Why I (kind of) dislike the phrase "pro-choice": on libertarian framing

[YoungDemCA]

Specifically, the "choice" part. As much as I would like to believe that all self-professed "pro-choice" individuals are for equal rights, opportunities, and access to education, power, and resources for women...well, I think we all know that this simply isn't true. Not by a long shot.

Furthermore, the use of the word "choice" can easily be turned into a Libertarian argument for enthusiastically supporting, say, pornography and prostitution-which reveals some rather, um, curious priorities for supposedly "progressive" people.

Now, I know that the word is meant to empower women. But it can just as easily empower men who wish to exploit aspects of feminism selectively and in a self-serving way. What's more, using the Libertarian language of "choice" and "freedom of association" was (and still is, to some extent) used by opponents of racial integration of schools and neighborhoods from the 1960s onward. Most recently, that language of "choice" has been used as code for discrimination against the LGBT community and others based on an individual business owner's religious beliefs.

The solution? Embrace the word equality-its usage, its meaning, and its consequences. As opponents of the patriarchy, we can cut to the chase and let people know where we stand. No need to "convert" anyone by using the words and framing of opponents of equality (like Libertarians and other right-wingers). Because frankly, I have found that the historical record shows that equality doesn't follow from liberty; rather, liberty follows from equality. The members of oppressed, disenfranchised, and marginalized social groups don't have anywhere near the same "liberty" or "choices" that the more privileged among us have. Giving a small number of individual members of said groups more choices won't solve the systemic social problems of oppression and inequality.

If you still wish to use the language of "choice", that's fine; I will not try to convince anyone otherwise. This post was just me explaining my own position on how to use words, what they mean, and how our arguments can perhaps be better framed.

My $0.02.