The feminist blogosphere is on fire over the fact that CBS has stated that they'll let an anti-choice advocacy ad from Focus on the Family air during the Superbowl. In the past, CBS has absolutely refused to allow advocacy ads to air during the Superbowl, including ads from PETA. MoveOn.org, and one from the United Church of Christ taking an LGBT-friendly stance. Now they say they've changed their policies and will allow "responsible" issues ads to air.
Unfortunately, their definition of responsible is not mine. Personally, I think suggesting that women should continue high-risk pregnancies against the advice of their doctors because everything will work out and your child-to-be will grow up to play football (or cure cancer, or whatever) is pretty irresponsible. And I say that as a mother who went through a high-risk pregnancy herself.
But I wouldn't attempt to force my choice on anyone else. I'm glad I had that choice, and if my life circumstances had been just slightly different, I would have chosen abortion as the safer option, despite very much wanting a pregnancy at that point in my life. I'm glad that I didn't get ordered to two months of bedrest and 24-hour medical care, like Pam Tebow, because then I would have had to have an abortion; unlike Tebow, I couldn't have afforded the time off or the medical care. I'm glad I didn't get legally forced to undergo bedrest, like this woman in Florida, because I would have lost my job and that would have been just great for a new mother.
No matter what your convictions are, if your doctor tells you, "You may die, and your fetus may die anyway, if you choose to continue this pregnancy," that's a hard decision to make. It is also an immensely personal decision. I cannot understand how any woman who went through that could believe that her choice would be right for every women, or every family. I cannot understand how any woman who faced that choice could believe it would be right to take it away from anyone else.
The fact is, anytime we restrict women's ability to control their own bodies and lives, women suffer, children suffer, and families suffer. Having the right to choose to continue a risky pregnancy is part and parcel of trusting women with all the potential choices that a pregnancy entails.
You can take actions asking CBS to reconsider airing this ad.
Send an email with the Feminist Majority
and with the Women's Media Center
and email CBS directly.
Interesting update, apparently Pam Tebow's life was not actually at risk from her pregnancy. Instead, she was taking drugs to treat dysentery which could have adversely affected fetal development. Again, no one should tell a woman that she *must* take that kind of risk. Not every woman or every family has the mental, emotional or economic resources to raise a child who may need special medical care.
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