Sharon Levin, Director of Federal Reproductive Health Policy

Sharon G. Levin, Director of Federal Reproductive Health Policy, joined the Center in June 2012, and oversees the Center's work on reproductive health law and policy at the national level. Prior to joining the Center, Ms. Levin was Vice President and General Counsel at the National Abortion Federation; a consultant for NARAL Pro-Choice America; and Director of Advocacy at the Washington Area Women's Foundation. Ms. Levin was also Co-Chief Counsel to Senator Charles E. Schumer and Special Assistant for Women's Issues and Legislative Counsel to Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey. Ms. Levin is an Adjunct Professor at American University's Washington College of Law, and holds a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School and a B.A. in history from Columbia University.

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My Take

“Women” and “Journalists”: According to Mike McCurry, One of These Things Is Not Like The Other

Posted by Sharon Levin, Director of Federal Reproductive Health Policy | Posted on: August 17, 2012 at 04:32 pm

Another slap your forehead/they don't get it moment.

Mike McCurry, in describing the four moderators for the Presidential debates said, "We have two very experienced, seasoned, veteran journalists who have been around and have done it, and then we have two women in between who have both distinguished themselves in their reporting and the awards that they’ve won."

Please notice that the two male moderators (Jim Lehrer and Bob Schieffer) are referred to as "journalists" and the two female reporters (Candy Crawley and Martha Raddatz) are referred to as "women". I get that he is trying to point out the gender diversity, but the opposites here are "male journalist" and "female journalist" - not "journalist” and “woman”.

And, since when is Candy Crawley not “a very experienced seasoned veteran journalist?” Let’s ignore the fact that she has been a journalist for over 30 years. (Seasoned? Check.)

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Tags: Sexism, A Women's Agenda | 3 comments

What Pearl Harbor and the Pill Have in Common

Posted by Sharon Levin, Director of Federal Reproductive Health Policy | Posted on: August 02, 2012 at 10:12 am

I have learned in the last few weeks about a new great threat to America’s national security and infrastructure. Perhaps you did too?

According to Congressional opponents of women’s reproductive health, birth control is going to destroy the Naval fleet and kill 2403 people. A woman getting an abortion will infiltrate our most secure databases and bring down our computer systems. And, abortion will have something to do with damage from rising waters . . . . . I can’t even come up with a snarky line for the last one.

If this all sounds outrageous, it is. Yet, yesterday, Rep. Mike Kelly (PA) compared the health care reform law’s coverage of contraception with no co-pay to Pearl Harbor. He even called its start date a “day that will live in infamy.”

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Tags: Abortion, Abortion, Birth Control/Contraceptives, Reproductive Rights, Barriers to Reproductive Care, Health Care & Reproductive Rights | Add new comment

Fighting the Good Fight – Again

Posted by Sharon Levin, Director of Federal Reproductive Health Policy | Posted on: June 25, 2012 at 11:51 am

This month, I returned to the National Women’s Law Center after more than 10 years, and found myself dropped into one of the most critical fights of the day: protecting the contraceptive coverage benefit established in health care reform. While I am still amazed that people are attacking family planning in the year 2012, part of me cannot help but marvel at how far we have come.

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Tags: Affordable Care Act (ACA), Birth Control/Contraceptives, Health Insurance, Barriers to Reproductive Care, Health Care Reform, Health Care & Reproductive Rights | Add new comment