"If women aren't free to control their own reproduction, they have no freedom."
Women continue to fight for equitable rights for reproductive health and control over their own bodies. Through legislation, organizations, and grassroots movements, Katherine Spillar made waves and continues to do so within N.O.W, The FMF, and Ms. Magazine.
Advocacy and Leadership
When it comes to reproductive health equity, Katherine Spillar takes one of the lead roles in each of these foundations by becoming the president, co-founder, and executive editor. While in these positions, she helped N.O.W focus on women getting into power holding positions and made sure to keep the organization democratic so that everyone could come to a consensus. With the FMF, Kathy organized abortion marches by paper sign up in public and on college campuses in order to bring new people into the movement. With the counter movement against Operation Rescue, training of all sorts was needed that ranged from escorting patients, to general peacekeeping. As for legislation, Spillar had collaborated with law agencies around the country in order to obtain legal standing.
“The problem wasn’t that people didn’t support our agenda, the problem was that we didn’t have power where the decisions were being made, certainly not equal power.”
Change on a Larger Scale
In 1989, Katherine Spillar and the members of the Feminist Majority Foundation set out to create a project in opposition of Operation Rescue. This response was known as the National Clinic Access Project (NCAP), which sought to work against anti-abortion protestors and keep clinics open. Through this project came F.A.C.E in 1994. Also known as the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, this new legislation made it illegal to use force, block, or otherwise interfere with individuals seeking reproductive health services at Clinics. Through this event, legislation was key in providing more steps toward equitable rights for reproduction health.
“To be able to constrain women and their lives by always worrying about the next pregnancy, or never being able to control your own production, they can keep women in a second class status. That’s all there is to it. You see that in all of these state laws that are being introduced."
The topic of Reproductive Rights has always been a one of interest and debate for both the past and present. Though great progress has been made over the years, there still seems to be conflict over whether or not women should have full autonomy over their own bodies. Through Women’s Marches and other organizations, such as the Feminist Majority Foundation and N.O.W, women still continue to advocate for this right. Will you?
Bibliography
"National Clinic Access Project": https://www.feminist.org/rrights/ncapabout.asp
Picture of Katherine Spillar: Wikimedia Commons- SharAlike international 4.0 (CC By-SA 4.0)
No changes were made to the photograph
Photo of Ms. Magazine Protest: Wikimedia Commons- Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0) Attribution: Phil Roeder / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)
No Changes were made to the photograph
Katherine Spillar and Peg Yorkin interviewed by Natalie Fousekis, April 6, 2017, Beverly Hills, California, Oral History #5963.1, transcript, Women Politics, and Activism Since Suffrage, Center for Oral and Public History, California State University, Fullerton. http://www.fullerton.edu/wpaarchives/narrators/index.php/133
O.H 5963 pp.9, 17, 60
Quotes: Katherine Spillar and Peg Yorkin interviewed by Natalie Fousekis, April 6, 2017, Beverly Hills, California, Oral History #5963.1, transcript, Women Politics, and Activism Since Suffrage, Center for Oral and Public History, California State University, Fullerton. http://www.fullerton.edu/wpaarchives/narrators/index.php/133, pp 7 and 53