Prolife feminism : Yesterday and today

A bumpersticker from the National Organization for Women (U.S.) reads: "Feminism is the radical notion that women are people." Prolife feminism is the even more radical notion that both women and unborn children are people. This volume documents the living, evolving tradition of prolife feminists-and in some cases sister travelers-that now spans at least three centuries and arises into many nations, cultures, and religions. We coeditors readily acknowledge our activist intent. To respect contemporaries whose standpoints differ from our own, we generally use their preferred self-designations: "prolife" and "prochoice." We have not, however, edited individual writers' own terminology. Nor have we covered over historical usages of ourmoded, offensive words, such as noninclusive language and terms like " defectives" (i.e., disabled persons). While opposing current use of such offensive language, we cannot presume to go back and change the pas. Wherever possible, we have foregrounded substantive text in the voice of each activist-although the organic shape of some stories could not be crammed and lopped into this format. We want to caution some prolifers: please quote early feminists responsibly. Please don't use our work in an uninformed, sloppy way-let alone present it alongside indifference or hostility to present-day women's real-life struggles. We also ask skeptical prochoice feminists; please accord us the same hearing you would like for yourselves, and dialogue with us over your responses.