All in Her Head by Jessica Valenti $5 / month

All in Her Head, by Jessica Valenti, offers feminist commentary focusing on reproductive rights, the political landscape surrounding abortion, and strategies used by anti-abortion movements. It critiques legal and societal barriers to women's healthcare, emphasizing the importance of preserving these rights amidst growing opposition.

Reproductive Rights Feminist Commentary Abortion Legislation Political Analysis Healthcare Access Social Justice Media and Language in Politics

The hottest Substack posts of All in Her Head by Jessica Valenti

And their main takeaways

The Men Who Ruin Us

13935 implied HN points • 08 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Abortion Misogyny Legislation Gender inequality
  1. Men in positions of power are making decisions that negatively impact women's rights
  2. There is frustration over the control these men exert over women's bodies and lives
  3. Abortion medication has brought significant progress but also faced opposition from those who seek to degrade and restrict women
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Republicans Want Women to Have C-Sections Instead of Emergency Abortions

6407 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Abortion Legislation Women's Rights Healthcare Anti-Abortion Movement
  1. Republicans in Wisconsin are pushing a bill that would force women to have c-sections or vaginal deliveries instead of emergency abortions.
  2. The anti-abortion movement is working to distance abortion from healthcare by advocating for more traumatic and unnecessary procedures.
  3. Democratic Governor Tony Evers has vowed to veto the bill, but the dangerous intentions behind it remain clear.

65,000 Rape-Related Pregnancies in Anti-Choice States

5916 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Abortion Legislation Sexual Assault Public Opinion
  1. In anti-choice states, there have been 65,000 rape-related pregnancies since abortion bans were passed.
  2. Conservative groups try to downplay the frequency of rape-related pregnancies to push their anti-abortion agenda.
  3. A study revealing the high number of rape-related pregnancies makes it hard for anti-choice groups to hide their extremism.

How to Report Post-Dobbs Deaths

6014 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics Abortion rights Health care Reporting Anti-Abortion Movement Maternal health
  1. Abortion bans have resulted in deaths since Roe was overturned, but they are often not reported accurately.
  2. It is crucial to clearly state the impact of abortion bans on women's lives without allowing for misinformation or equivocation.
  3. The broader systems failure, combined with abortion bans, leads to dangerous outcomes, emphasizing the urgent need for accurate reporting and advocacy.

The Catholic Hospital System Killing Women

4913 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health Patient Advocacy
  1. Catholic hospital system like Ascension is fueling the U.S. maternal mortality crisis with closures, affecting patients disproportionately.
  2. Ascension has a pattern of cutting obstetrics services, pushing pregnant patients to travel farther for care, especially in low-income neighborhoods.
  3. Ascension prioritizes cost-cutting over patient safety, leading to dangerous consequences like increased wait times, overworked staff, and ignored alarms.

Study: Abortion Bans Creating OBGYN Crisis

3911 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🏥 Health Politics Reproductive Rights State Legislation Women's Health
  1. Abortion bans in anti-choice states have created an occupational health crisis for OBGYNs.
  2. OBGYNs struggle to provide adequate care due to legal restrictions, impacting both patient outcomes and physician well-being.
  3. There is a significant need for institutional support for OBGYNs in anti-choice states, including mental health resources and guidance prioritizing patient health over conservative interpretations of abortion laws.

Arresting Women to 'Protect' Their Fetuses

3793 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics Reproductive Rights Women's Health Incarceration Medical care
  1. Pregnancy Justice defends pregnant people's rights and works against criminalization.
  2. Cases like Ashley Caswell's highlight the mistreatment faced by pregnant individuals, especially in Etowah County, Alabama.
  3. Alabama's use of 'chemical endangerment' charges demonstrates the prioritization of fetuses over pregnant individuals, leading to increased criminalization.

Breaking the Overton Window 

6230 implied HN points • 29 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Abortion Women's Rights Law Healthcare Rights
  1. The Overton Window has shifted dramatically, making once unthinkable actions now seem commonplace.
  2. Anti-abortion activists are using legal loopholes like 'anti-trafficking' to restrict pregnant people's ability to leave states for abortion services.
  3. Republicans are swiftly implementing laws to limit women's rights, from abortion restrictions to trapping individuals in certain states.

South Carolina's “Heartbeat” Lawsuit

3282 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🏥 Health Politics Abortion rights Legal issues State Legislation Women's Rights
  1. South Carolina's 'Heartbeat' Lawsuit involves a woman being denied an abortion just days past her 6th week of pregnancy.
  2. The difference between a 6-week ban and a 9-week ban could majorly impact the percentage of patients turned away by doctors.
  3. Even when a patient does everything 'right,' obtaining an abortion can be an incredibly difficult, lengthy, and stressful process.

The GOP is Betting on Crisis Pregnancy Centers

3400 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Abortion Republicans Legislation Anti-Abortion Movement Women's Health
  1. The GOP is heavily investing in Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) for their anti-abortion agenda.
  2. CPCs are key in the GOP's plan to limit access to birth control and push for anti-abortion legislation.
  3. CPCs serve as a central part of the anti-abortion movement's broader strategy beyond just preventing individual abortions.

What to Ask Republicans About Abortion

5955 implied HN points • 08 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Abortion
  1. Abortion discussions should focus on real people's lives, not just politics.
  2. Politicians should answer difficult questions about the real-life impact of abortion bans.
  3. Republicans need to be asked specific questions about the consequences of their abortion laws.

How to Talk About Abortion

5857 implied HN points • 29 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Abortion
  1. Republicans are losing in the abortion debate, both in elections and public opinion.
  2. It's essential to focus on the fundamental truth that nobody should be forced to carry a pregnancy against their will.
  3. Democrats should not cede ground on abortion rights, especially when support for these rights is at an all-time high.

The Anti-Abortion Movement’s Language War

5660 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Abortion Language Media Conservatives Journalism
  1. The anti-abortion movement is pressuring journalists to stop using the word 'ban' and replace it with terms like 'consensus' or 'standard'.
  2. Conservatives are trying to redefine the term 'ban' to make anti-abortion laws sound more acceptable and are pressuring media outlets to comply.
  3. It is crucial for pro-choice activists and lawmakers to monitor and call out any changes in language used by publications regarding anti-abortion legislation.

The Week in Abortion

2987 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🏥 Health Politics Abortion rights Reproductive Rights Legislation
  1. A campaign ad featuring personal abortion stories can have a significant impact on raising awareness and shifting views.
  2. Efforts to restrict abortion access continue, including cruel tactics like forcing women into unnecessary procedures to undermine the importance of abortion.
  3. Pro-choice groups are actively working on ballot measures to protect abortion rights, facing opposition and challenges from anti-abortion activists.

The 12-Week Lie

5070 implied HN points • 07 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Abortion Legislation Republicans Healthcare Women's Rights
  1. Despite efforts to frame abortion bans as 'commonsense,' they are causing significant damage to the conservative agenda.
  2. Legislation like the 12-week abortion ban in North Carolina may appear as compromises, but they create numerous obstacles and humiliation for women seeking abortions.
  3. Republicans' messaging around 'reasonable' abortion restrictions contradicts the actual cruelty and punitive nature of the proposed laws.

Abortion, Every Day (1.9.24)

3007 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Abortion Legislation Reproductive Rights Florida
  1. Florida bill aims to ban abortions for minors except for life-threatening emergencies, raising concerns about reproductive rights
  2. Idaho faces OBGYN shortage due to restrictive abortion laws, showcasing the impact of anti-choice legislation on healthcare access
  3. Anti-abortion movement focuses on denying emergency abortions, revealing extreme measures to limit reproductive rights

Abortion, Every Day (1.10.24)

2928 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Abortion Legislation Elections Healthcare Reproductive Rights
  1. The media coverage of post-abortion ban deaths is concerning and highlights the lack of attention on crucial issues.
  2. There are deceitful campaigns against pro-choice measures in states like Arizona, emphasizing the importance of understanding the language in such initiatives.
  3. Republican anti-abortion activism in Ohio's Supreme Court reveals the ongoing threats to abortion rights and the need for vigilance in protecting those rights.

Abortion, Every Day (2.2.24)

2496 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Abortion
  1. Mississippi proposed a travel ban on abortion, broadening to criminalize aiding in minors' abortions.
  2. South Dakota Republicans aim to interrogate pro-choice ballot measure organizers, facing backlash.
  3. Missouri's abortion rights campaign raises over $3 million, showcasing strong public support.

You're Not Overreacting

4913 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Abortion rights Conservatives Community support
  1. Conservatives are attempting to limit people's ability to leave certain states for abortion care by creating anti-abortion ordinances.
  2. These ordinances, although not criminally enforceable, create fear and allow citizens to sue each other, affecting community trust.
  3. Republicans are gradually working to restrict individual women's travel for abortion care, requiring community support to enforce these laws.

Abortion, Every Day (2.7.24)

2338 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Abortion Legislation Activism Lawsuit Reproductive Rights
  1. Anti-abortion studies attacking mifepristone retracted due to misleading and inaccurate information.
  2. Anti-choice groups resort to harassment campaigns in states like Florida and Missouri to suppress pro-choice efforts.
  3. Various states like Tennessee, Florida, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Illinois are introducing controversial anti-abortion legislation, leading to increased threats and violence against abortion providers.