Women’s rights advocates Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards came to Shanklin 107 on Thursday night to discuss their efforts to revamp the feminist movement and promote their new book, “Grassroots: A Field Guide to Feminist Activism.” Although the duo has spoken out on a wide variety of issues pertinent to American women, they focused Thursday’s discussion on abortion rights.
Speaking to a predominantly female crowd of about 25, the two began by introducing themselves and their histories in activism and feminism. Baumgardner then discussed the disconnect between organizations like Planned Parenthood and the everyday experiences of women. According to Baumgardner, big organizations have not done enough to alleviate the fears of women regarding the complex issues of abortion and reproductive rights.
Richards then addressed the need to engage in an information campaign without creating an uncomfortable environment for women getting abortions.
“The person is going through a difficult decision and doesn’t want to hear about [political issues],” Richards said.
Baumgardner expanded on the issue of sensitivity toward patients having abortions by stressing the need for pre and post-abortion counseling.
According to Richards, who is open about her own past abortions, there is a stigma against the pro-choice movement and that quite often frankness is the best tool for change.
“It’s very important that people share their stories,” she said.
Both speakers repeatedly asserted that activism ought to be a lifestyle, rather than merely attending rallies.
The lecture was cosponsored by Feminist Students for Microbicides and Planned Parenthood, and was coordinated by Leah Katz ’07.
“As part of my internship for Planned Parenthood, which focuses on the advocacy of Microbicides, I felt that this would be an appropriate extension of that,” Katz said.
Microbicides are topical substances still in development that may prevent STD and HIV transmission.
According to Hannah Wallerstein ’07, she attended in order to deepen her commitment to feminist activism.
“Because I am involved in a termed ‘feminist group,’ I think it’s important to understand why I identify myself as such,” Wallerstein said.
Baumgardner has written articles for Harper’s, The Nation and an array of women’s magazines including Jane, Glamour and Elle on women’s issues. She makes regular appearances on PBS’s “Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered” and from 2000 to 2002 was a host on She Span, a weekly political talk show on the Oxygen network.
Richards is the founder of Third Wave, an organization for feminist activists between the ages of 15 and 30. She has also written pieces for numerous publications including The LA Times and The Nation and has appeared on Fox News’ “The O’Rielly Factor”, “Oprah,” and NPR’s “Talk of the Nation. ”
The duo’s new book offers advice, suggestions, and examples of how to engage with feminist activism in one’s everyday life, and how to break out of the conventional methods of activism.
The two met in the 1990s at Ms. magazine where Baumgardner was the editor and Richards an associate editor. Together, they published their first book, “Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism, and the Future” in October of 2000. In 2004 they founded Soapbox, a lecture agency for feminist writers and activists.
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