Is feminism afraid of something?

The revolutionary idea of reproductive freedom and rights was long ago swallowed by the goblin “abortion”… which was long ago euphemized as “the right to choose” and “pro-choice”… terms that were long ago made emblematic of feminism… and so “feminism” was long ago associated with “the choice of selfish women to murder innocent unborn babies…” and that has left “prochoicers” — that is, advocates of reproductive progressivism — on the rhetorical defensive in a world where language and communication and public relations — that is, rhetoric — just may be all there is. That blows.

One of feminism’s great mistakes losses was passively ceding the language and meaning and implications of reproductive politics to its enemies. We’re still paying for that one.

At this point the only thing that the “choice” tag does for progressive gender and sexuality politics is euphemize and sanitize messy business, while offering a convenient handle to justify just about any “choice” a lady person makes and tag it as “feminist.” If I want to [ please fill in the blank ] then that’s my choice — and isn’t choice what feminism’s supposed to be all about? Huh?”

“Choice” is a polite-company term. Choice is a word designed for delicate ears, children unable to understand serious grownup issues. “Choice” is not dishonest, but it attempts (and ultimately fails) to misdirect and is less than fully truthful.

“Choice” is a second-wave stratagem, today a depleted ploy, fooling no one and keeping feminists half-gagged to say what they mean — to tell and show what REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS & FREEDOM really are, and what they represent, and what feminism has to offer this sad sorry world.

Choice: The issue whose name dare not be spoken (at least by those who raise it as an issue in the first place.)

Fuck quoteunquote choice. It’s a shitty rally to revolution.

Reproductive rights. Reproductive freedom. Reproductive politics. Those can be abstract enough without wrapping them in the consumerized language of “choice” and lipstick shades and latex flavors and whether to catch Rachel at 6 or 9 or 11 Pacific or on DVR whenever you get around to it if ever.

Odd how in such a relentlessly sexualized culture, feminism has been unable to sell “reproductive freedom” but has done a fabu job getting itself painted as somehow both sex-negative and slut-spawning. Some choice.

We are in a post-reproductive era under a post-reproductive economy built on the endless promotion and proliferation of post-reproductive sexualities and identities. If this is not fertile ground for feminism, what would be?

Is feminism afraid of something?