'Oklahoma vs. Women,' cont.

By JANET PEARSON Associate Editor - 11/1/2009


Oklahoma has made national news again, and it's no surprise how we fared.

The headline of an Oct. 26 New York Times editorial — "Oklahoma vs. Women" — pretty much sums up what the editorial had to say.

The editorial noted that anti-abortion activists, emboldened by a major 2007 Supreme Court victory, have since been looking "for other inventive restrictions on reproductive rights for testing in the courts."

"In May, Oklahoma state lawmakers approved a beaut: a law requiring that abortion providers fill out a 10-page questionnaire for each procedure, and that details of abortions be posted on a public Web site."

The Times argued, as has the Tulsa World editorial board, that the "law's purpose is political," and that its "real aim" is to discourage doctors from performing abortions and "to intimidate and shame women."

The editorial finds a judge's order temporarily blocking enactment of the law "heartening," even if the ruling wasn't for the reason that the law is an "affront to women's rights."

A recent Associated Press overview of Oklahoma's newest abortion laws makes it abundantly clear that Oklahoma has "some of the strictest abortion laws in the country" — undoubtedly the goal of many lawmakers.

The analysis suggests that Oklahoma may become the epicenter of the next national abortion controversy, along the lines of the partial-birth abortion debate that catapulted Nebraska onto the national stage. Nebraska's partial-birth abortion ban was eventually struck down by the high court, which led Congress to enact the federal ban that was upheld in 2007.

If Oklahoma's court cases follow in the footsteps of Nebraska's, Oklahoma could be paving the way for more federal restrictions on abortion.

In addition to the new reporting law described above, another one being challenged would have required women to have an ultrasound before an abortion and to listen to a detailed description of what it displayed. An Oklahoma judge tossed that law out, but an appeal of that decision is in progress.

State lawmakers have promised to keep rewriting the measures until they come up with versions that are acceptable to the courts.

According to the AP analysis, Oklahoma's reporting law is described by reproductive rights advocates as the "most far-reaching in the nation." And Oklahoma's ultrasound law is similarly extreme, because it requires a more invasive ultrasound procedure to be used than is required in other state laws.

In other words, Oklahoma lawmakers have managed to concoct the most onerous, cruel, abusive, and outrageous abortion restrictions in the entire nation. They're probably more extreme than laws on the books in some Third World countries.

But of course, that's not how lawmakers see it. No, they insist they're just looking out for those who they obviously feel can't take care of themselves. "These are tragic situations for people, and we're not trying to compound anyone's emotional state," said Rep. Dan Sullivan, R-Tulsa, an author of the reporting law.

They're just trying to find out as much information as possible, Sullivan insists, so that they can try to identify ways to reduce the number of abortions in Oklahoma.

Uh-huh. Sure. Well, I've got news for them. If they really want to find out why women have abortions, there's plenty of solid information on that subject available now. All they have to do is take a gander at, to cite one example, "An Overview of Abortion in the United States," a detailed report updated in October, developed by Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health and the Guttmacher Institute.

If they'd bother to study this data, lawmakers would find that most women — 89 percent — give more than one reason for seeking an abortion. The average number of reasons is four.

The main reasons are: concern for or responsibility to others, 74 percent; inability to afford a baby at the time, 73 percent; a baby would interfere with school, employment, or caring for others, 69 percent; the problems of single parenthood or relationship problems, 48 percent; has completed childbearing, 38 percent.

Lawmakers would learn that as many as 15,000 women a year seek abortions because of rape or incest.

They'd also learn that the barriers to abortion they're so fond of enacting are actually leading to later, more dangerous abortions. Nearly half the women seeking abortions after 16 weeks of missing a period did so because of difficulty in making arrangements for the procedure.

These oh-so-concerned leaders would learn that most women who seek abortions are low-income — about 57 percent — and that they tend to have multiple abortions because they have difficulty preventing pregnancy. They'd learn that while abortion rates for all other socioeconomic groups have fallen recently, the rates for poor and low-income women have increased. They might even be shocked to learn the abortion rate for women below the federal poverty level is almost four times that of higher-income women.

Here's an idea for lawmakers to consider: Why not take some steps to make pregnancy prevention easier? Think that might reduce abortion rates?

If they kept reading, lawmakers would also learn that black and Hispanic women make up more than half the number of women having abortions, a rate far higher than their proportion in the general population. The reason? Higher rates of unintended pregnancy. Again, seems like preventing the pregnancy likely would prevent the abortion.

If lawmakers really want to address the root causes of abortion, there's plenty of material out there to get them started. Makes you wonder why they haven't done so already, doesn't it?

No, not really.



Janet Pearson 581-8328
janet.pearson@tulsaworld.com


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Tulsa World Reader Comments
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Salsa, Bradenton, FL (11/1/2009 3:10:59 AM)
Well done, Janet. I will just quote Dennis Miller who used to be half-way intelligent before he went over to the "dark side" - one d**k - no vote!!!

gadfly, Broken Arrow (11/1/2009 3:11:06 AM)
The earth's population is increasing by almost 80,000,000 per year -- and this increase would be about 150,000,000 if abortion was eliminated world-wide. Increasing overpopulation is the main cause of "global warming" "wars" "water scarcity" "resource depletion" and "plagues." Seeing starving pregnant women accompanied by their large families, sickens me; the rape of women as a form of terrorism -- with no abortion possible -- horrifying. Religions opposed to birth control (including pregnancy terminations) are contributing, to what will soon prove to be, the most disasterous era in human history. Keep your eye on what's happening in Banglash. 90,000,000 people will soon be forced to migrate because their lands are below sea-level. Where will they migtate to? India? Indonesia? Or some other already overpopulated area? And, with what consequences? And situations similar to this are occurring all over our earth. Opposition to abortion -- without considering the global consequences -- is tragic. The greatest abortionist is God -- and when God performs such abortions they are called "still births" and "miscarriages." Anti-choice zealots never consider the global consequences of their efforts to undermine birth control. And to many of us remain silent to this reality at our own peril. "Pro-life" is in reality "pro-death." 35,000 children under the age of five, die daily, because of a lack of food. And, so-called "pro-life" group that I know of, does anything about this.

gadfly, Broken Arrow (11/1/2009 3:12:07 AM)
The earth's population is increasing by almost 80,000,000 per year -- and this increase would be about 150,000,000 if abortion was eliminated world-wide. Increasing overpopulation is the main cause of "global warming" "wars" "water scarcity" "resource depletion" and "plagues." Seeing starving pregnant women accompanied by their large families, sickens me; the rape of women as a form of terrorism -- with no abortion possible -- horrifying. Religions opposed to birth control (including pregnancy terminations) are contributing, to what will soon prove to be, the most disasterous era in human history. Keep your eye on what's happening in Banglash. 90,000,000 people will soon be forced to migrate because their lands are below sea-level. Where will they migtate to? India? Indonesia? Or some other already overpopulated area? And, with what consequences? And situations similar to this are occurring all over our earth. Opposition to abortion -- without considering the global consequences -- is tragic. The greatest abortionist is God -- and when God performs such abortions they are called "still births" and "miscarriages." Anti-choice zealots never consider the global consequences of their efforts to undermine birth control. And to many of us remain silent to this reality at our own peril. "Pro-life" is in reality "pro-death." 35,000 children under the age of five, die daily, because of a lack of food. And, so-called "pro-life" group that I know of, does anything about this.

a disciple, Glenpool (11/1/2009 4:52:34 AM)
Recognizing the humanity of a pre-born child does not equate to hatred of girls and women. Through our Contact Life ministry to pregnant women and girls in poverty, our congregation seeks to help those in need during difficult times. Our volunteers mentor the young women in making wise choices for themselves and their children. They are able to get necessities like baby formula, maternity clothes, baby clothes, diapers, and cribs. The adoption agency through which we adopted also helps young mothers and fathers (whether they place their children for adoption or not). They can find a safe place in which to live, if needed, along with good counseling in making life decisions. Many people are willing to help in a wide variety of ways. We try to respond to the needs of both mothers and their children (whether born or pre-born). We are concerned about all of them.

1984, Tulsa (11/1/2009 6:01:25 AM)
These people who dont believe in protecting babies live in fantasy liberal land. Yes if you had a criminal act commited against you then by all means you should have that choice.But for some lady to just be able to go kill a baby because she can't accept responsibility for her actions thats just wrong. I understand that the father really has no liability which is wrong as well and needs to be addressed along with pro-life laws.Some of these hippie liberals need to come to work with me sometime and see these babies fighting for there life, just might change their mind.

calloy, T-town (11/1/2009 6:06:34 AM)
doesn't state legislature have more important things to do than make a legal medical procedure more onerous and try to make people feel embarrassed or guilty? i'm pretty sure they do.

RAJOKC, (11/1/2009 6:12:22 AM)
The Oklahoma Repulican Party are misoginysts. Even Republican women. Mary Fallin (R-OK) the only woman member of Congress in the entire Oklahoma Congressional delegation voted against the 'Equal Pay for Women' act this year. She also voted against the bill that would allow women to sue employers who paid women less than men 'The Ledbetter Equal Pay' act passed by Congress this year. Apparently a free market unencumbered by government regualtion trumps womans rights, even for Republican woman like Mary allin, one of the favorites for the Republican nomination for Governor this year. Welcome to the old boys network Mary.

Faith, (11/1/2009 6:55:50 AM)
So true. Unfortunately Gladfly hit this on the nailhead. If the Republican Administration cared so much about the unborn children, then why don't they do a better job of helping them.

Faith, (11/1/2009 6:56:07 AM)
meant to say helping them after they are born.

Four Sixteen Rigby, Tulsa (11/1/2009 6:59:22 AM)
Faith: What Republican Administration? The Governor of Oklahoma is a Democrat. Did Governor Henry sign this, veto it, or what? Ms. Pearson does not see fit to tell us.

Faith, (11/1/2009 7:03:29 AM)
FSR - The Senators have lots of Power here in Okahoma. But you are right this Governor has been silent. Too bad he isn't a real Democrat.

Unbelieving, (11/1/2009 7:17:47 AM)
I love it when folks talk about CHOICE! So the woman had no CHOICE when she had sex? Control your behavior and abortion is mostly eliminated! I can see the need in the cases of rape and incest, but I don't see that listed in the 4 reasons that Pearson refers to.

UltraVi, (11/1/2009 7:26:21 AM)
Janet Pearson: great editorial. Most of the fanatics against abortion AND birth control are men. 1984, your comment is typical. You lay the blame for a pregnancy solely on the woman. That is the mindset of these authoritarian, dominating legislators. Those actions are much too similar in lots of ways to actions in Muslim societies where a woman's actions outside their stringent rules allow MEN to stone her to death. Birth control and sex education is the strongest deterrent to unwanted pregnancies, not your invasion of privacy this new law allows. Have some compassion.

Four Sixteen Rigby, Tulsa (11/1/2009 7:34:57 AM)
Faith: Governor Henry may not be a real "Democrat" (whatever that is) but it seems he is a real politician.

Unbelieving, (11/1/2009 7:47:35 AM)
Actually, I'd say Henry IS a real Democrat! Gutless and has no moral compass. Yep, he's a Dem!

1984, Tulsa (11/1/2009 8:10:06 AM)
UltraVi cant read apparently I said that the father of the child really has no liability which is wrong. The father should be just as responsible as the mother. Try to listen to the other side before you lay your mindless blabber on the rest of the world. You dont see the baby as a human where I have seen 2lb babies fight for months on end to stay alive. You need to know the results of your actions when you kill a baby.

Thunder196, Tulsa (11/1/2009 8:12:03 AM)
I'm sure people in other states perceive us as a bunch of "backwoods hicks". Why wouldn't they, our elected officials act like a bunch of "backwoods hicks".

D R Sparks, Yukon (11/1/2009 8:16:52 AM)
Excellent article! I'm now waiting for an Oklahoma legislature of predominately women so they can pass a crazy law forcing more paperwork on physicians regarding the reporting of every male they examine for any veneral diseases. Of course, they must then post all those details on a public website!

Salsa, Bradenton, FL (11/1/2009 8:22:01 AM)
I beg your pardon "Unbelieving". I am a Democrat and I certainly have a moral compass and am anything but gutless. All you can revert to is name calling. Every situation is not always just black and white. Compassion for individual situations, increased education about obtions and a decrease in legislative meddling in private lives will help. That being said, in the end, it's a decision that can only be made by the person experiencing the issue and that means making a "choice". Unfeeling, uncaring piousness and that "I'm better than you" attitude is not the answer. "Love thy neighbor" comes to mind. These are women in trouble and need our love and understanding not our condemnation.

Thunder196, Tulsa (11/1/2009 8:27:03 AM)
Four Sixteen Rigby Governor Henry signed HB1595.

Thunder196, Tulsa (11/1/2009 8:30:50 AM)
Unbelieving I'm sure she had sex with herself. Get real, it takes two to tangle.

Ayo, T-Town (11/1/2009 8:31:42 AM)
Ultravi, you're spot on. Most of the fanatics are men. If their lives were the ones at stake this would be a non-issue. The father should be just as responsible as the mother. True, but we all know he isn't, and it's due mostly to biology. When a teen girl is pregnant her life has changed forever. Once you're a mom, you are a mom forever. She doesn't get to do the same things as she did before. A guy however still gets to play in the football game on Friday nights, his life is barely unaltered. How often is it the male who has to stay home? Find a babysitter? Quit school? Buy clothes, food, and pay for shelter for the baby who grows into a child? Abstinance is great, but it's unrealistic. Even for the ultra religious. Ask the Palin girl. The simplest solution is to make BC accesseble, free, and/or ultra cheap. People aren't going to stop having sex. And men.........stop denying you're the father nearly everytime your girlfriend comes up pregnant.

Ayo, T-Town (11/1/2009 8:33:35 AM)
unaltered should be altered.

Proud Liberal, Weatherford (11/1/2009 8:35:40 AM)
Ayo -- great comment!

Willard_Roker, (11/1/2009 8:37:14 AM)
The Republican way; ban abortion, birth control, and sex education while slashing all social programs to help poor families. If only the right-winger cared as much about people that have been born as they do for the unborn, but alas, they care only about political agenda.


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