Cause nothing says holidays like a tree decorated with plastic fetuses.
A women-only gym in Kansas, Body Boutique, is causing quite the uproar after putting up a fetus tree in the gym lobby. Yeah, you heard right. The tree was put up along with informational pamphlets from a local anti-choice organization, Birthright of Lawrence.
The tree contained a dozen blue and pink stockings, each stuffed with a plastic figure and attached card that labeled the dolls as being “between 11 and 12 weeks old.”The tree also held coupons for Birthright videos, pamphlets and children’s clothes. Other coupons included savings on a video titled “After the Choice,” another video showing abortion procedures, a brochure on the morning-after pill and a card that offered quart-size, press-and-seal plastic bags.
Birthright of Lawrence intended that people take a figure home in exchange for a $5 donation.
Gym co-owner Lorinda Hartzler said she is unsure if she will keep the tree up; several women have already canceled their memberships in opposition.
Seriously--working out isn’t enough of a pain in the ass without having to stare at creepy tree-fetuses? Ugh.
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Oh Fetus tree, Oh Fetus tree....
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.feministing.com/cgi-bin/movabletype/mt-tb.fcgi/2944
So, was it an *accurate* representation of an 11-12 week old fetus? Or a 16 or 20 weeker downsized a bit?
Um, yeah. Is this woman completely clueless? It's hard for me to believe that anyone (regardless of her stance) doesn't realize that abortion rights are a polarizing issue.
Also, it's a pet peeve of mine when reporters don't accurately characterize groups like Birthright. The article mentions they provide "pregnancy counseling" but fails to explain they're an anti-choice group.
The fact that this is happening in a temple to poor body image adds a disturbing angle to the whole thing. Eew.
(PS, I got all bloggy on the subject of female body image today. Read it if you're interested.)
Christ that's sick. Okay, I'm against what happened in Abu Ghraib--why don't I hang a bunch of figurines of naked Iraqis in stress positions on my tree? No, there certainly aren't more tasteful ways to express my political views. And my over-the-top display won't turn anybody against me and my views.
"Also, it's a pet peeve of mine when reporters don't accurately characterize groups like Birthright. The article mentions they provide "pregnancy counseling" but fails to explain they're an anti-choice group"
But its alright for you to call a pro-life group "anti-choice"? So who is miss-characterizing who?
Also, stress positions are great - its gets idiots to talk
Yeah, John, it gets them to say "Ow."
Also, "anti-choice" is a perfectly accurate way to describe groups that would prefer women not have the choice to abort their pregnancies. If you think the term makes pro-life groups sound bad, well, maybe you ought to think about the way you align yourself, because not having the option to abort certainly does restrict a pregnant woman's choices.