Tag Archives: ultrasound

The Soapbox: On The 39th Anniversary Of “Roe Vs. Wade”

Andy KopsaJanuary 23, 2012 //
Roe Vs. Wade
A look back on the Supreme Court decision. Read More »
Abortion Lies
abortion protest photo
CPCs scolded for misleading women about abortion. Read More »
Abortion Drama
abortion photo
HBO is creating the drama "Wichita" about Dr. George Tiller. Read More »

Yesterday, on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I stopped to be grateful. I am grateful that my 22-year-old daughter has the right to her reproductive freedom and access to abortion. I am grateful that I was able to get an abortion when I needed one when having a child was not an option — a choice I don’t regret for a minute. I am especially grateful that scores of women are no longer dying as a result of botched illegal abortions, that we do not have to be that desperate anymore. 

But without fail, every year for the last several, I am acutely aware of the repeated attempts – and mounting successes — by the anti-choice movement to dismantle Roe completely.  I grow concerned with the increasing lack of access to abortion by women in poverty and in rural areas where clinics have been protested or legislated out of existence.

Last week I got into a heated exchange with a group of men on Facebook about abortion.  It was regarding the Texas law requiring a woman view an ultrasound prior to getting an abortion.  The man starting the thread praised the Texas Supreme Court for upholding the ultrasound law. Keep reading »

Today’s Lady News: Pennsylvania House To Introduce Anti-Abortion Ultrasound Bill

Jessica WakemanOctober 11, 2011 //
  • Pennsylvania’s state House of Representatives will soon introduce an anti-abortion bill that requires a woman seeking an abortion have an ultrasound 24 hours before the procedure. The doctor is required to position the screen of the ultrasound test facing the woman, although the woman is not required by law to look at it. She will also be required to received two prints of the ultrasound image, although she is not required to open them. The bill is called the Woman’s Right To Know Act and claims to give pregnant women “full information” about terminating a pregnancy. But instead, ultrasound bills like this one heap an additional expense upon women with unplanned pregnancies and provide a hindrance to seeking an abortion. [Reproductive Health Reality Check] Keep reading »

Today’s Lady News: North Carolina’s Ultrasound Before Abortion Law Challenged

Jessica WakemanOctober 4, 2011 //
Today's Lady News
"Grey's Anatomy" Abortion
Christina Yang
Christina Yang has an abortion on "Grey's Anatomy." Read More »
  • The ACLU and several other rights groups have filed a lawsuit against North Carolina’s new state law requiring a pregnant woman receive an ultrasound and hear an explanation about the fetus’ stage of development before terminating a pregnancy. The lawsuit argues that its unethical for abortion providers to require women to listen to “state-mandated ideological speech.” The bill had been vetoed by NC’s Governor Beverly Perdue, a Democrat, but the veto was overturned by the state’s Republican-led legislature. [Feminist.org]
  • A photograph of a woman holding a sign reading “Woman is the n**ger of the world” (a lyric from a John Lennon/Yoko Ono song) at New York City’s SlutWalk protest this weekend is prompting a continued discussion about the women’s movement and race. [Racialicious]
  • A so-called “study” by two professors at religious universities claiming sexual orientation can be changed after undergoing years in a ministry program is being challenged as biased. [CNN]
  • If we’ve got any Yalies reading The Frisky, tonight the Yale Political Union is hosting a debate on the topic “College Sexual Culture Endangers Women.” If anyone checks it out, share your thoughts on it in the comments. [Feministe]
    Keep reading »

Anti-Abortion Activists Bring Ultrasounds To Congress

Jessica WakemanSeptember 19, 2011 //

Anti-abortion activists will bring their “Voices from the Womb” project to Capital Hill on October 13 when they perform ultrasounds on expectant mothers to “introduce” congressional employees to fetuses at 12 weeks and 18 weeks. Their hope is that politicians will “hear the beating heart” and “clearly see their fingers and toes,” which will make all “pro-choice politics and arguments melt away,” according to the group’s leader, Brandi Swindell. Congress and the public are all invited to see the public ultrasounds, after which the project will begin touring at schools, churches and public hearings around the country. Keep reading »

Doctors Can’t Force Texas Women To View Ultrasound Before Abortions, Judge Rules

Jessica WakemanAugust 31, 2011 //

A federal judge has struck down parts of an extreme Texas law going that would require a doctor to show a woman — including a rape victim — an ultrasound, describe the development of the fetus, and give her headphones to listen to a fetal heartbeat before an abortion. Doctors who refused to do these things to their patients — cruel by any compassionate standard — would have been penalized. An injunction issued yesterday blocks the state from enforcing penalties on both doctors and patients.

The judge ruled aspects of the law, which goes into effect on Thursday, were “unconstitutionally vague” and violate the free speech of both the doctor and the patient by requiring “government-mandated speech.” In his decision, the judge wrote the law “compels physicians to advance an ideological agenda with which they may not agree, regardless of any medical necessity, and irrespective of whether the pregnant women wish to listen.” He continued, “The court is inclined to agree with (the) defendants’ characterization that (the) “plaintiffs have chosen to throw everything at the wall and hope something sticks.” That’s how much respect these anti-abortion extremists have for you, ladies. Keep reading »

Michigan Bill Would Require Doctors Offer “Keepsake Ultrasounds” To Women Seeking Abortions

Jessica WakemanApril 26, 2011 //

There’s a now famous spoof from The Onion News Network about a fake Arkansas law that would require women to pick a baby name and paint her nursery pink or blue before having an abortion. Well, Michigan is marching towards making that spoof a reality: a Republican state senator has proposed a bill that would require doctors performing an abortion to do an ultrasound, offer to describe the fetus’ current stage of development, offer an opportunity to listen to any detectable heartbeat, and offer a hard copy of the ultrasound image. (“Keepsake ultrasound” is the macabre, but fitting, moniker of the Michigan Messenger newspaper.)

A woman can refuse any of these intentionally heart-tugging actions, but she would still have to sign a statement acknowledging these offers had been made. Keep reading »

Florida Wants Women To View Ultrasound Before An Abortion

Jessica WakemanMarch 24, 2011 //
Women Misled About Abortion
abortion photo
San Fransisco smacked CPCs for misleading women about abortion. Read More »

The “Woman’s Right to Know Act” sounds so innocuous, doesn’t it? Of course women have a right to know! Alas, when it comes to restricting abortion access, it’s never innocuous.

The “Woman’s Right to Know Act,” passed by a Florida House subcommittee on Tuesday, would require women to view an ultrasound of her fetus before an abortion, or sign paperwork saying she had been offered the ultrasound but refused to see it. Rape and incest victims would have to provide proof that a crime had been committed against them if they wanted to opt out. Because, you know, making some poor teen girl prove she was impregnanted by her father is so compassionate and all. Keep reading »

Texas Politicians Want Rape Victims To Hear Description Of Fetus, Get Ultrasound Before Abortion

Jessica WakemanMarch 8, 2011 //

Texas, you are rivaling South Dakota in anti-abortion suckitude: the state’s House of Representatives approved anti-abortion legislation that many would call downright cruel. A woman who is a victim of rape or incest, or one whose much-desired fetus has dangerous fetal abnormalities, would be required to get an ultrasound and listen to a description of the fetus and then wait 24 hours before an abortion. But don’t worry, ladies. These kind politicians agreed that you can look away or put on headphones during this rigamarole so you don’t have to hear a fetal heartbeat. A doctor who doesn’t perform a sonogram before giving a woman an abortion could lose his or her license.

Disgusting. Keep reading »

Today’s Lady News: Will Texas Make Abortion More Difficult For Women?

Jessica WakemanFebruary 18, 2011 //
  • Texas’ state senate passed a bill last night which requires a woman seeking an abortion to have an ultrasound and be read a physical description of the fetus’ current development. Women would not be required to look at the sonogram or listen to the heartbeat and there is an exception made for women or girls impregnated by rape or incest. Governor Rick Perry wholeheartedly supports the bill. [Reuters]
  • Not content to let Rep. Michele Bachmann hog all the attention, Sarah Palin is weighing in on Michelle Obama’s public push for moms to breastfeed. [The Root]
  • 911 dispatcher Angela Sherrod of Louisville coached new dad, Mohamed Bojang, on how to deliver his wife’s baby. In her 20 years on the job, Angela had never helped deliver a baby over the phone before. Both mom and baby, Khadija Bojang, are doing well. Great job, everyone! [The Grio]

Keep reading »

Today’s Lady News: Don’t Abort The Next Son Of God, Ladies!

Jessica WakemanNovember 23, 2010 //
  • Be careful, pro-choice, ladies: you could be aborting the next son of God! [USA Today]
  • A source claims Google gave a $6 million bonus to a female engineer who was simultaneously being wooed by Facebook and Google reportedly wanted to diversify the dude-liness of their team. [Gawker]
  • If you haven’t watched this video of a woman who screamed at a subway creeper (put your headphones on at work, kids), you must do so right this second. [Feministing]
  • Canada’s has debuted a new campaign warning dudes that a drunk girl can’t consent to sex. [Vancouver Sun]

Keep reading »

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