Feminists for Life
THE VISTA
University of San Diego
News/ Society and Culture
By Erin Toohey, S&C Editor

Modern feminist thought was challenged and a pro-life stance was advocated in a way that breaks the modern standard last Tuesday night. Serrin Foster is a feminist and she is pro-life. In modern feminist stereotypes this is unheard of.

Foster is the president of Feminists for Life, a group that does not believe in abortion. Last Tuesday night, she addressed a crowd of both women and men who were either pro-life or pro-choice, respecting men for not dismissing abortion as a "women's issue" and thanking the pro-choice supporters for their openness in attending. For students, this open approach was important to understanding her point of view.

"I was expecting to hear comments against men," said Brian Valenzuela, a freshman. "When you hear 'feminism', you think of bad feelings toward men, but she didn't do that. It was a positive experience."

Students and community members gathered for a variety of reasons, ranging from curiosity to searches for affirmation of their beliefs.

"I wanted to see how she could reconcile a feminist view with a pro-life stance," said Anna Rousseve, a junior. "I have never seen that before."

Foster developed her argument by explaining the relationship between feminism and abortion rights. She said that the association between them began with the second wave of feminism in the '60s and '70s. "Early feminists were anti-abortion," she said. "These women valued the worth of all human beings. In 1973, people thought of Roe v. Wade as the emancipation of women."

After a lengthy development of feminism in its relationship to an abortion stance, Foster shifted her focus to the causes and effects of abortion. Coercion is a major cause, she says, and is a byproduct of legalized abortion. Foster believes that while abortion remains legal, women will be forced into having them by boyfriends, family and friends. "Women are capable of following the law," she said. "If abortion wasn't legal, they would find another way of getting through it."

Foster also discussed threats of violence and the challenges of money, following each problem with a logical solution. She addressed the psychological effects associated with pregnancy and abortion. "I have never heard a woman tell a happy abortion story," she said. "No woman celebrates her abortion."

Feminists for Life promotes a pro-life philosophy primarily in colleges since one out of five abortions is performed on a college woman. The group provides colleges with resources for pregnant students so that they might better understand their choices. The organization wants women to see that pregnancy does not have to ruin college or their lives.

Foster also addressed the hot issues related to abortion in ways that amazed students. She discussed sexual assault from the perspective of the child, providing real life examples of people she knew who wouldn't be alive if their mothers had had an abortion.

"Her discussion of sexual assault was powerful," said Kelsey Watters, a sophomore. "She talked about ( sexual assault) with abortion in a different way than most people."

"One part that stood out was about people who were born from rape," said Steve Mikolajczak, a sophomore. "It was a bad thing that these women had happen to them, but they accepted it."

Foster's presentation was powerful and yielded amazing results for many. "It was mind blowing," said Diana Ramirez, a freshman. "I came in pro-choice and I was defensive about it, but she really made me think that maybe I am pro-life."

For others it was an experience of confirmation and strength. "It was an affirmation for me," Watters said. "I am pro-life, but she gave me new perspectives."

Reprented with permission from The Vista.