wanted: women to tell stories

[cap]

about how choice and reproductive freedom have been changed since 2000. I am writing a blog to collect stories about life in these United States... Something like the WPA Federal Writers Project.

No one is capturing any of the massive dislocations caused by the bush administration and I want to document it in a manner similar to WPA. I think it is really important to catch the impact of the changes in regulation and climate have affected women's choice in planning their families.

If anyone wants to help collect stories (besides telling their own) let me know.

Uploads of pictures, videos, audio are also welcome.

[sandnsea]

1. I'll do what I can

But I'm personally more interested in the stories of older women and how it was before Roe. Those are the stories we're losing. Not just abortion, but pregnancy, complications, birth control laws, all of it.

PM me if you want.

[cap]

2. We can capture those women's perspectives

and what they see happening today around them as a result of "abstinence based" sex education. It took me a while to realize that abstinence based sex ed was "just say no"... I thought that at least basic biology was taught so people would know about their bodies. Remember, "Our Bodies, Ourselves"??

[sandnsea]

3. I do

I was horrified when my son,18 at the time, recently told me that condoms didn't protect against AIDS.

:wow:

While I certainly think it's important for people to know condoms aren't 100% on anything, pregnancy or STD, to leave kids with the impression that they don't work at all is total irresponsibility. He isn't stupid, he's the youngest so he's certainly heard plenty of sex talk; how he just dismissed everything I know he's heard in this house about safe sex is beyond me. What teachers say really matters.

I know there's a couple of older women around here that have expressed interest in this kind of thing in the past. OldLeftieLawyer for one. I'll see if I can find the thread where we talked about it.

[cap]

4. I am amazed at the ignorance...

I heard some stupid stuff when I was growing up in rural area...but it seems like its coming back.

But even back then, they taught us about our organs.

[uppityperson]

5. This is what pisses me off, partial truths

While it is true that condoms don't nec protect against AIDS and that the only way to avoid sexually transmitted HIV is to avoid sex, condoms do help. So, their statement, while true, is not accurate. I am 50 and remember what it was like pre-Roe in ND and would talk with you more if you'd like. I'm also a nurse who was involved with various apsects of women's health over the last 30 yrs. PM if you'd like more info.