For 34 years, Aradia Women’s Health Center honored and respected women
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.
By MARCY BLOOM, Guest Writer
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.
For copy of actual issue, go to https://www.realchangenews.org/2007/03/21/mar-21-2007-entire-issue