[[link removed]] | APRIL 2024
WELCOME TO OUR MONTHLY
Feminist Majority Political Report
HERE'S THE BEST FROM THE FEMINIST NEWSWIRE
[[link removed]]
"Women are Watching" banner at a rally for abortion rights in front of the Supreme Court.
From the desk of Ellie Smeal...
Dear John,
This month’s newsletter reflects the many battles we’re waging here in the U.S. for equality, personal freedom, and democracy, and across the globe in Afghanistan, where we’re fighting against gender apartheid for the dignity, rights, and even survival of Afghan women and girls.
We are currently gearing up for our Get Out the Vote (GOTV) campus campaign. Women’s rights are on the ballot in 2024. Abortion and reproductive rights emerge as determining issues, especially among young women voters, since the Supreme Court Dobbs decision repealing Roe . Plus, state abortion rights referenda have been cleared for the ballot in Maryland, New York (as an extended Equal Rights Amendment), and Florida. Eight other states are in various stages of adding an abortion measure to the state ballot in 2024.
Meanwhile the fight for the recognition of the Equal Rights Amendment as the 28th amendment to the U.S. Constitution moves forward. Polls show that when asked about 75% of women who are likely voters support the Equal Rights Amendment. That number increases as the fight for reproductive rights becomes more and more outrageous.
We are proud that the feminist movement is growing daily, even under tremendous pressure. So far, we have won abortion rights state ballot measures in red states and blue states. Despite the current backlash we are continuing to move forward. We will not go BACK!
Thank you for being such an important supporter of our efforts and for your continuing support and commitment to equality. Our team at the Feminist Majority looks forward to updating you soon.
For equality,
[[link removed]]
Ellie Smeal, President
What you should know about Doe v. Bolton
We are all aware of the landmark Roe v. Wade case that established abortion as a constitutional right, but most of us don’t know about its critical companion, Doe v. Bolton . The documentary, The Other Roe [[link removed]] , is aiming to set the record straight.
So what is Doe ? Argued in the Supreme Court on the same day as Roe , the case was a class-action suit overturning restrictive Georgia abortion laws, and worked hand in hand with Roe to legalize abortion in 1973. Just as in Roe , the justices determined that women’s 14th Amendment right to privacy protected the right to abortion, but they also built on this reasoning. The Court's opinion in Doe stated that a woman may obtain an abortion until birth, if necessary to protect her health, giving medical professionals and facilities the authority to perform medically safe abortions.
The documentary will delve into the Doe case and the legacy of its attorney, Margie Pitts Hames. Recalling the work that the case did for abortion rights in America, the film will also take a look at the present state of abortion care since 2022, when both Roe and Doe were overturned by Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health . As film production continues, we are so proud that FMF President Ellie Smeal was able to share her insights on the history of abortion access in America and play a role in telling this incredible story.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OTHER ROE! [[link removed]]
[[link removed]]
FMF President Ellie Smeal speaks out about the need for the ERA at the SAAM press conference for survivors.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month: Silenced No More
GWENDOLYN COMAI | APRIL 25
On Wednesday, April 24th, survivors and activists gathered outside the Alexandria Federal Courthouse for a press conference organized by Lisa Sales, President of Virginia NOW, to raise awareness about the continued prevalence of sexual violence during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Speakers included Vice Mayor of Alexandria Amy Jackson, 56th Speaker of the VA House Eileen Filler-Corn, VA Delegate Mark Sickles, NOW President Christian Nunes, Policy Director of the VA Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance, Jonathan Yglesias, author of “Harasshole” Lisa Bowman, attorney Da Hae Kim from the National Women’s Law Center, Feminist Majority Foundation President Eleanor Smeal, Kendra Sutton-El from Birth In Color, Bobbee Cardillo from Zonta USA, Joanie Hunn from the National Council of Jewish Women, Myra Smith-Jones, Representative for NAACP – Virginia, Susanna Gibson, founder of MyOwn, and Galina Varchena from Birth In Color.
During her remarks, Ellie Smeal emphasized the urgent need for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), especially to combat gender-based violence. With 1 in 3 women [[link removed]] experiencing sexual violence in their lifetime, the ERA would provide a crucial guarantee of sex equality in the Constitution and enable Congress to take decisive action. In 2000, the Supreme Court ruled that the Violence Against Women Act cannot grant victims of gender-based violence the right to sue their attackers in federal court. The Supreme Court held that Congress did not have the authority to enforce this provision and, therefore, it was unconstitutional. However, the ERA would provide survivors this civil right to pursue justice in federal court. The legal system’s reliance solely on law enforcement to address sexual violence is evidently not enough.
CONTINUE READING [[link removed]]
[[link removed]]
Physicians for Human Rights stand up for abortion access at the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court begins oral arguments on emergency abortion case
EMMA HALL | APRIL 23
In yet another recent Supreme Court case concerning access to reproductive healthcare, the state of Idaho has brought a challenge to EMTALA (the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act) in Moyle v. United States . EMTALA, initially passed by Congress in 1986, ensures that hospitals receiving federal funds through Medicare or Medicaid maintain a certain standard of emergency care. This law mandates that patients receive emergency care regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Under EMTALA [[link removed]] , when patients present with an emergency medical condition, they must be stabilized or transferred to a facility that can provide appropriate treatment before being discharged.
The issue of abortion access arises as medical facilities question whether reproductive health services are covered under EMTALA. Following the devastating Dobbs [[link removed]] decision that overturned the federally protected right to abortion, many healthcare providers are hesitating to offer abortion services due to fears of legal repercussions in states with restrictive abortion laws. EMTALA provides a legal framework for delivering emergency care in hospitals that receive federal funding, which includes most hospitals nationwide. Emergency abortions are considered essential for patient stabilization, leading to arguments that denying emergency abortion care violates EMTALA.
Regarding the ambiguity surrounding EMTALA and abortion procedures, President Biden’s administration has taken a clear stance. In July 2022, a memorandum [[link removed]] was issued stating that if a physician deems abortion necessary to stabilize a pregnant patient with an emergency medical condition under EMTALA, the treatment must be provided. The memorandum asserts that state laws prohibiting abortion without exceptions for the pregnant person’s life or narrowly defining emergency medical conditions are preempted by EMTALA.
Despite Biden’s memorandum and the legal implications, states like Idaho are resisting. Following SCOTUS’s permission to enact their Stay in the Defense of Life Act [[link removed]] , Idaho’s Attorney General Raúl R. Labrador argued [[link removed]] that federal law does not preempt their Defense of Life Act, contending that both EMTALA and Idaho’s law aim to save lives. However, this overlooks the impact on women’s freedom to make choices about their bodies in emergencies.
CONTINUE READING [[link removed]]
Polling reveals massive gender gap and support for abortion rights in the upcoming election
JAHARRA ANGLIN STUBBS | APRIL 23
As the election approaches, attention remains focused on young voter engagement. On April 18th, the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics unveiled its Bi-Annual Harvard Youth Poll. From March 14th to 21st, the survey reached 2,010 young individuals aged 18 to 29. The findings shed light on key concerns among young voters, with Harvard’s Institute of Politics Director Setti Warren [[link removed]] noting their growing interest in issues like the economy, foreign policy, immigration, and climate. Warren remarked that young people nationwide are increasingly eager to make their voices heard at the ballot box come November.
According to the survey results, President Joe Biden holds an eight-point lead over former President Trump among young voters. Notably, Biden leads by six points [[link removed]] among men and thirty-three [[link removed]] points among women. This is evidence of what Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority Foundation, coined as the “gender gap” in the 1980s. The gender gap is the difference in how men and women vote. [[link removed]'s%20voting%20clout.]
In 2023, the Feminist Majority Foundation and Ms. Magazine, in partnership with Lake Research Partners, conducted a survey determining the most motivating issues for voters. The poll found that 74% [[link removed]] of all voters support a person’s right to make their own reproductive decisions without government interference. Among these voters who support abortion rights, especially younger women, abortion and women’s rights combined are top issues that will determine their vote in November. 60% [[link removed]] of voters identified as feminists, and 7 in 10 voters supported placing the Equal Rights Amendment in the Constitution. Abortion and the Equal Rights Amendment are strong voter turnout issues separately but even more powerful when combined.
CONTINUE READING [[link removed]]
[[link removed]]
Afghan girls attending school in 2006 before the Taliban’s return to power.
Afghan Women Express Dread and Anxiety at the Possibility of Taliban Recognition
ANSELMA ELLINGWOOD | APRIL 19
In a country-wide women’s consultation [[link removed]] conducted by three UN agencies, Afghan women have expressed “ dread [[link removed]] ” and “ anxiety [[link removed]] ” at the possibility of international recognition of the Taliban. 67% of women have said that recognition would severely affect their lives, especially as the Taliban is now often referred to as the de facto authorities (DFA).
The consultations and survey on the situation of women in Afghanistan convened 745 Afghan women from across all 34 provinces. The report was put together by UN Women, the International Organization for Migration (UN Migration), and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
Among the participants, a majority stated that if such international recognition were to occur, it should only be contingent upon the removal of all restrictions in place by the Taliban against Afghan women and girls.
Afghan women have described how the enforcement of the Taliban hijab decree, which demands head to toe coverage of a woman's body, has increased harassment towards them and heightened their fears of being arrested and dishonored by being in police custody. It is considered shameful and dishonorable for the woman and her family when she is arrested and placed into custody, sometimes even resulting in suicide or death by her family.
Women reported feeling unsafe leaving their home without a mahram or male guardian. One woman [[link removed]] said that police informed her that they “ sought [[link removed]] to erase women from public spaces, step by step.” Following the report, UNAMA consulted 28 women in Kabul who had witnessed the DFA forces rounding up women and girls in public and taking them to police stations where they had to call a male family member to pick them up. The male family member then had to pay a fine and sign a document to ensure that the woman would wear the full coverage hijab in the future.
CONTINUE READING [[link removed]]
Student Activist Profile: Emma Hall
[[link removed]]
Emma Hall attends rally at the Supreme Court in support of mifepristone.
About Emma
School: Roger Williams University
Major: Political Science and Philosophy with a minor in English Literature
Where you'll find her on campus: leading the International Relations Organization and preparing for Model UN conferences
Fun Facts about Emma: She loves to read, play piano, and is a major Swiftie!
What has been a standout moment for you in your feminist activism?
One particularly memorable moment for me was attending President Biden's “Restore Roe” rally in Manassas alongside the Feminist Majority Foundation. The atmosphere was incredibly powerful; the room was filled with amazing activists who dedicated their careers to championing women's rights and autonomy. To introduce President Biden, reproductive rights advocate Amanda Zurawski gave a moving speech about her traumatic experience of being denied access to abortion care in post-Roe Texas. Zurawski’s speech was a sobering, emotional case for abortion access and this experience fueled my determination to work towards restoring these fundamental rights, serving as a constant reminder of the ongoing fight for women's autonomy and well-being.
Feminist Flashback!
[[link removed]]
Campaign for Afghan Women and Girls
In the late 1990s, FMF held a demonstration as part of the nationwide public education campaign around gender apartheid in Afghanistan. The campaign demanded the full and permanent restoration of the human rights of Afghan women and girls; the inclusion of women in the leading, planning and governing of post-Taliban Afghanistan; and the increase and monitoring of the provision of emergency and reconstruction assistance to women and girls. Almost 20 years later, we are once again fighting to end gender apartheid and amplify the voices of Afghan women and girls.
Connect with us!
ENJOYED THIS NEWSLETTER? FORWARD TO A FRIEND!
WAS THIS EMAIL FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND? SUBSCRIBE HERE [#] .
Follow us on Twitter @FemMajority
WWW.FEMINISTMAJORITY.ORG
JOIN US [#]

Feminist Majority
1600 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA 22209
United States
If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe: [link removed] .