Women of 'Late Night' surrender their bodies in scathing abortion ban bit
The female writers on NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” handed over control of their bodies to men to make a comedic yet powerful point about Alabama’s strict new abortion law on Wednesday.
Amber Ruffin, Jenny Hagel and Ally Hord each allowed men to stand behind them and manipulate their arm movements as they discussed the bill, which effectively bans all abortion procedures including in cases of rape and incest.
“This is where our country is headed, so we figured we may as well get some practice,” said Ruffin, who later added: “It’s a scary time to be a woman, I’m scared.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) joined the widespread and growing chorus of criticism of the law as she broke down what the effective banning of the procedure is really all about.
The lawmaker tweeted early Thursday that abortion bans “aren’t just about controlling women’s bodies,” adding: “They’re about controlling women’s sexuality. Owning women. From limiting birth control to banning comprehensive sex ed, US religious fundamentalists are working hard to outlaw sex that falls outside their theology.
Abortion bans aren’t just about controlling women’s bodies.
They’re about controlling women’s sexuality. Owning women.
From limiting birth control to banning comprehensive sex ed, US religious fundamentalists are working hard to outlaw sex that falls outside their theology.— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 16, 2019
“Ultimately, this is about women’s power,” Ocasio-Cortez added in a second tweet. She noted that “when women are in control of their sexuality, it threatens a core element underpinning right-wing ideology: patriarchy. It’s a brutal form of oppression to seize control of the 1 essential thing a person should command: their own body.”
Ultimately, this is about women’s power.
When women are in control of their sexuality, it threatens a core element underpinning right-wing ideology: patriarchy.
It’s a brutal form of oppression to seize control of the 1 essential thing a person should command: their own body.— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 16, 2019
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) signed the bill on Wednesday.
It effectively bans abortion in almost all cases, including rape and incest. Doctors also face up to 99 years in prison for performing the procedure.
Dozens of celebrities have spoken out against the development.
Ocasio-Cortez on Wednesday described the law as “horrifying” in a tweet explaining just some of its consequences:
This law would force children - 12 year olds - to carry a pregnancy by their rapist.
This law would force people w/ mental disabilities to carry pregnancy by rape to term.
This law forces people to be pregnant against their own consent. It’s horrifying.— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 15, 2019
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
