|
The painful closing of Aradia Women’s Health Center
on Jan. 31 was a deep loss for women, reproductive rights,
and reproductive health, and a dramatic sign of our times.
The federal government has not funded abortion care since
1978. Our state Medicaid fiscal reimbursements have been
far too low. Costs for medical supplies, insurance, security,
and staff health insurance have skyrocketed. Abortion
care is on the decline in the U.S., except in the cases
of poor and low-income women. So, as they increasingly
came to our doors, our financial situation grew weaker.
We were fulfilling our mission and vision by helping the
women most in need, but the fiscal subsidies could not
quite fill the gap. A true societal commitment to quality,
funded health care for poor and marginalized women, including
ALL reproductive health services, eludes us still. Add
to that difficult mix the politics of reproductive health
and abortion rights, and the long-term sustainability
of running this dynamic and special women’s health
clinic with limited resources became very difficult to
envision.
There were many good years, when Aradia expanded, started
exciting new programs to educate young people about their
bodies, hired bilingual staff to more effectively serve
our clients, gave staff raises and bonuses, engaged even
more generous donors, built a strong board, and truly
thrived. However, close as we were in some years, there
was never quite enough “thick” and there was
frequently too much “thin.” An organization
can only cut staff and programs so far until the vision,
mission, and uniqueness become too compromised. I have
come to understand that organizations have natural and
inevitable life spans. This, sadly, was Aradia Women’s
Health Center’s time.
I know that I will see Aradia’s powerful influence
continue on many levels, locally, nationally, and internationally.
The amazing feminist influence that made our organization
so unique for 34 years will live on in the lives of the
women who were transformed by our innovative, woman-focused
model of safe and respectful health care. Staff, volunteers,
and board members have also have been tremendously affected
by this organization. They have all gone on to numerous
endeavors as doctors, nurses, nutritionists, and social
workers, and many are doing work in diverse parts of the
U.S., as well as internationally. “Branded”
with the feminist model, they trust women as moral and
ethical decision-makers, they listen carefully, and they
do not judge.
Given certain circumstances in women’s lives, abortion
is frequently the most morally responsible and honorable
decision a woman can make. We have yet to destigmatize
that decision and honor and respect ALL of women’s
choices. This struggle is yet another part of the special
feminist legacy of Aradia Women’s Health Center
that will continue to transform women’s health and
women’s lives — advocating for women’s
truths and women’s choices — and it will always
be powerful.
We were women’s health and abortion rights trail-blazers
and pioneers in every way. We changed the world, and it
was exhilarating. Our advocacy was known throughout the
country, and in other countries too. I gave a presentation
in Mexico City in 2005 about Aradia’s respectful
feminist model. Now, a women’s clinic based on that
model is in progress there. I survived clinic blockades,
death threats, anti-choice legislators in Olympia calling
me “a baby-killer,” and ballot initiatives
here in our state aimed at showing total disdain for women
and turning the clock back on their health. Named for
the Greek goddess of healing arts, “health care
for women by women” was the Aradia byline, passion,
and foundation.
Women still want and crave that type of medical treatment.
Whether they call it “feminist” health care
or use other words or concepts, I have no doubt that every
single woman desires — and deserves — time,
patience, compassion, non-biased information and accurate
education, support, respect, and non-judgment. The feminist
power that created Aradia Women’s Health Center
changed the lives of close to 60,000 women who came through
its doors. Now, that power and commitment called “Aradia”
will spread its wings even higher and take on new and
even more dynamic forms.
I was honored to be the executive director of Aradia Women’s
Health Center for more than 18 years. I know that this
incredible organization and this honorable work of quality
reproductive health care and advocating for reproductive
justice and women’s lives has changed my life forever.
More than 68,000 women die each year in the developing
world from the ravages of illegal abortion. There is so
much important work for women’s lives still to be
done. Aradia has shown me the way, and she taught me well.
Marcy Bloom is now the United States Capacity Development
Officer for the Mexico City–based Grupo de Informacion
en Reproduccion Elegida (The Information Group on Reproductive
Choice), Mexico’s leading voice for reproductive
justice and abortion law reform. Its goal is to decriminalize
abortion so that all of the women of Mexico are assured
safe and respectful reproductive health care. She is
also a monthly writer on domestic and international
reproductive health and justice issues for www.rhrealitycheck.org.
|
