Comments on: Maybe they need Bruce Willis for the voiceover

By: Personalizing the Fetus for Anti-Abortion Campaigns « The Blog and the Bullet

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 01:22:09 +0000

[...] noticed that this anti-choice technique of personifying fetuses is not just an isolated event, but a trend.* She points us to another recent instance of this phenomenon described by Kevin T. Keith, and the [...]

By: Tracey

Tracey — Sat, 26 May 2007 23:09:35 +0000

tigtog: Thanks for unearthing even more creepy instances of this weird phenomenon! Isn’t it disturbing? I made a followup post linking here and also to a great article about the politics of fetal imagery.

aimai: Beautifully put!

By: aimai

aimai — Sat, 26 May 2007 15:45:18 +0000

I was thinking about this topic just the other day after having had to explain more stuff about pregnancy to my daughters. I realized that, taking a leaf from the exellent discussion of passive tense and ownership on this site, that I reallydon’t think we should *ever* use the word “fetus” independent of the woman around it. Its ok to say “the fetus in the petrie dish” if there is such a thing around but from now on I’m going to only say “the woman’s fetus.” Because there is no independent “fetus” in either a physical or an existential sense. I don’t say “the kidney” when I mean “my” kidney–in fact I would never refer to any body part or organ in any person without marking its ownership.

If I go into the hospital for an operation there is some discussion of “the kidney” and its function but when it comes to deciding what is to be done with *my* kidney or my lungs or my limbs the discussion always turns on what is best for me as a integral individual. The kidney doesn’t have any rights and its not discussed as though it did.

Time we cleaned up our language and forced the issue.

aimai

By: tigtog

tigtog — Fri, 25 May 2007 22:51:11 +0000

A punchbowl of fruity martinis?

I think the talking fetus on a site that’s celebrating a planned/wanted pregnancy is kinda forgivable, although that particular one seems especially twee.

Bringing it into political op-ed pages though? It seems to be yet another manifestation of the idea that if only women seeking abortions realised Just How Cute Babies Are then they wouldn’t want a TOP.

Yet again, the women don’t know what they really want card.

By: Kate Harding

Kate Harding — Fri, 25 May 2007 18:15:51 +0000

I’m 62″, 170 lbs., I breathe autonomously, I have a master’s degree, and I like fruity martinis. What do I win?

By: Lauredhel

Lauredhel — Fri, 25 May 2007 05:25:00 +0000

The top pregnancy ticker at Baby-Gaga has a creepy talking fetus. Try both the “development” and “humor” options from the dropdown at the right hand side.

Examples:

“Gross! I’m already secreting urine! Good thing I’m generous enough to stay in here and save on diapers.”

“My Mommy’s uterus is almost the size of a grapefruit, which she’d like to throw at Daddy right now.”

“I’m 4-6 mm, my vocal chords are forming & my tiny heart is beating & circulating blood! I’m 5 weeks & 4 days old, only 241 days to go!”

“I’m 3.5″ CRL & weigh 1.5 oz; I’m practicing smiling, grimacing, frowning & squinting! I’m 13 weeks & 5 days old; only 184 days to go!”