NFP is at the Heart of the Feminist Movement for Equality

Fertility Awareness isn’t just about pregnancy and women’s health; it’s about equality.

This article was first published on July 27, 2017 by FemCatholic.

It’s Natural Family Planning Awareness week - which means you may see a lot of women promoting NFP because “my body isn’t broken,” “children are a gift,” and “cycles are part of being a woman.”

Maybe you agree with those things. Maybe you don’t.

If you’re a feminist, maybe it doesn’t matter; because those arguments are all missing the point. Feminism by definition is “the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.” What does NFP have to do with equality?

Well, the main ‘difference’ between men and women is that women carry and bear children, and the way our body is designed and functions is largely oriented around this capacity.

Oh, and sex has different ramifications for women. MAJORLY different ramifications. So it’s not surprising that feminists have so consistently been focused on women’s health and reproductive rights. These issues are rooted in the most significant difference between the sexes, and therefore, the most common starting point for sexism and oppression of women.

The increasing forms and prevalence of birth control have seemingly enabled women to live and work side-by-side with men in all the same ways, without having to worry about or make accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, and everything that comes with it, like breastfeeding. But there’s a problem.

This apparent state of “equality” for women still hinges on us censoring our difference - our capacity to get pregnant.

Oh and sometimes, birth control fails. So then women’s equality actually hinges not on birth control, but on abortion. Anne Bailey, who works as a field organizer for NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League), affirmed: “we can never have gender equality if we don’t have access to legal and affordable abortion care.”

You know why most women get abortions? Because having a baby would dramatically change their life. A sentiment often due to lack of support from men (whether financial, day to day support for work/school, or state in life, such as that of a single mom). So even with birth control and abortion, women are left to deal with fertility on their own. That doesn’t sound like equality to me.

NFP isn’t feminist because it allows women to embrace their motherhood.

Or have more babies.

Or preserve their femininity.

Or even know their body better (although this is a close second).

These can be good things. But they’re not the fundamental point here.

NFP is feminist because it invites men into the conversation on fertility.

This article was first published on July 27, 2017 by FemCatholic. Keep reading this article at https://www.femcatholic.com/post/nfp-is-at-the-heart-of-the-feminist-movement-for-equality