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The Feminist Majority Foundation Works to Expose Crisis Pregnancy Centers

June 25, 2009 by Holly in anti-choice extremism, reproductive rights  

This Spring, the Feminist Majority Foundation has worked to expose fake clinics, which are known publicly as “crisis pregnancy centers.” The campaign has two goals: to warn women, especially students, about the fake clinics in their communities and to let the government know that deception on the public dime has got to stop.

I used to live in a large city whose downtown area is an entire college campus. Because I grew up and lived in this city next door to a college campus, I have seen the billboards these clinics put up specifically to lure students to their facilities–Billboards that read “Scared and pregnant? We can help, call us now for a free pregnancy test!” and then end with a 1-800 number. While these clinics may offer free pregnancy tests, going to their facility will cost you quite a bit.

Crisis Pregnancy Centers are known to report false negatives in order to make a woman wait until it is too late to have an abortion. They use scare tactics and blatant lies about abortion procedures and “health risks.” They are known to shame women who have premarital sex and counsel against birth control. While they may paint a pretty picture for themselves on billboards, fliers, and newspaper ads, the work they do is deceiving and very harmful to women. They mislead women into going to their clinic, thinking that they are able to discuss their real, viable options, and instead are counseled about how horrible their life choices have been and how they need to give birth and thereafter, remain abstinent so they won’t have to give birth again. Basically, if you are looking to speak with someone who will give you the same counseling as a person at a crisis pregnancy center, you’re better off going to church because those are the same ideologies that will be past to you if you enter one thinking you are actually going to be able to speak to someone in a nonjudgmental space.

These clinics are hurting women and while it is so widely known that they are deceiving those they claim to want to help, these clinics continue to receive federal funding across the country which needs to stop immediately.

Here is a great video of young women and men discussing their findings about Crisis Pregnancy Centers. To say the least, their findings echo what many feminists, womanists, and humanists have been warning for years. This video also shows Kathy Spillar and Eleanor Smeal of the Feminist Majority Foundation calling for these clinics to be de-funded.

Our Reality: A Look at Crisis Pregnancy Centers from RH Reality Check on Vimeo.



comment Comments 
  • laurenfelton
    These false clinics are horrible, and they've been around for far too long. Interesting how these "pro-lifers" are so hell bent on destroying lives, conning women into remaining pregnant and manipulating the hell out of unprepared, unexpecting mothers. They pretend to be saving lives, but in reality they serve one purpose and one purpose only: to destroy the lives of women mentally, physically, emotionally and financially. It's disgusting that such sexist, harmful, unlawful and unethical organizations manage to remain funded by the government. I'm glad there's finally an initiative to really help diminish the problem.
  • Crisis Pregnancy must have the best concern from the world. this great video to remind me about my child.
  • Great! That video will help us all the girls out there to be aware and to take care of our lives, and lives who depends on us.
  • That was cool! women nowadays, needs protection like that! I have a mom and a sister that's why I must agree with that!
  • exellent post , mercy
  • I love this blog.
  • Crisis Pregnancy contains best concern from the world. They pretend to be saving lives, but in reality they serve one purpose and one purpose only: to destroy the lives of women mentally, physically, emotionally and financially.
  • I feel like if younger teens had a support group such as a family member or what not to talk to, they wouldn't feel the need to seek out help from a clinic without assistance. I hope families, in paticular mothers, will learn to teach their children to talk to them about anything
  • I've known a person who's organized one of those crisis pregnancy centers, an old family friend. In the privacy of his christian group of friends (my parents and some others) he admitted to most of these accusations himself, and proudly. At the time I was too young to know any different, but now, looking back on it, I'm disgusted with his view of the young women he claimed to "help". Since he lived in a rural farming area, many of the teens who came to his center were mostly illegal migrant workers, illiterate, and devoutly catholic, and he would prey on all those weaknesses to shame them into going through with the pregnancy. Saddest thing, if they wanted real help they would have had to find a way to travel about 50 miles to the nearest planned parenthood.

    Last time I saw this man was at my wedding shower, and he told me that I was looking nervous as he left... I don't think he would have thought that if he had looked at my fist that was clenched whenever he talked to me.
  • These clinics are hurting women and while it is so widely known that they are deceiving those they claim to want to help, these clinics continue to receive federal funding across the country which needs to stop immediately.
  • does anyone really think those pregnancy centers are for real?

    ive gone to several over the years when i didnt want to spend money on a preg. test, knew what i was getting into and, if i recall, all had some disclosure about not being a medical center/being staffed by non-medical personal.

    and personally, i would like to see a pro-choice/feminist "crisis" center where women might be able to get some support and supplies if they continue their pregnancies. im not really aware of any that arent religiously or governmentally affiliated.
  • Great posting.I Would like to see a pro-choice/feminist "crisis" center where women might be able to get some support and supplies if they continue their pregnancies. im not really aware of any that arent religiously or governmentally affiliated.
  • these false clinics are horrible.They pretend to be saving lives, but in reality they destroy the lives of women mentally, physically and financially.
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