Before the end of the school year we had a plenary discussion about abortion. It was a great presentation to have. Two doctors came in and talked about the actual procedure. For me abortion will always be a health issue, a woman’s health issue, and the concept that women should be incubators is wrong, and that family planning is a woman’s right. But it was important for me to hear some of the specifics, especially the later term abortions. They are difficult to hear about the procedure and I can understand why some people have a problem with later term abortions, but for me, health, including mental health and problems with the baby, all sorts of reasons why we should never preclude the options, especially when they are such a small fraction of the abortions that happen (at least in Washington State and since there are very few places that actually provide abortions that’s probably true nationally).
Regardless of any views, it highlighted how important it is to make sure that we know the details of the things we advocate for.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Book Club
After graduation, I've had the chance to partake in some non-law school activities. Book club, we talked about Maureen Dowd's most recent book Are Men Necessary? When Sexes Collide (her earlier one also received great fanfare: Bushworld: Enter at Your Own Risk).
It was a very interesting discussion and I'm often perplexed about how we got to the world we live in today. How did we get to a point where women and men are so different? Dichotomies and separation. Us vs. them. Did it really always exist? Did something happen that made it so? Watching the Da Vinci Code even with all the fiction makes me think about history and how hard it is to figure out any concept of the truth.
Not that it is anywhere near the first time I’ve thought of these things. I’ve been thinking of them for years, thinking about variations on the theme, whether it be historical or philosophical.
It reminded me of the book Backlash by Susan Faludi. I think about the hype we’re spoon fed from the media. Whether it’s stupid myths about marriage or pressure about giving up careers and raising families, there always seems to be pressure and forces trying to convince women that all they care about is men, getting one, keeping one, and all that jazz. A demographic I don’t fit with, and consequently often feel disconnected with. A group that I will probably spend my entire life fight for.
Tonight I got another of the somewhat harmless/harmful t.v. shows about how to get a man. Four different women, ironically two lawyers, that two dating coaches are teaching how to catch and land a man.
It was a very interesting discussion and I'm often perplexed about how we got to the world we live in today. How did we get to a point where women and men are so different? Dichotomies and separation. Us vs. them. Did it really always exist? Did something happen that made it so? Watching the Da Vinci Code even with all the fiction makes me think about history and how hard it is to figure out any concept of the truth.
Not that it is anywhere near the first time I’ve thought of these things. I’ve been thinking of them for years, thinking about variations on the theme, whether it be historical or philosophical.
It reminded me of the book Backlash by Susan Faludi. I think about the hype we’re spoon fed from the media. Whether it’s stupid myths about marriage or pressure about giving up careers and raising families, there always seems to be pressure and forces trying to convince women that all they care about is men, getting one, keeping one, and all that jazz. A demographic I don’t fit with, and consequently often feel disconnected with. A group that I will probably spend my entire life fight for.
Tonight I got another of the somewhat harmless/harmful t.v. shows about how to get a man. Four different women, ironically two lawyers, that two dating coaches are teaching how to catch and land a man.
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