Putting all our eggs in one basket: Political strategies of Planned Parenthood and the need for multi-dimensional advocacy

Abstract

This thesis both contributes to feminist scholarship that analyzes the roles of mainstream organizations to feminist reproductive freedom movement and attempts to broaden the scope of non-academic feminist political activism. In this endeavor, the thesis explores the directions of political advocacy that Planned Parenthood has utilized and analyzes the relationship of the organization's advocacy to feminist reproductive rights and reproductive freedom movements. This thesis does not intend to decipher whether or not the Federation is "feminist;" rather, it will assess and discuss the organization's historical trends of political identity and advocacy in relation to feminism. While Planned Parenthood has adopted the rhetoric of "reproductive freedom," the thesis suggests the need for Planned Parenthood to adopt a feminist politics for reproductive freedom in an effort to broaden political advocacy and secure rights for all women.