A few days after the US state of Georgia introduced a stricter abortion law, Alyssa Milano calls for protest. The actress says she no longer has sex until women regain “autonomy over their bodies” and encourages others to do the same. Her proposal received a lot of criticism.
“Our reproductive rights are being erased. Until women have legal control over our own bodies, we simply cannot risk a pregnancy, “wrote Milano, known from TV series such as” Charmed “and” Melrose Place “on Twitter. “I call for a # sex strike.” The reason is the stricter abortion legislation in Georgia, which prohibits the termination of a pregnancy as soon as the fetus heartbeat is heard. That is already possible after five to six weeks, a time when many women are not even sure that they are pregnant. The new law was approved at the end of March and is due to come into force on January 1, when Conservative Governor Brian Kemp gives the green light – which is almost certain. Previously, states Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennesse also adopted a so-called “heartbeat” law.
“We need to understand how serious the situation is across the country,” said Milano to The Associated Press. “It has to remind people that we are in control of our own bodies and how we use them.” But not everyone has the idea of a sex strike. Critics noted that such an action presupposes that sex is “something that women do as a favor for men.” “Bribing men for equal rights with access to our bodies is not how feminism works,” said a tweet.
Our reproductive rights are being erased.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) May 11, 2019
Until women have legal control over our own bodies we just cannot risk pregnancy.
JOIN ME by not having sex until we get bodily autonomy back.
I’m calling for a #SexStrike. Pass it on. pic.twitter.com/uOgN4FKwpg
“My husband is just as furious as I am”, it sounds. “Why shouldn’t we have sex? This strike may be well-intentioned and generate cheap feel-good responses, but it promotes a sexist narrative that sex is something we give men as a form of currency. ”
My husband is as outraged as I am. Why should we not have sex? This strike may mean well and contain cheap "feel good" reactions but it pushes a sexist narrative that sex is something WE give to men as a form of currency. That is not empowering. At all.
— Ms. Deathwish (@Ms_Deathwish) May 11, 2019
The call from Milano did receive support from the unexpected: some anti-abortion activists were wildly enthusiastic. “I am completely on your side,” wrote Lila Rose, the director of an anti-abortion organization. “No one should have sex before they are ready to embrace the privilege and responsibility of a lifelong commitment and raising a child.” Milan showed itself to AP know that they are not lifted too heavy on criticism and said she was happy was that her tweet caused “people to talk about the war on women”. The sex strike is not the first protest action against the controversial abortion law in Georgia. Some forty Hollywood stars, including Amy Schumer, Christina Applegate and Ben Stiller, have already threatened
