Posts Tagged personhood

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By Juliana Britto Schwartz • 9 years ago

Pregnant women aren’t being arrested to protect their fetuses

Lately, articles have been circulating about the control and punishment of pregnant people for crimes like fetal homicide or assault on a fetus, an issue that we’ve been talking about here for years. In these stories, women are arrested or incarcerated for ignoring doctor’s orders, using illegal drugs while pregnant, or even for experiencing uncontrollable health conditions like miscarriage.

Lately, articles have been circulating about the control and punishment of pregnant people for crimes like fetal homicide or assault on a fetus, an issue that we’ve been talking about here for years. ...
By Maya Dusenbery • 10 years ago

Tennessee could become the first state to criminalize pregnancy

Last week Tennessee passed legislation that would make drug use during a pregnancy a criminal offense. If the governor doesn’t veto it, the state would be allowed to investigate every miscarriage, stillbirth, and baby born with birth defects to try to determine if drugs played a role, turning any pregnant person into a potential suspect.

We’ve written extensively before about the growing criminalization of pregnancy, but Tennessee’s law is actually a first. While hundreds of women — mostly poor, young, Black women who used drugs — have been held criminally liable for the outcomes of their pregnancies under “fetal harm” laws, those laws were never actually intended to the be used ...

Last week Tennessee passed legislation that would make drug use during a pregnancy a criminal offense. If the governor doesn’t veto it, the state would be allowed to investigate every miscarriage, stillbirth, and baby born ...

Cartoon of the personhood movement
By Maya Dusenbery • 10 years ago

Quote of the Day: Virginia lawmaker says a pregnant woman is just a “child’s host”

In response to a Valentine’s Day card from reproductive rights advocates asking him to protect reproductive health care, Virginia state senator Steve Martin took to Facebook to expand on his anti-choice views. Via the Huffington Post:

“I don’t expect to be in the room or will I do anything to prevent you from obtaining a contraceptive. However, once a child does exist in your womb, I’m not going to assume a right to kill it just because the child’s host (some refer to them as mothers) doesn’t want it.”

As Tarina Keene, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, notes, “His remarks demonstrate what exactly these extreme lawmakers mean when they talk about ‘personhood’ – that pregnant women are no more than vessels.”

I mean, ...

In response to a Valentine’s Day card from reproductive rights advocates asking him to protect reproductive health care, Virginia state senator Steve Martin took to Facebook to expand on his anti-choice views. Via the Huffington Post:

“I don’t ...

Assault rifle
By Alexandra Brodsky • 11 years ago

Nothing says “pro-life” like an assault rifle

Do you think a fertilized egg is a human? Are you convinced abortion is murder? Support the righteous souls defending human dignity and the preciousness of life by purchasing an assault rifle.

Personhood Ohio needs some extra cash for a mass mailing to promote (you guessed it) a personhood amendment on the Ohio ballot, but its traditional fundraising tactics aren’t up to the task. Patrick Johnston, the organization’s director, is up for the challenge. Always willing to sacrifice for innocent clumps of cells, Johnston is selling his beloved guns and ammunition to bring in some cash for the campaign.

In a recent fundraising email, Johnston justified his decision to protect fetuses rather than fulfill his duty to shoot things.  RH ...

Do you think a fertilized egg is a human? Are you convinced abortion is murder? Support the righteous souls defending human dignity and the preciousness of life by purchasing an assault rifle.

Personhood Ohio needs some extra cash ...
By Maya Dusenbery • 11 years ago

North Dakotans will vote on a “personhood” amendment

There’s a reason North Dakota just won MoJo‘s Anti-Choice Champion award. Not even a week after passing a “heartbeat” bill, the state has approved a personhood amendment that would give fertilized eggs legal rights. Who needs a 6-week abortion ban if you can just outlaw the procedure altogether?

North Dakota became the first state on Friday to pass a fetal personhood amendment, which grants legal personhood rights to embryos from the moment of fertilization. The state House of Representatives voted 57 to 35 to pass the amendment, after the Senate passed the same measure last month.

The measure will now appear on the November 2014 ballot, and voters will be able to accept or reject it. If ...

There’s a reason North Dakota just won MoJo‘s Anti-Choice Champion award. Not even a week after passing a “heartbeat” bill, the state has approved a personhood amendment that would give fertilized eggs legal rights. ...
By Maya Dusenbery • 11 years ago

Weekly Feminist Reader

A photographer examines the struggle to provide women with safe, respectful care during childbirth.

Rush Limbaugh says VAWA is just a mean plot by the Democrats to make the GOP look bad. Obviously.

There’s a profile of feminist bad-ass Ruth Bader Ginsburg in this week’s New Yorker.

A interesting discussion of women’s position within Sikhism.

“Women don’t just need to lean in. They need to carefully calibrate the angle of their approach to suit every possible scenario.” Amanda Hess on the contradictions in Sheryl Sandberg’s advice to working women. And alternative takes from Anna Holmes and Rebecca Traister.

How the War on Terror in England became a war on women and children.

“I’m tired of constantly establishing my value. I’d rather ...

A photographer examines the struggle to provide women with safe, respectful care during childbirth.

Rush Limbaugh says VAWA is just a mean plot by the Democrats to make the GOP look bad. Obviously.

There’s a ...
By Alexandra Brodsky • 11 years ago

Daily Feminist Cheat Sheet

Students at the University of Michigan are launching a campaign to stop the “silent epidemic” of campus sexual assault.

Akiba Solomon is Colorlines’ new managing editor.

A history of “female-friendly” porn.

Today’s news on voter suppression.

Sometimes I hate Frank Bruni, but his objection to the Catholic Church’s misogynistic hypocrisy is spot-on.

The Nation suggests ten ways you can combat rape culture (with the help of Feministing co-founder Jessica and contributor Eesha.)

Why personhood legislation isn’t passing.

Take care of yourself, activists.

Homosexuality is apparently basically exactly the same as shooting heroin.

It’s always the women’s fault: Egyptian PM says unclean breasts cause diarrhea.

Students at the University of Michigan are launching a campaign to stop the “silent epidemic” of campus sexual assault.

Akiba Solomon is Colorlines’ new managing editor.

A history of “female-friendly” porn.

Today’s news on

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