life, extend from conception (understood as the first formation of a human zygote) until the end of natural life, according to FFL.^[5] Therefore, FFL is opposed to euthanasia^[6], infanticide^[7], and child abuse^[8]. FFL does not take an official stance on contraception ^[9]. Feminism is a social theory and political movement primarily informed and motivated by the experience of women. ... Nonviolence (or non-violence) is a set of assumptions about morality conflict that leads its proponents to reject the use of violence in efforts to attain social or political goals. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Feminists for Life also seeks the traditional feminist goal of equality in the workplace^[10].

History

Background

Though Feminists for Life is only a few decades old, FFL professes to "stand on more than two hundred years of pro-life feminist history,"^[2] continuing the tradition of early feminists such as Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Mary Wollstonecraft, Alice Paul, as well as many other early feminists who opposed abortion. "Without known exception", Feminists for Life president Serrin Foster said, "the early feminists condemned abortion in the strongest possible terms."^[11] Pro-life feminism is the opposition to abortion based on feminism. ... Susan B. Anthony. ... Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her daughter Harriot. ... Mary Wollstonecraft (circa 1797) by John Opie. ... While she was in England, Paul heard Christabel Pankhurst speak at the University of Birmingham in 1908. ...

One quote by Mattie Brinkerhoff^[12] from a letter to the editor in The Revolution in particular appears on the inside front cover of almost every issue of FFL's magazine, The American Feminist: "When a man steals to satisfy hunger, we may safely conclude that there is something wrong in society—so when a woman destroys the life of her unborn child, it is an evidence that either by education or circumstances she has been greatly wronged."^[13] The Revolution was a weekly womens rights newspaper published between January 8, 1868 and 1972. ... Fetus at eight weeks A fetus (alternatively foetus or fœtus) is an embryo in later stages of development, from the third month of pregnancy until birth in humans. ...

Organization

Feminists for Life was founded in Ohio in 1972 by feminist activists Pat Goltz and Cathy Callaghan. Goltz and Callaghan met in a judo club on the campus of Ohio State University, where Callaghan was a tenured professor of linguistics. Goltz was expelled from the Columbus, Ohio Chapter of the National Organization of Women (National Organization for Women, NOW) in 1974 for arguing that abortion violated feminist principles (National NOW declined to expel Ms. Goltz from the National organization). Cathy Callaghan would later voluntarily opt out of NOW on account of the organizations continued adding of planks that were not women's issues. Callaghan may stand for: USS Callaghan (DDG-994) Morley Callaghan This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Ohio State University (OSU) is a coeducational public research university in the U.S. state of Ohio. ... National Organization for Women (NOW) is an American feminist group founded on June 30, 1966 in Washington, D.C. by women attending the Third National Conference of the Commission on the Status of Women. ... Now can mean: Look up now in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Now can mean: Look up now in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Pat and Cathy were to discover that they were not alone however, many other pro-life feminists were trashed around this time nationwide, during the Women's Liberation Movements second wave of expulsions (the first wave of expulsions of the women's movement had occurred a few years prior when lesbians were rutinely expelled from the National Organization for Women.) In protest Pat Goltz, and dozens of other pro-life feminists picketed the National NOW convention, hoping to draw attention to the trashings. The plan however back fired when most media sources failed to pick up the story, and the few that did only mentioned that the pickets were by a pro-life group, failing to convey the point that Pat, and the other pro-life feminists were trying to convey. Feminism is a body of social theory and political movement primarily based on and motivated by the experiences of women. ... This article is about homosexual women, not inhabitants of the Greek island of Lesbos A lesbian (lowercase L) is a homosexual woman. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Now can mean: Look up now in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Pro-life advocates make a silent complaint in front of the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Pro-life is a term representing a variety of perspectives and activist movements in bioethics. ...

Pat later got a chance, however, to draw attention to the growing trend of pro-life feminism, and hostility by the feminist establishment, while testifying before a Congressional Panel, in 1975, Ms Goltz stated, "The National Organization for Women suppresses any woman who is pro-life. It does not matter how sincere her feminism on the basic issues. I will give a few examples: California, 25 women excluded from the local NOW chapter--they rescheduled their meeting place and informed only the pro-abortion women. Oregon: the NOW newsletter denounced us as pretending to be feminists. Chicago, Pittsburgh, New York City: NOW members actively kick out pro-life members. Houston: NOW women who are pro-life successfully suppressed and isolated, from all over the country, not daring to speak out on abortion at all. Ohio: a pro-life NOW member denounced in public in the rotunda of the State House; the president of the chapter ordered her not to discuss abortion with any NOW member at any time or place. The NOW chapter refuses to sell advertising space to Feminists for Life, although the revenue is needed badly. Other feminist groups act likewise: Massachusetts women's liberation group, all 300 of them, kick out one pro-life member. Birthright chapters hassled all over the country by feminists. The League of Women Voters in some New England states orders their members to drop out of Right to Life. Altoona, Pannsylvania: the local NOW chapter tries to threaten any radio station which plays Seals and Crofts' "Unborn Child", and succeeds. Other places where the song is suppressed include Boston and New York City."(Senate Testimony, 1975) Pro-life feminism is the opposition to abortion based on feminism. ...

The newsletter, Sisterlife, was first published during Ms. Goltz' tenure as national president. Originally the "Feminists for Life Journal", the newsletter got its unique name from a letter to Ms. Goltz by a member of the Canadian chapter of Feminists for Life, who instead of closing her letter with the customary "In Sisterhood", wrote "In Sisterlife." Sisterlife proved to be the perfect title for Feminists for Life's journal, reflecting their dedication to all sisterlife, from conception to natural death. After that the newsletter was officially name "Sisterlife." In the early nineties during the organizations overhaul to appeal to the modern women, the newsletter was re-formatted, and re-named "The American Feminist." It is still published quarterly as the organizations official journal. (See below)

Feminists for Life was active in the ten year battle to ratify the ill fated Equal Rights Amendment. The organizations commitement to the Equal Righst Amendment started early one, during Ms. Goltz's presidency. Unlike Pat, Cathy Callaghan, was not at first convinced of the need for the amendment, having been able to make it into the world, as a woman, and at the time was proffessor of Ohio State University. Ms. Callaghan however soon changed her mind about feminism, and ERA upon the exortations of Ms. Goltz, who pointed out that "not all women have the brains she does, and not all women are capable of being two or three times as competent as a man to accomplish the same things a man is allowed to accomplish." In 1973, Pat Goltz published an article, (now available in Pro-Life Feminism Yesterday and Today) disparaging the fact that the widespread fear of abortion on demand has blocked the ratification of ERA in Ohio at the time, and that it would eventually kill the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that would guarantee equal rights under the law for Americans regardless of sex. ... The Ohio State University (OSU) is a coeducational public research university in the U.S. state of Ohio. ... The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that would guarantee equal rights under the law for Americans regardless of sex. ... The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that would guarantee equal rights under the law for Americans regardless of sex. ...

Like many other feminist groups of the Women's Liberation Movement, Feminists for Life's drive for equality and social justice stemmed a great deal from the personal lives of many of its members. Many pro-life feminists had brush's with pregnancy discrimination, abortion, rape, child molestation, etc., which they published in various journals, newsletters, and other publications, sharing their own stories. Many of these stories can now be read in Pro-Life Feminism: Different Voices. Feminism is a body of social theory and political movement primarily based on and motivated by the experiences of women. ... // Pregnancy Discrimination Pregnancy Discrimination occurs when expectant women are fired, not hired, or otherwise discriminated against due to their pregnancy or intention to become pregnant. ... Sexual abuse is physical or psychological abuse that involves crimes in most countries. ...

After five years as President of Feminists for Life, Pat Goltz retired as acting President. In 1977 organizational management was moved to Wisconsin. The group's activities focused on being a presence at both pro-life and feminist events, distributing literature, and writing letters to various publications. A national workshop that became an annual conference for pro-life feminists was launched during this era. Many members supported both the Equal Rights Amendment and a Human Life Amendment as "complementary in their concern for human life."^[14] Pro-life advocates make a silent complaint in front of the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Pro-life is a term representing a variety of perspectives and activist movements in bioethics. ... Feminism is a social theory and political movement primarily informed and motivated by the experience of women. ... The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that would guarantee equal rights under the law for Americans regardless of sex. ... The Human Life Amendment is the name for any amendment to the United States Constitution that would have the effect of overturning Roe v. ...

Feminists for Life's work for the Equal Rights Amendment was met with a great deal of resistance, including harassment of pro-life feminists at pro-ERA demonstrations, when Feminists for Life members attempted to distribute Pro-Life/Pro-ERA tracts. In the late 1970's Pat Goltz spoke with the legendary suffragist Alice Paul, who authored the original Equal Rights Amendment. Alice Paul conveyed to Ms. Goltz that abortion was inconsistent with feminism, and that many of the founding mothers of feminism disapproved. She also related her fear that the increased attempts to link abortion to ERA would kill the amendment's ratification, and eventually feminism as well. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that would guarantee equal rights under the law for Americans regardless of sex. ... Pro-life advocates make a silent complaint in front of the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Pro-life is a term representing a variety of perspectives and activist movements in bioethics. ... Suffragette with banner, Washington DC, 1918 The title of suffragette was given to members of the womens suffrage movement in the United Kingdom and United States, particularly in the years prior to World War I. The name was the Womens Social and Political Union (founded in 1903). ... While she was in England, Paul heard Christabel Pankhurst speak at the University of Birmingham in 1908. ... The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that would guarantee equal rights under the law for Americans regardless of sex. ... While she was in England, Paul heard Christabel Pankhurst speak at the University of Birmingham in 1908. ... Feminism is a diverse collection of social theories, political movements and moral philosophies, largely motivated by or concerned with the experiences of women. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Feminism is a diverse collection of social theories, political movements and moral philosophies, largely motivated by or concerned with the experiences of women. ...

In 1984 FFL's headquarters were moved to Kansas City, Missouri. Feminists for Life began to receive more national exposure during this time through media interviews, involvement in a broad spectrum of pro-life issues, and invitations to speak at pro-life events. Two anthologies of pro-life feminist essays were published, Pro-Life Feminism: Different Voices (1985, ISBN 0919225225) and Prolife Feminism Yesterday and Today (1995, ISBN 1413495761). Pro-life advocates make a silent complaint in front of the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Pro-life is a term representing a variety of perspectives and activist movements in bioethics. ...

In 1994 the organization relocated its national office to Washington, D.C., where Feminists for Life reorganized its structure, updated its image, revamped the Sisterlife newsletter as The American Feminist magazine, created its first website, and began to develop new outreach programs, including the College Outreach Program. FFL also became more involved in political advocacy, working to ensure the passage of the Violence Against Women Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and enhanced enforcement for child support, as well as fighting against child exclusion provisions in the Welfare Reform Act. Nickname: DC, The District Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Location of Washington, D.C., in relation to the states Maryland and Virginia. ...

In mid 2005 the organization's building closed without warning, and once again Feminists for Life pulled up roots and moved headquarters to Alexandria, Virginia. Feminists for Life's recent work has involved advocating laws protecting pregnant women from being coerced into an abortion, laws that provide pregnant and parenting students with services (most notably the Federal Elizabeth Cady Stanton Pregnant and Parenting Services Act which is presently under consideration in Congress) and monitoring cases of Pregnancy Discrimination. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her daughter Harriot. ...

On February 15, (Susan B. Anthony's Birthday) 2006, Feminists for Life saw the first major Congressional discussions on the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Pregnant and Parenting Students Act get underway. On October 2, 2006 Serrin Foster (Feminists for Life President, and Executive Director) announced that Feminists for Life would be launching a national web campaign to premote their pro-woman/pro-life message. The campaign will include a course in pro-life feminist response to the traditional pro-choice arguments for abortion. The campaign was launched October 5th, 2006. February 15 is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... October 2 is the 275th day (276th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 90 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

(Primary source: Rosemary Oelrich Bottcher, "The Conception and Life of FFL", The American Feminist vol. 9 no. 2, pp. 3-6.)

Feminists for Life of New York

Feminists for Life of New York is located in Rochester, NY and is a state chapter of Feminists for Life of America. Mary Dwelley, the president of Feminists for Life of New York, was killed in a car wreck on April 11, 2006. [1]

Carol Crossed, a board member of Feminists for Life of New York, purchased the Massachusetts birth place of Susan B. Anthony on August 5, 2006. Feminists for Life of America will not own the building, but will manage and care for the wood frame house located about a mile outside the Berkshire town of Adams. The organization has also agreed to develop, and implement a plan on how the property will be used to continue the pro-life feminist legacy of Susan B. Anthony. [2] August 5 is the 217th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (218th in leap years), with 148 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Susan B. Anthony. ...

On the property is a yellow rose bush that was orignially planted by Susan B. Anthony's mother, and which eventually became a symbol of the suffragettes, in their fight for women's suffrage. As the red rose is the symbol of the pro-life movement, many pro-life feminists have considered adopting a yellow rose with red speckled tips (which they call a peace rose) as the symbol of pro-life feminism. Susan B. Anthony. ... Suffragette with banner, Washington DC, 1918 The title of suffragette was given to members of the womens suffrage movement in the United Kingdom and United States, particularly in the years prior to World War I. The name was the Womens Social and Political Union (founded in 1903). ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...

Feminists For Life New Zealand (1978-1983)

Headquartered in the United States, Feminists for Life also has members and supporters as an international entity. Originally founded in response to correspondence with American founder Pat Goltz, Feminists for Life New Zealand (1978-1983)was founded by Connie Purdue (who also founded the New Zealand National Organization for Women)and Romance writer Daphne Clair de Jong, who like their American counter parts, Pat Goltz and Cathy Callahan, found themselves at odds with the Feminist Establishments endorsement of abortion. Connie Purdue (nee Soljak)(1912-2000) was a New Zealand trade unionist, former communist and Labour Party activist, who then became a conservative Catholic anti-feminist and anti-abortion activist. ...

During this period Daphne Clair de Jong authored "Abortion and Feminism; the Great Inconsistency" and "The Feminist Sell-Out,"[3] for the New Zealand Listner which attacked pro-choice ideology as inconsistent with feminist principles, and a pandering to a male system, devised by men for men. These articles are now available in in both "Pro-Life Feminism; An anthology", and "Pro-Life Feminism; Yesterday and Today."

Feminists for Life of New Zealand is no longer associated with Feminists for Life of America. It has been known since 1984 as "Women for Life." Although it began as a pro-life feminist organisation like its US namesake, the organization gradually changed from a secular liberal orientated organization to a Christian conservative oriented organization, reflecting the changing views of its founder Connie Purdue (1912-2000). It now focuses solely on fetal life, rather than FFL's pro-woman, pro-life approach. Connie Purdue (nee Soljak)(1912-2000) was a New Zealand trade unionist, former communist and Labour Party activist, who then became a conservative Catholic anti-feminist and anti-abortion activist. ...

Feminists for Life of Ireland

Feminists for Life also has an international branch in Ireland, known as Feminists for Life of Ireland. The group was at one time headed by Irish feminist Brieda O Brien, who was pro-filed by The American Feminist, Herstory Worth Repeating project. Feminism is a social theory and political movement primarily informed and motivated by the experience of women. ...

Feminists for Life of Ireland is is not the only pro-life feminist organization in the U.K. and works with other groups such as Feminists Against Eugenics. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and a member of the European Union. ...

Major Outreach Programs

The American Feminist

The American Feminist has been the official magazine and primary publication of Feminists for Life since 1994, when it replaced FFL's Sisterlife newsletter. Since its beginning, most issues have been thematic, exploring "Crimes Against Women Around the World", "Victory Over Violence", "Remarkable Pro-Life Women", "Our Pro-Woman, Pro-Life Legacy", "FFL On Campus: The Revolution Continues", and "Pro-Woman Answers to Pro-Choice Questions." [4]

College Outreach Program

FFL's College Outreach program began in 1994 when Serrin Foster, now president of Feminists for Life, began delivering her speech "The Feminist Case Against Abortion" on college campuses. Originally designed to educate students about the history of pro-life feminism, the speech evolved to identify difficulties faced by pregnant and parenting women in the workplace and higher education and to propose "creative, life-affirming, women-centered solutions." Feminists for Life identified college women as the group at greatest risk of abortion and determined to address their unmet needs, the coercive factors that drive them to choose between their education and their children.

Over the next couple of years, FFL began designing an ad series for a college audience challenging traditional abortion rhetoric and providing practical information for pregnant women. A university health clinic kit was designed to help staff advise pregnant students how to seek and access existing support and resources. The first Pregnancy Resources Forum at Georgetown University brought together students, both pro-life and pro-choice, and administrators in a non-confrontational gathering to discuss, identify, publicize, create, and improve resources for pregnant and parenting students on campus. Question Abortion became a popular slogan in FFL college activism. In 1997 Planned Parenthood's INsider called FFL's growing College Outreach Program the "newest and most challenging concept in anti-choice organizing" and predicted it could "have a profound impact" on college campuses.

In following years Feminists for Life created several kits for student activists, a kit for residential advisors and psychological counselors, a feminist history kit for libraries, more challenging ads for college audiences, and continued to deliver speeches and moderate Pregnancy Resource Forums on college and university campuses across the United States. More resources became available to students domestically and internationally through the FFL website. "The Feminist Case Against Abortion" was included in the Women's Rights anthology of the "Great Speeches in History" book series (2001, ISBN 0-7377-0773-9). FFL reports that its College Outreach Program has reached more than 5 million students since 1994, and the rate of abortion among college educated women has dropped by 30%. [5]

(Primary source: The American Feminist vol. 11 nos. 2-3.)

Women Deserve Better Campaign

Feminists for Life's Women Deserve Better campaign was launched on the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. FFL describes it as "a long-term public education effort examining the failure of abortion. The campaign aims to refocus the nation on the reasons women feel pressured into abortion and to promote women-centered solutions", (smf.htm "Women Deserve Better than Abortion"). The basic message of the campaign, featured on ads, billboards, posters, and placards, is "Abortion is a reflection that we have not met the needs of women. Women deserve better than abortion."

"Abortion is not a measure of society’s success in meeting the needs of women; it’s a measure of its failure. Why celebrate failure?" explained FFL president Serrin Foster. "Abortion is a symptom of—never a solution to—the problems faced by women.... abortion has completely failed as a social policy designed to aid women.... women have had to settle for far less than they need and deserve", ("Women Deserve Better than Abortion").

The Women Deserve Better message goes hand-in-hand with Feminists for Life's Refuse to Choose motto. Serrin Foster explained the philosophy: "We refuse to choose between women and children. We refuse to choose between sacrificing our education and career plans or sacrificing our children."^[15]

The major legislative goal of Feminists for Life's Women Deserve Better campaign has been the passage of the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Pregnant and Parenting Student Services Act by Congress. The Elizabeth Cady Stanton Act was first introduced into Congress by Senator Elizabeth Dole, on November 8th, and Congresswoman Melissa Hart, on November 9th 2005. The first Capitol Hill briefing on the legislation took place on Susan B. Anthony's birthday February 15, 2006.^[16]

In 2006 Feminists for Life President Serrin Foster announced the beginning of massive web and email campaign to educate the general public about pro-life feminism. The campaign is part of their Women Deserve Better Campaign and will feature pro-woman answers to pro-choice questions, being sent out weekly to members of their e-list, who will then forward it to their family, and friends.

International Outreach Program

In 2004, Feminists for Life launched an International Outreach Program, on the grounds that "in every country and region of the world, abortion is a reflection that the needs of women have not been met. Women Deserve Better than abortion, no matter where they live."^[17] According to FFL's "Global Vision":

Feminists for Life seeks lasting solutions to the problems that can drive women to abortion worldwide. These solutions include:

• increased education standards and opportunities for the poor, especially for girls
• increased employment opportunities for all women, especially poor women and those who have been excluded from such opportunities
• micro-loans and other business assistance for low-income women to start businesses and own land
• health care for mother and child, before and after birth, including prenatal care, assisted delivery, postpartum care, emergency services, immunizations, disease prevantion and treatment, especially for the HIV/AIDS pandemic
• sustainable development that provides clean water, sanitation, housing and food
• child care for the working poor and regulations to protect vulnerable women and children from forced labor
• protection for women and children from violence, including sex trafficking
• measures to rescue women trapped in domestic violence

(The American Feminist vol. 12 no. 1, p. 20)

"Abortion doesn't put food on the table, or provide clean water. After an abortion, a woman returns to the same situation that drove her there. One abortion is too many. It means we have failed women", argued FFL's international outreach director Marie Smith. "What women want and need is full participation as citizens, equal access to resources and opportunities, and enforced legal protection against discrimination, violence, and oppression.... Education is the most empowering choice for any woman's future."^[18] Feminists for Life grounds this thinking in the argument of early American feminist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who said, "There must be a remedy for such a crying evil as [abortion]. But where shall it be found, at least where begin, if not the complete enfranchisement and elevation of women?"^[19] Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her daughter Harriot. ...

In 2005 FFL was granted special consultative status as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) by the United Nations' Economic and Social Council.^[20] Consultative Status is a phrase whose use can be traced to the founding of the United Nations and is used within the UN community to refer to Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic & Social Council. ... The term non-governmental organization (NGO) is used in a variety of ways all over the world and, depending on the context in which it is used, can refer to many different types of organizations. ... The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, and social equity. ... The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations assists the General Assembly in promoting international economic and social cooperation and development. ...

Celebrity activists

Two-time Emmy Award winning actress Patricia Heaton is honorary chair of Feminists for Life. Heaton said she believes in "supporting people and stepping out and affirming that life is good", and "wanted to find a group that had compassionate, intelligent, reasonable people who are fun and life-affirming" when she joined FFL. Heaton's activist motto is "Women who are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy also deserve unplanned joy."^[21] An Emmy Award. ... Patricia Helen Heaton (born March 4, 1958 in Bay Village, Ohio) is an Emmy Award-winning American actress. ...

Actress Margaret Colin is honorary co-chair of Feminists for Life. In an address to a Congressional briefing on July 14, 2002, Colin said, "[Abortion] is violence against women. This is the failure of medicine to help and heal. We need to address the reasons that women seek abortions, to help them find the resources that are available to ease their situations, and coordinate the resources nationwide. Politically, women have always sought to address the root causes. This isn't news. The early American feminists, who fought for our right to vote, fought for the rights of pregnant women—for society to change to accept them, not for them to change to be accepted by society.... remember the woman. Become her voice. And help us redirect this debate by focusing on solutions—because women deserve better."^[22] Margaret Colin is an actress born on May 26, 1957 in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of a police officer and a crop duster. ... July 14 is the 195th day (196th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 170 days remaining. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ...

Both women's mothers were active in the early pro-life movement during the sixties, and seventies. Patricia Heaton's mother was a Catholic political activist, who in addition to working to premote racial integration in the area that they lived was a staunch abortion opponent. Ms. Colin's mother helped found the New York State Right to Life Party, after the State of New York legalized abortion in 1970. Both celebrities credit their mothers influence as part of their right to life stance, (Patricia Heaton took the opportunity to publicly thank her late mother at the Emmy's for giving her a chance at life) and both women have spoken on behalf of Feminists for Life on Capitol Hill, at the White House, and in the national media. The New York State Right to Life Party was founded to oppose the legalization of abortion in New York in 1970. ... Patricia Helen Heaton (born March 4, 1958 in Bay Village, Ohio) is an Emmy Award-winning American actress. ... Capitol Hill is the name of a district in the following cities: Capitol Hill, Denver, Colorado Capitol Hill, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Capitol Hill, Seattle, Washington Capitol Hill, Washington, DC It is also a common nickname for the United States Congress and the politicians who serve it (e. ... North façade of the White House, seen from Pennsylvania Avenue. ...

Although not a celebrity activist on behalf of the organization, actress Hunter Tylo became a symbol of Feminists for Life's mission during the 1990s, when she was fired from the show "Melrose Place" after becoming pregnant and refused to have an abortion. Her case made headlines when the actress fought back and sued the shows producer for pregnancy discrimination. Hunter Tylo, from the opening titles of The Bold and the Beautiful, 2005. ...

Jane Sullivan Roberts, wife of U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts, is counsel to the organization and a former Vice-President. [6] The controversy this engendered, during Roberts' confirmation hearings when his positions on abortion were challenged, led to great focus on the group; according to the president of th group, "[w]e've had our share of media attention, but I've never seen anything like what is happening in the mainstream press right now" [7]. The Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the judicial branch of the government of the United States, and presides over the Supreme Court of the United States. ... John Glover Roberts Jr. ...

Printed resources

• Prolife Feminism Yesterday & Today. Second, greatly expanded edition. Edited by Mary Krane Derr, Linda Naranjo-Huebl, & Rachel MacNair (2005, ISBN 1-413495-76-1)
• Pro-Life Feminism: Different Voices edited by Gail Grenier-Sweet (1985, ISBN 0-919225-22-5)
• Prolife Feminism Yesterday and Today edited by Mary Krane Derr, Linda Naranjo-Huebl, & Rachel Macnair (1995, ISBN 0-945819-62-5)
• Swimming Against the Tide: Feminist Dissent on the Issue of Abortion edited by Angela Kennedy (1997, ISBN 1-85182-267-4)
• The American Feminist publication of Feminists for Life
• Women's Rights (Great Speeches in History) edited by Jennifer A. Hurley (2001, ISBN 0-7377-0773-9)
• [8] Feminists for Life amicus brief in Bray vs. Alexandria Women's Health Clinic
• [9] Feminists for Life amicus brief in Webster vs. Reproductive Health Services

References

1. ^ FFL's Mission Statement
2. ^ ^{a b} The American Feminist vol. 12 no. 1, p. 5
3. ^ Katha Pollitt, "Feminists for (Fetal) Life", The Nation, 11 August 2005
4. ^ O'Brien, Nancy, and Foster, Serrin, "Women's Groups March in Wrong Direction", The American Feminist, Summer 1995
5. ^ The American Feminist - volume 10, no. 1, page 4
6. ^ The Euthanasia/Abortion Connection
7. ^ Desperate Young Women Kill Their Newborn Babies: Fighting a Culture of Violence
8. ^ Child Abuse: Abortion and the Battered Child
9. ^ Feminists for Life, Frequently Asked Questions
10. ^ Equality in the Workplace
11. ^ Foster, Serrin, "The Feminist Case Against Abortion", The American Feminist vol. 11 nos. 2-3, p. 29
12. ^ More information about the author, early American feminist Mattie Brinkerhoff, is available in Louise R. Noun's history Strong Minded Women: The Emergence of the Woman-Suffrage Movement in Iowa (Iowa State University Press; 1969).
13. ^ The Revolution, 4(9):138-9, September 2, 1869.
14. ^ "Reflecting as FFL Celebrates Its Tenth Birthday" and "HLA and ERA—Inedible Alphabet Soup?" in Pro-Life Feminism: Different Voices, ISBN 0-919225-22-5, pp. 17 & 35
15. ^ "Some Feminists Won't Participate in 'March for Women's Lives'"
16. ^ Elizabeth Cady Stanton Pregnant and Parenting Student Services Act
17. ^ FFL International index
18. ^ The American Feminist vol. 12 no. 1, pp. 20-21
19. ^ The Revolution, 1(10):146-7 March 12, 1868
20. ^ "New Voice for Women and Children at United Nations"
21. ^ The American Feminist vol. 7 no. 4, pp. 12-13
22. ^ The American Feminist vol. 12 no. 1, p. 4

The Revolution was a weekly womens rights newspaper published between January 8, 1868 and 1972. ... The initialism HLA can stand for: Hapag Lloyd Airlines,a German charter airline Harvey L. Atwater, a U.S. politician Henry Louis Aaron, a baseball player High Level Architecture, a distributed computer simulation standard House of Lords Act, a U.K. constitutional reform Human Leukocyte Antigen, a key part of... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Revolution was a weekly womens rights newspaper published between January 8, 1868 and 1972. ...

External links

• Feminists for Life
• Feminists for Life of New York
• Feminism & Nonviolence Studies (not a publication of FFL, but some authors have contributed to both)
• Consistent Life (formerly Seamless Garment Network)
• Homepage of Feminists for Life co-founder Pat Goltz
• Pat Goltz pro-life feminism page
• Homepage of Feminists for Life of New Zealand co-founder Daphne Clair de Jong
• Paper on Feminists for Life of America
• article: The Feminist Sell-Out (Although not directly published by Feminists for Life, this article is one of two articles authored by Daphne Clair de Jong for the New Zealand Listener during her involvement with Feminists for Life of New Zealand)

• Feminists for Life FAQ