Of course women can (and do) execute all of the above roles, but reading Zelda Lily's mission statement gave me a strange feeling in my stomach. Is it possible to be feminist and be pro-life (read: anti-choice)? Plain and simple, no.
Self-determination is the cornerstone of third-wave feminism. You can absolutely be a feminist, be pro-choice, and believe that you personally would never choose abortion for yourself. A feminist understands that a decision such as whether or not to bring a child into this world is not theirs to make for someone else. It is inherently sexist to force a woman into mandatory motherhood.
You cannot be a feminist and be anti-choice. This is non-negotiable.
My favorite definition of feminism was written by bell hooks: "feminism is a movement to end sexist oppression." This sexist oppression is entrenched in patriarchy. Patriarchy, the cultural-social-political system within which our culture is rooted, is a powerful entity that does irreparable damage to both women and men. It has the ability to convince those it subordinates that it knows what is best for them. Groups such as Feminists for Life and the Susan B. Anthony List promote a patriarchal agenda, preying on women who find themselves in a situation that nobody wants to be in: pregnant and unsure of what to do.To call yourself "pro-life" is to, in effect, call yourself "anti-feminist". Zelda Lily fails to recognize that the self-determination feminism promotes is not about having the freedom to label yourself either "pro-life" or "pro-choice". It is about understanding that women deserve agency without fear of retribution from a patriarchal culture, and the ability to choose what is right for us in our lives, individually, free from shame, free from judgment, and free from the shackles of patriarchy.
