'What Are Pro-Life Feminists Doing On Campus?'

Written Assignment: Article Review

Date: November 20th, 2013
Class: History 202

By: Alyssa Unrau

Laury Oaks article “What are Pro-Life Feminists Doing on Campus?” from 2009, gives us a clear definition of what a “pro-life feminist” is but not why “it is”. Her writing brings light and awareness to a version of feminism. Many do not realize there are a few different types of feminisms out there and surprisingly not all of them are advocates for the pro-choice movements. These contrasting types of feminism all feel strongly about their cause, and will have always have strong argument and stronger counter argument to their cause, but by reading Oaks’ article we can assert that all are fighting to be the “true”
Oaks analytical focus is on the FFL Outreach Program in the United States (whom of which are challenging the connection between feminism and abortion). These feminists believe that abortion is an issue that is degrading society’s future social structure. Oaks uses various FFL literature, lectures, and reports from 1990 to 2008 to support her analysis of pro-life feminists (though it is noted these feminists and the FFL are to have been around since the 1970s). She continues to stick to the data at hand and presents the arguments in which at first appears to be a fairly un-biased manor. With then the exceptions being directed to page 183 and the very end where she distinctly argues that these feminists are doing a great deal of good to help pregnant woman (mainly students) but they fail to recognize the reality of woman’s pregnancy views and experiences, and also the constitutional right to not have a
The article may not fully discuss every possible argument from each point of view but it deeply defines a few key points of a pro-life feminist. Overall the message of pro-life feminists in the article is pretty powerful and insightful, which an interesting observation in this is writing when you can also get the sense that Laury Oaks is on the side of a pro-life feminist. She set out to analyze the claims of this particular feminism and understand the attitudes of abortion and she presented some of the ideals not previous known by many, however more insight is needed for a full understanding. The first paragraph of the article states the same claims of a pro-life feminist continuously, basically just repeating the message. The arguments made by these feminists though are insightful and interesting to learn, they are hardly persuasive, relating there ideals to that of a traditional feminist in the 19th century really does hold up in today’s vastly different society. The social and physical damages of abortion are mentioned through the literature of pro-life feminists but not real evidence is given to persuade us to understand and feel for these advocates. But the article does shed some intriguing light on the subject and it is likely that we can all agree with a statement Laury Oaks makes on page 193 that “Indeed, FFL’s pro-life feminist message may shape anti-abortion political and public