By Gaylon Alcaraz, Executive Director, Chicago Abortion Fund When I think about why I do this work, why I am such a strong advocate for abortion access, this is what comes to mind. In our society, we are often critical of paternalistic forces around the world when it comes to women’s rights. In fact, we will go into an uproar over the treatment of women in oppressive countries because they have to stay covered in burkas, and they cannot drive or walk down the street alone. Of course, this is oppressive, and it upsets me when any woman or girl is not treated like a human being. Yet, we ignore the cries of injustice when it comes to the rights of women in the U.S., the land of the free. So, my question is this: How can we be critical of the oppression in other countries, when we don’t value the lives of women here?