From Personal to Political,
Men’s Involvement Is Critical

Women’s reproductive rights are human rights – and, for the sake of everyone, men as well as women need to be more involved in protecting these rights. That’s the consensus of men who responded to RCRC’s informal survey about men’s involvement in the pro-choice movement, conducted to launch our Men – Take A Stand initiative.

The suggestions as to how men could partner with women ranged from the personal to the political. On the personal side, a 21-year-old Florida man concerned about the stigma around abortion suggested that “talking to another guy” could increase understanding and activism.

Others said that supporting a woman in your own family who has an unplanned pregnancy or needs an abortion can be as important as being active in the public, political arena. Politically, many men such as a United Church of Christ member from Virginia urged men to work for pro-choice candidates.

While women form the leadership of the reproductive rights movement, men - including RCRC's President and CEO, Reverend Dr. Carlton W. Veazey - have had a critical role. Reverend Howard Moody, an American Baptist minister, founded the Clergy Consultation Service on Abortion in the 1960s to help women in the days when abortion was illegal. RCRC Board member Dr. LeRoy Carhart fought against abortion bans in U.S. Supreme Court cases in 2000 and 2006. But as attacks on women’s rights and restrictions on abortion and contraception continue to proliferate, men’s involvement is critical to demonstrate the breadth of support for reproductive rights.

Reverend Jim Cavenaugh of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, urged men to partner with women to achieve "self-determination in all life choices.” He recalled a speaker at a Roe v. Wade anniversary interfaith service who said that unless and until men accept women as competent to make their own choices, “Christians who give lip service to the Genesis story of women and men being created in God’s image are not ‘walking the talk.’”

“We need to put up more of a fight,” said a Unitarian Universalist from Maryland. His advice: write letters to the editor of newspapers and comments on websites and blogs to promote our positions.

A 63-year-old Episcopalian obstetrician-gynecologist from Tennessee said that he was concerned about the “religious oppression of women” and urged men to demonstrate peacefully at women’s clinics where anti-choice harassment takes place. A 35-year-old Iowan, a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), concurs, stating that volunteering at a clinic has been a meaningful way for him to support women.

“Freedom is the larger question — not just reproductive choice but freedom of speech, religion, press, etc.,” wrote a New Mexico Unitarian Universalist. “If you can help men ‘connect the dots’ and see that denying any right, to any individual, threatens their own rights, they might be more inclined to support a woman’s right to govern her own body.”

What do you think?

We're asking our supporters - men and women - for your thoughts about men's involvement in the movement. What can men do to protect and promote women's reproductive rights?

Click here for our easy-to-use, confidential survey. It will only take a few minutes to complete and you will be helping to encourage more men to become involved. This is not a scientific survey. It is the start of a dialogue about expanding the movement for reproductive rights. We will share representative responses with you - so please check back here from time to time.

Thank you in advance for participating.

Peace and Blessings,

Reverend Dr. Carlton W. Veazey
President and CEO