Originally published October 17, 2011
Dear Feminists for Life,
Today is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. In the United States, these are the grim realities:
• Sixty-nine percent of all abortions are performed on poor women.
• Sixty-one percent of all abortions are performed on women who already have children.
Abortion does not solve the underlying problems these women face.
But as a Feminist for Life, you can help transform the situations for these women.
We know that education and meaningful paid work opportunities are the key to resisting the feminization of poverty. We know that pregnant women and parents in school and those in poverty need support. Finding solutions means reducing abortions and saving lives.
With the help of technology, women know “it’s a baby.” Most women having abortions have already experienced pregnancy and are currently parenting. Most of these families are struggling to make ends meet and are wondering if the addition of a baby will stretch their limited resources past the breaking point.
Our task is to change a culture unsupportive of women and children. FFL uniquely answers the question, “What about the woman?” Women deserve better® than abortion.
While some simply rail against the injustices in the world, we Feminists for Life seek sophisticated activists to help us distribute our national directory of free and frugal resources “Raising Kids on a Shoestring.” (Post it, forward it, and distribute hard copies to those in need and counselors.)
We also urgently need researchers to help us build our NEW National Campus Resource Directory for pregnant and parenting students — including birthmothers and expectant dads. Why? Because almost half of all women who have abortions are college-age.
Just think, in the first 10 years of our College Outreach Program abortions among college graduates dropped by an impressive 30 percent.
With your help, we can work to better meet the needs of all these at-risk populations.
Learn more. We need you to support FFL now. Our spring/summer 2011 issue of The American Feminist® focused on meeting the needs of working pregnant women and parents — yet another high risk group. Get a copy of the most recent issue when you become a new member or supporter today.
We can help you “walk your talk” in meaningful ways, and you can impact the lives of countless women by changing this culture to support the lives of mothers and children. Thanks for taking the next step to support our work now.
Because women deserve better,
Serrin M. Foster
President
Statistics referenced come from the Guttmacher Institute’s “Facts on Induced Abortion in the United States,” August 2011.
Money Matters
When a person, a family, or a nation faces tough financial challenges, practical help and creative solutions are urgently needed. Families are struggling. Women who are pregnant and don’t know where to go for help are especially fearful that they won’t have the support they deserve.
Feminists for Life has never said that being pregnant, placing a child for adoption, or parenting is easy, but through this “Raising Kids on a Shoestring” series, we are working to make it easier.
Celina Tinsley’s “Money Management” is a basic guide to better understanding and organizing finances, setting attainable economic goals, and economizing and making other practicable plans to achieve those goals. It is the big picture into which previous “Raising Kids on a Shoestring” installments fit. This key article also includes a sidebar of online and print resources as well as a monthly budget worksheet and monthly bill list that may be printed and copied to help readers effectively track and evaluate expenses.
Please share this resource with your friends, family members, coworkers, and other acquaintances who may be able to use it and share it with others.
Kids on a Shoestring was an earlier iteration of our helpsite Women Deserve Better. Learn more about Women Deserve Better at womendeservebetter.com