Blog Post 1, Option 2

Initially it would seem inevitable that feminist organizations and groups of birthmothers from the “baby scoop” era would have countless things in common, however, after reading about the interactions between CUB and NOW in Solinger’s work Claiming Rights in the Era of Choice,  it becomes clear that their beliefs were extremely different. At the start of the birthmother revolution in the 1970’s, it became commonplace for newly active birthmothers to join in on their local feminist movements. After voicing their opinions in these circumstances though, it quickly became clear that their battles were completely different and separated from those involved in the feminist movements. Those involved in the feminist movement and members of NOW were concerned not with the rights of birthmothers, but the rights of women to not become mothers through controlling their reproduction through contraceptives and abortion. Feminists were advocating for a women’s right not to be forced into motherhood, which was the opposite of what birthmothers were fighting for (Solinger, 117).  The lack in agreement between these two groups came from the lack of understanding of each position. The feminist movement failed to recognize the implications of surrendering a child for adoption in the 1950’s and 1960’s, when these women had no choice. The feminists continued to believe that adoption was a “personal choice” that both parties made during the adoption and continued to see only the benefits that women (both birthmothers and adoptive mothers) gained from their decisions (Solinger, 117).  The group of birthmothers that considered their struggles part of the feminist revolution were not wrong in doing so. Their outcries for birthmothers’ rights were consistent with those of women’s rights. Both groups were fighting against discrimination and the freedom of choice. The failure of these two out-groups to cooperate, however, rested on the lack of knowledge that feminists possessed about birthmother’s circumstances.

-Aly

Solinger, R. (2001).  "Claiming rights in the era of choice: Part II: Concerned united birthparents," from Beggars and Choosers: How the politics of choice shapes adoption, abortion, and welfare in the United States.  NY: Hill and Wang, p.103-138.