Opinions, Opinions!:

The Opening of the Building for Women on the Editorial Pages

Overview of the Presentation

Explanation of research process Contextualization of larger project Theoretical presuppositions Methodological Considerations Analysis and Conclusions

Have Project Will Travel

Postmodern Assumptions Mumby describes postmodern research

as contingent and contextual Subjectivity of researcher shapes

projects and processes Inductive Approach

Existing Relationship to BFW Later, artifacts to theory

The Overall Data Pool

Excluded Materials Interviews with

Welsh and Rocco Donor lists Grant narratives Letters to donors Articles in small,

local publications

Included Materials News Stories

included in DNT Opinion Pieces in

DNT Advertisements in

DNT

The Heterosexual Matrix

In Gender Trouble, Butler defines the heterosexual matrix as “that grid of cultural intelligibility through which bodies, genders, and desires are naturalized” premised upon “a stable sex expressed through stable gender [. . .] that is oppositionally and hierarchically defined through the practice of heterosexuality” (151)

. . . Across the disciplines

Scholars in various disciplines theorize the heterosexual matrix Sociology of sport Art Education International Women’s Studies Leadership Studies Disability Studies

Foci in Comm Studies

Performance Blood donation Pride festivals Coming Out Bildungsroman Political activism

Heteronormativity Will & Grace bad girls Next Best Thing Media coverage of

Brandon Teena’s murder

The Analytical Goal

In Bodies that Matter, Butler contents that the goal of using the heterosexual matrix analytically is to question the law of binaries which maintain “sexes” as different and opposite (11).

Generative Criticism

Inductive Interesting or puzzling artifact or case Artifact or case leads to theory

Clustering Key Words

World Views Key words in context describe a world

view

Manifest Content

Bishop Schweitz’s resignation from United Way Board

United Way and Neutrality on Abortion Programs versus Agencies Building for Women and Abortion

Potential Key Words

Abortion Pedophilia Mothering as work Women and

children in poverty Fetus infantalized Women

infantalized

Adoption Lesbianism Secrecy Arrogance Hierarchy Their women Intrinsic value of

women

“Their Women”

Texts written by or quoting pro-life women

These women often tokenized in discourse

12 artifacts written by pro-life women

Women Infantilizing Fetuses

Julie Woodley, “It was essential for women to dispose of an unwanted ‘fetus’—our ‘creed’ never allowed us to call it a child” (13 Feb. p. 14A)

Julie Frost, “They [the United Way] need to reconsider this because killing unborn children is truly a shame of the human race” (27 Dec., p. 5A)

Jan Pilon: First to Speak

"The three organizations are the YWCA and the Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault, both United Way agencies, plus Women's Health Center, Duluth's only abortion clinic."

"A friend of mine, one who has generously supported many good causes, was approached for a gift by one of the partners. She was not told of the coalition and was shocked to learn later that her money would benefit (directly or indirectly) a clinic that performs more than 1000 abortions each year."

Conclusions

Many authors infantilize fetus by calling them “babies” or “children.”

Many writers infantilize women by assuming they make uninformed choices.

Many pro-choice authors claim men have only a supporting roles in pregnancy decisions.

Conclusions Continued

Pro-Life authors compare Bishop Schweitz regularly to Martin Luther King, Jr.

Many writers employ quasi ad hominen arguments Women as selfish Catholic priests as pedophiles

Secrecy

All writers define secrecy and neutrality in terms of personal interest

If a writer knew about the BFW it was not a secret; if they didn’t, it was a secret.

Neutrality

Pro-Life Authors: “How many of us, do we suppose, seek

shelter behind that safe and conventient word” (Elaine Strand, 25 Jan., 5A)

Pro-Choice Authors: “By trying to remain neutral United Way is

accused of being pro-choice” JoAnne Axtell, 14 Jan., 5A)