So, no, no I’m not “bro-choice”. And at first glance I’m not in favor of
this conscious raising either. Hear me out.
I saw a write up by Kate
Sheppard on “Bro-Choice” a new campaign by Choice
USA this morning, and went well, this can’t be good. Not because
reproductive rights is a “woman’s issue” and thus men shouldn’t be apart, but
because I’m concerned about the removal of women from the discussion through an
attempt to re-frame the issue and make it more friendly to the menfolk.
Legitimately, the Choice USA website assuages some of my concerns by
noting the complexities between reproductive justice, masculinity, queerness,
etc. However, Sheppard’s write up doesn’t put my mind at ease. There is nothing
wrong with an issue being a “woman’s issue” and then having partners and
showing solidarity. My concern is that framing repro rights particularly choice
as something that doesn’t require women, looks an awful lot like the national discussion
we’re already having.
The primary program’s goal is “disrupting the dominant narrative that
reproductive justice is a “women’s issue.” Maybe the primary goal should be
including men in the conversation instead of removing or downplaying women? *awkward
silence*
Let me just ask the question that sends me into a rage when I read things
like this: are men incapable of showing solidarity when they are not at the
center of an issue?
Oh, they are capable. They why for the love of all things holy are we
still having these sorts of discussion. Grab a sign gents, become a clinic
escort, but don’t make this conversation about you. Because they [politicians
and religious leaders, largely men] aren’t making laws restricting access to
your body. So while, I’m all about dudes coming to the inner circle and having
a voice, not at the expense of everyone else.
Now, Sheppard discusses rape culture briefly noting that men need to be
part of the dialogue because of connections and relationships between victim
blaming, rape, and masculinity. This campaign is supposed to help men (college
age men) recognize sexism and rape culture thus making them vocal stakeholders
in the fight against sexual assault.
So I’ll ask again, why aren’t they already? I get it, you
need a new campaign to engage new people, but I’m still not loving the focus
being shifted over to the bros. Specifically because I think we need to have a
conversation about empathy and solidarity. This all feels very MRA to me. Women
can’t be at the center or it is about women and men are slighted in some way.
Last year one of the plain states tried to pass a law that
would require woman to get the signature of her husband for an abortion because
women are infantilized. But let’s get a little more into it, a woman being
abused if pregnant would have to obtain the permission of her husband. I’m not
sold choice needs to be re framed to put men at the center. I think they’ve been
at the center long enough.
