Anti-abortion advocates in South Dakota are using women-centred messages in their campaign—highlighting a woman’s right to motherhood rather than a fetus’ right to life. Nevermind that the ban impinges upon women’s right to free choice, especially with regard to taking control over their own bodies. Anti-abortion campaign manager Leslee Unruh of Vote Yes for Life said that her organisation has taken “a feminist approach,” arguing that “legalised abortion exploits women and, for their sake, must be stopped.” Their campaign materials, including bumper stickers and T-shirts, spell out the message, “Abortion Hurts Women.” Unruh said, “We women buy the choice line. We’re panicked, or we’re being pressured, or we’re ashamed to have a child outside marriage."

On the other hand, abortion-rights supporters say that many women find that ending unwanted pregnancies brings relief and the freedom to pursue other dreams. From September 29 to October 1, pro-choice activists across the United States, lead by Planned Parenthood, as well as groups in Kenya and Tunisia, held potluck fundraisers to support the fight against South Dakota's abortion ban.

South Dakota’s abortion law criminalises all abortions without exceptions, even in rape and incestuous cases, and even if the early stages of pregnancy endangers the woman’s health. The only case when abortion may be allowed is when it can prevent a woman’s death during childbirth. Helping any woman abort a pregnancy at any stage is considered a crime, and doctors found to perform the operation could get up to five years imprisonment. Women themselves, however, would not face criminal charges.

Pro-choice feminist group South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families claims that the campaign of Vote Yes for Life is a misleading television advertisement to gather support. The group said that the ad features a group of doctors who inaccurately claims that the bill “does provide exceptions when the life and health of the mother is in danger.” Campaign manager Lindsay Roitman, said that “Their ad is full of blatant lies. The law explicitly says there are no exceptions except to prevent the death of the woman. The opposition knows that this law is too restrictive and the only way they can respond, the only way for them to win people over, is to lie to them.”

South Dakota’s abortion ban was passed by the Legislature in February. Local law permits interest groups to refer legislation to the ballot if they can collect enough signatures. Planned Parenthood, America’s leading sexual and reproductive health care advocate and provider, which believes that everyone has the right to choose when or whether to have a child and that women should be in charge of their destinies, opted to put it to a public referendum. They are hoping that people would vote on November 7 to revoke the law. If the ban is upheld, Planned Parenthood will then challenge it in court.

 

Sources:

“Anti-abortion campaign waves feminist flag” from <http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/nation/10/14/14abortionsd.html> posted on October 14, 2006.

“More than 3,000 Activists Raise Funds to Fight South Dakota Abortion Ban” from Planned Parenthood, posted on October 5, 2006,<http://www.plannedparenthood.org/news-articles-press/politics-policy-issues/south-dakota-potlucks-9867.htm>.

“South Dakota Abortion Ban Advocates Use 'Feminist' Language” from the Feminist Daily News Wire, posted on October 12, 2006,<http://www.feminist.org/news/newsbyte/uswirestory.asp?id=9928>.

“South Dakota Anti-Abortion Group Uses Misleading TV Ad” from the Feminist Daily News Wire, posted on October 18, 2006, <http://feminist.org/news/newsbyte/uswirestory.asp?id=9942>.