I saw Speak Out: I had an Abortion tonight. It was being screened at a local volunteer run, activist book store filled with pins, books, posters and tshirts urging you to boycott, protest and overthrow. I wonder how many pins and posters contradicted causes?
So in the cold back room of this bookstore, a local pro-choice group screened the film. It was a few group members, my friend and myself. i think that says a lot about the state of activism in Chicago. The movie feature 11 women telling their stories. Some women told what it was like to seek an abortion before it was legal. Some women told what it was like to have an abortion before or after they had children of their own. I think they found a good selection of women to demonstrate that there is not a certain type of woman that has an abortion.
I would have liked more depth or maybe just better editing. The women’s stories started to all sound the same. A story doesn’t have to be long to be meaningful and memorable. The Vagina Monologues demonstrated that. This movie kind of felt like a commercial for abortion.
I had to smile after the movie when the 18 year old in cowboy boots and a patched skirt turned off the TV and squeaked “does anyone need to talk about the movie?” I know, that was me when I was 18.
Now I’m old and seeking a different type of activism. Every day isn’t a Pride parade and I don’t need to wear a shirt that says “I had an abortion.” I need well written publications made with a color printer! I need activities that will reach large groups of voters! I need media that actually reaches people outside of the cause instead of just being mastabatory material passed around a circle jerk of fellow activists.