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With the current economy crisis and U.S. foreign policy on the agenda, women’s rights have taken a backseat during the presidential campaign.
This topic, however, should not be overlooked, especially women as change in legislation could seriously alter their options down the road.
Women’s rights”, in the U.S., is primarily associated with abortion and the questions of overturning Roe V. Wade. But the issue is far more complex. Should female contraceptive be covered by health care? Or how about abortion procedures?
Currently, Republican candidate Mitt Romney is says absolutely not. The former Massachusetts governor and supporter of abortion rights now says that States should have the final say on the legality of abortion.
Romney having switched from his pro-life standpoint in recent months in order to gain conservative votes has made promises in the past to eliminate women’s health clinics such as Planned Parenthood. He also favours overturning Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision granting abortion rights.
In the current administration, President Obama who is a strong proponent of women’s rights and the empowerment of women. His current health care reform plan has sparked controversy of its own, as Republicans attempt to limit health care, omitting coverage for abortions. While Obama urges young women to fight for their right to access birth control.
Obama’s stance on women’s rights could win him a second term in office. In June Obama led Romney 51 to 40 percent among female voters. This lead is thought to be due to Obama’s views on women’s reproductive rights.
In the coming months, Romney’s campaign will try to focus attention away from social issues such as women’s rights, to distract from his less than impressive approval rating on the matter.
In an interview with George Stephanopoulos, Romney’s senior campaign advisor Eric Fehrnstrom said of Romney, “He’ll govern as a pro-life president, but you’re going to see the Democrats use all sorts of shiny objects to distract people’s attention from the Obama performance on the economy. This is not a social issue election.”
Evidently, it is the opinion of the Romney camp that legislation that profoundly impacts women’s rights and health are not important enough to warrant attention in this presidential election, and, it would seem, that women can be distracted, like a cat, from relevant issues.
What do you think,? Should the government determine what a woman does with her body? Should a predominantly male legislature, and therefore a population incapable of experiencing pregnancy, determine whether a woman has the right to decide for herself? Perhaps time and discussion on improving U.S. social infrastructure to include maternity and paternity leave and day care facilities available to all, as is the norm in Scandinavian countries, would better serve those trying to impact women’s decisions on reproduction.
