Feminists for Life is a US politically oriented organization advocating pro-life views, opposition to abortion and violence, and support for feminism. The honorary chair of the group is actress Patricia Heaton, two-time Emmy winner and the wife of the protagonist in the television show Everybody Loves Raymond.

Ideology

Contrary to the most visible pro-life advocates, Feminists for Life tend to be politically independent, or progressive. In fact, the views of many of the most prominent in the group would be characterized as very left-wing by most Americans. The movement relies heavily on renunciation of violence in general, and characterizes abortion as an act of violence against both women and their unborn children.

Inspirationally, the movement ties itself in spirit to a plethora of left-wing and progressive movements, such as early feminism, civil rights, pacifism, anti-militarism, anti-domestic abuse, and so forth. They rely on many respected historical influences, from Leo Tolstoy to Gandhi to Martin Luther King Jr. Although the preponderance of Feminists For Life would probably score on the left-wing or even far-left wing side of the political spectrum, they ultimately defy neat labels - and both relish and bemoan this fact.

At once Feminists for Life are leftists who work against the pro-choice left and pro-lifers with little sympathy for the stereotypically conservative views of the pro-life movement.

Feminists for Life stress the position that being pro-life is not only compatible with feminism, but the natural extension of feminist values. Although this view is seldom reported and politically out of style, it is a strong motivating factor behind the group's appeal and existence. The members of the organization say being a feminist for life "is not an oxymoron, it's a redundancy."

Related Links

• http://www.feministsforlife.org
• Pro-Woman Pro-Life
• Blacks for Life [1]
• Libertarians for Life [2]
• Jews for Life [3]
• Democrats for Life [4]
• Atheist and Agnostic Pro-Life League [5]