Pro-choice

This article in today's Guardian about late-term abortions is interesting. And rare, in that we hardly ever get to hear voices of women who have had abortions, let alone late-term ones.
And as it's 40 years since abortion was made legal in the UK, I will state right now that I am a part of the pro-choice majority.

One of the big problems I have with anti-abortion campaigners is that pro-choicers are not saying that everyone should have abortions all the time, which is how we seem to be portrayed in their narrow view. We're saying that individual women have the right to choose whether they have an abortion or not. We're not stopping women who believe it's morally wrong from choosing not to have an abortion. All that we're saying is that each individual woman should be able to make up her own mind. Anti-abortion campaigners, on the other hand, are saying that no-one should be allowed an abortion, ever, that it should be against the law. If your religion tells you something is wrong, that's different. You can choose whether or not to be a part of that religion and its beliefs. It's when personal or religious views start trying to dictate laws for the entire population that it's wrong. No-one should have the right to force their views on others, especially through the legal system. Pro-choice allows individual women to choose for themselves. Anti-abortion campaigners believe women should not even get that choice.

I'm so thankful I live in a country where abortion is legal and safe. I see the 40 years as a reason to celebrate the tolerant, free society that we live in.

Outraged

Today's Guardian has an article about Joanna Bourke, and her new book about the history of rape:

'Bourke, who describes herself as a "socialist feminist", is clear that legal reform is needed, but also believes "that men should step up to the plate. Women are told how to fight back, to get good locks for our doors, to be sensible. It has become our responsibility to make sure 'they' don't do something to 'us'. And when you know that a lot of rapes are committed by husbands, boyfriends and acquaintances - well, it's outrageous. I can't work out why people aren't more outraged. But this epidemic of sexual violence doesn't do men any favours either. Not normalising it, not naturalising it, making it seem abhorrent - that's one of the ways forward."'

This is what always makes me angry as well - in the feminist blogosphere, we are all (rightly) outraged. In wider society, it's not seen as that big of a deal. If it were, the conviction rate for rapists wouldn't be so low, and judges wouldn't be able to get away with blaming 12 year olds for their own rapes.

Distraction

It is raining. I have taken the day off work to write. Which I will start it just a moment, really.
But before that, I read Beth Ditto's column in today's Guardian. Which is brilliant, as usual (the column, not the paper).

A newspaper that calls itself liberal?

I'm really, really, REALLY angry about this, and how something so ignorant, sexist, and disgusting could have been produced by The Guardian.

So instead of telling you how wrong it is, read this fantastic and well-written reply. And if you ever hear anyone using any of the standard rape myths, make them read it too.

Apologies for the short posts lately, writing course is coming to an end. But there are some things I can't ignore and must draw to your attention, and this is one of them. I'm ashamed of the Guardian at the moment. I'd thought better of it than that.

Feminist reader

Today's Guardian has an interesting piece on feminists and books:
Six leading feminists recall the writing that first opened their eyes to the women's movement.

Check it out.

Still writing...

I'm supposed to be working on my writing. Submitted one assignment on Friday, which I'm pleased with. However, I now have 2 and a half weeks to write the final one, which is actually two. Life writing AND fiction. Obviously, I'm supposed to have been developing these throughout the course. But clearly I haven't. I at least have the topic for the life writing, so I'm working on that. No idea what fiction to write yet though. So this is why I haven't been writing much here. I'm meant to be at martial arts class now, but I'm not, because some writing needed to be done.

Mr Huntress and I watched 1408 at the weekend, which was OK, but the plot was pretty rubbish - why was the hotel room evil? No reason, it just was. Oh, OK. I don't know if the story lacks plot, but the film certainly does. John Cusack was watchable though, as usual. The weekend before we saw Atonement, which was brilliant, but really, really sad. I recommend it. The film was beautifully shot too. Gorgeous.

It was cold enough to see my breath this morning. Autumn must be on its way.

Read this

I know I've been quiet lately, and still have very little time at the moment, but really wanted to point out this article in today's Guardian about successful actresses feeling the need to strip off for photo shoots. I'm just glad at least one major newspaper is printing an article like this.