When
contrasting the connections and/or challenges between birthmothers and
feminists discussed within the pages of “Claiming Rights in the Era of Choice”
we, as readers, must refer back to previous chapters throughout our reading.
A major challenge that makes itself quite evident
in Part Two is the dispute between CUB (a adoptee birthparents club) and NOW (a
feminist group). Solinger states that "[NOW] refused Lee's claims that
birthmothers in her era had lacked options, had experienced coercion, and had been used
to profit others" (p. 117). Lee Campbell, a CUB member, tried to
create a sort of partnership between NOW and CUB.
If the reader reverts back to Part One, Solinger
talks about how some of the unwed mothers were sent off to maternity houses,
such as St. Agnes, by their parents so that they can ensure that their daughter
gave the unwanted child up for adoption. Solinger even portrays a story told by
a testimonial woman that was fighting her parents and the hospital for her
child when they heavily tranquilized her. She said, “The nurse literally picked
up my hand and signed my name” (p. 76). Addressing the comment made by the NOW
group above I think this is one hell of a ‘coercion’ and that the woman who was
tranquilized ‘lacked options.’ And these are just some examples given to the
readers by Solinger.
Addressing the question why did the birthmothers think the loss of their children should be included as a feminist concern? I believe the birthmothers
think that the loss of their children should be included as a feminist concern
because it seems, through historical references in the book, that the rights
and freedoms of women are taken away by authority figures throughout the
adoption process. They believe this is a feminist concern by means of
disempowerment of, not only the female but mother's choice.
Solinger,R. “Claiming Rights in the Era of Choice” Part 1: Awakenings in Beggars
and Choosers: How the Politics of Choice Shapes Adoption, Abortion, and Welfare
in the United States. U.S.: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2001: pp. 65-101.
Solinger,R. “Claiming Rights in the Era of Choice” Part 2: Concerned united
birthparents in Beggars and Choosers: How the Politics of Choice Shapes
Adoption, Abortion, and Welfare in the United States. U.S.: Farrar, Straus,
and Giroux, 2001: pp. 103-138.
-Michael Olson
Graded Reply 1
ReplyDeleteHello Michael,
First, I love the baby picture! That picture is what immediately drew me to your blog post! Anyway, I liked how you did a very clear job of showing how birthmothers were coerced into giving their babies away. I’m glad that you quoted Solinger and captured the intensity and emotion she incorporated into her writing. I also agree with what you addressed in the last paragraph of your post. When one thinks of feminism today, feminism encompasses the rights and empowerment of all women. I think you demonstrated well that birthmothers are women and should have been included within the feminist ranks.
Even though I think you did a good job addressing the feminist versus birthmother issues, there is a conflict between these two groups which is noteworthy. While birthmothers were fighting for the rights to keep their children, the feminists were fighting for women’s rights to abortion. Obviously, there is a large conflict when one side is attempting to keep their children and the other is attempting to eliminate them. This idea coincides with the early feminists who wanted the right not to be a mom, attempting to break away from the stereotypical idea that mothers stay in the private sphere.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading your blog post! I hope to read more from you in the future!
Amanda O.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGraded Reply #1
ReplyDeleteHi Michael,
Though I agree with you it should have been considered a feminist concern, it was not what was intended for feminist groups in this day and age. Feminists were concerned with moving away from any stereotypes and generalizations that people (mainly men) had of women. In Solinger’s piece he mentions NOW’s argument as to why they didn’t want to support birthmothers, NOW’s members didn’t support the idea,” that motherhood was the life-defining activity and status for a women (Solinger, 116).” Therefore motherhood was a hard thing for the group to support since they were fighting for other rights at this time revolving around equality with men and wanted to be looked at more as an equal in that respect.
I do agree that they should have looked at mother’s rights to bear children even if unwed, I also agree that NOW should have supported these mothers and freed them from their oppression. NOW wasn’t the group to do the horrible things to those women and I also wonder how much knowledge they even had about birth mothers going through these terrible things since that isn’t what they were focused on at the time.
Thanks for posting this Michael! I really liked the picture and the topic, it is the one I chose too!
--Angie K.