In the article, “And So I Chose” by Allison Crews brings up the issue of oppression and choice within the feminist movement. Crews says that after she decided to keep her baby as an unwed teen, as opposed to obtaining an abortion, she “tried to find solace in parts of the feminist, pro-choice community,” but instead she felt she “encountered a response similar to the one pregnant girls considering abortion receive from the anti-abortion camp: I was questioned and I was made fun of. I was told that girl like me were almost completely responsible for ‘the backsliding of the feminist movement.”
This brings to mind the article, “You’re a Hardcore Feminist, I Swear,” where the author recalls an email response to one of her quotes. It read, “I’ll call myself a feminist when … “Feminists”…concede that my decision to groom and dress myself as a twenty-first-century professional woman is every bit as valid a choice as their decision…” Within the movement there is a constant strain between the pull of what feminism itself stands for, and the idea that feminism supports the right to choose. How can feminism take a firm stance on any issue without isolating one group? How can we look beyond what we see as the “right choice,” to accept other women's choices, no matter our opinions, to remain free of judgment and oppressive actions, and respect the right to choose, no matter the choice?
This idea of non-oppression is at the core of the feminist movement. Believing that a choice a woman makes for herself is wrong seems very contrary to this idea. Crews writes that, “Our bodies are our own, our futures to mold. No one should be allowed to interfere with them.” Feminism that supports only one choice is no better than the oppression that feminism attributes to the patriarchy when they try to limit women's choices. Being a feminist means supporting women and trusting them and their knowledge of themselves to make the best decision on their own.
Allowing women to make choices that best fit their lives seems like the simple solution to the “oppressive” opinions described by Crews. The problem, though, is that there has been a long history of the patriarchy influencing or forcing the decisions women make. And while women should be respected enough by both feminism and society to be allowed to decide whether, for example, they would like to have an abortion or to keep and raise the child, it is foolish to ignore the social pressure put on women by society that affects their decision. This pressure can lead women to make decisions that negatively affect them because they feel they either have no choice or believe that their decisions are necessary for them to be happy, despite potentially negative side effects. 
The fact that eating disorders are so prevalent in our society is evidence of this pressure. Intelligent women, aware of their choices, are pressured into starving themselves, in order to fit the image the patriarchy has established as “beautiful.”
Everyday women are bombarded by images of popular culture, of women who have “decided” to work within the rules of the patriarchy, to fit the mold, despite the negative effects. Britney Spears, who from a young age, has played into the role designed for her by men, though largely successful, has experienced enormous physical and emotional turmoil. The pressure to be someone fits the criteria of what is beautiful, what is sexy enough but not too sexy, what is smart enough but not threatening, what is innocent enough but not prude, is crushing, especially for someone judged constantly by the harsh media. The increasing desire to fit the criteria the patriarchy has established is seen in many young girls’ desire to “be like Britney,” who exemplifies the perfect recipe of what is just right.
Feminism walks a fine line between respecting the opinions of women and their ability to decide for themselves, and the obligation to inform women of the pressure that affects their decisions and can lead to such negative effects.
