Tuesday Scribbles #3 from The FBC Paris

The harsh reality: abortion is constantly under threat.

“If France enshrines abortion as a constitutional right, that would send a very strong message to all the feminist movements across the world who are either fighting for this right or to stop it being pushed back.”
Mélanie Vogel, Europe Écologie-Les Verts (EELV)

Our January book club pick - Happening / L’événement - places abortion front and centre. In France, abortion was decriminalised in 1975, 12 years after Annie Ernaux found herself pregnant at the age of 23. It is more commonly referred to here as an “IVG” (Interruption volontaire de grossesse). A more medical term that (for me) creates some emotional distance from a politically charged topic.

Currently in France, there is a push to make abortion a constitutional right, kickstarted in June 2022 when Roe vs Wade was overturned. The Guardian provides a concise round-up of the situation as of last October and for French speakers, this article highlights the long road ahead (even if the best case scenario happens, what about sorting out ongoing issues such as adequate funding, awareness and medical resources?) There's also an accompanying video of a panel discussion (including a practising gynecologist/obstetrician).

So, a reminder that we can never rest on our laurels. For those in countries with access to safe abortions, it is not an equal playing field. A huge amount of privilege is required to come out of the other side relatively unscathed.

Further reading/listening:
Abortion, Every Day: a newsletter by American journalist Jessica Valenti
Radio France: a selection of radio programmes focused on l’IVG, past and present
Tokyo Weekender (article): This may feel random, but as I’m (loosely) committed to #JanuaryinJapan - and am headed there later this year - I wanted to be up-to-date.

If you would like to share anything abortion related with me - for example, testimonials, abortion status in your country, centres/groups/activists that you’d like to highlight - you can write to me at thefbcparis@gmail.com

In person book club is happening this Saturday at 4pm. It is going to be the last session at mine. I’m excited to announce our new home shortly. If you can no longer make it, please cancel your spot - we have a full waitlist. Speaking of, if you’re on the waitlist you might want to join the virtual event this Sunday at 5pm. For all those who have signed up to the in person event, I’ll be sending an email out with address details shortly.

Currently…

Watching: Pachinko. We read the book together a few years ago and there was a lot of love for Min Jin Lee and the characters she created with such love. I am really enjoying getting to know these characters again (and reliving the heartbreak all over again).
Reading: Free Food For Millionaires the debut novel from Min Jin Lee. Another sweeping, inter-generational story that brings Korean history to the forefront. But this time we are in present day New York. There is a brilliant foreword by the author, which details her journey to becoming a published writer. I’m over 100 pages in and obsessed with Casey Han’s life.
Listening to: This has unintentionally turned into a Min Jin Lee rave section. Sorry not sorry! Dua Lipa has a podcast (At Your Service) and I saw that she spoke to Min Jin. If you have been to more than one book club, you know that intergenerational conversations about international feminism are my kryptonite, so this episode warmed my heart.

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