With the economy in shambles and holiday shopping turning into a balancing act, let RH Reality Check help you figure out how to stimulate the economy and bestow presents on your friends and family - all while contributing to reproductive health-friendly and women-friendly causes.

One organization that deserves all of our support right now is Planned Parenthood. Why, besides the obvious reason that they provide low-cost health care to women? Because this month has brought insidious efforts to cut their funding and undeserved derision about the gift certificates for health services being offered in one state. How shocking that women might want to gift each other with a little bit of care in a country that doesn't consider it a right (sarcasm intended). Showing support to PPFA is a great way to do good and feel good this holiday season.

If a plain old donation isn't spicy enough, consider making one in ironic honor of your favorite anti-choicer. Planned Parenthood's Connecticut store also offers a variety of condom-storage key chains if you want something tangible for your money.

Books

The publishing industry is in dire straits. If you're a bookworm, now is a crucial time to buy those women-friendly books instead of borrowing them. If the below recently-released titles don't float your boat, a nice hardcover copy of a classic like Our Bodies, Ourselves is a perfect gift.

• Abortion and Life, by Jennifer Baumgardner. An honest portrayal of a variety of women's experiences with abortion with accompanying photographs.

• Yes Means Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power and a World Without Rape, edited by Jaclyn Friedman and Jessica Valenti. A collection of essays exploring the issue of consent and imagining what life would be like if women could focus on saying "yes" instead of "no."

• Our Bodies, Our Crimes: The Policing of Women's Bodies in America, by Jeanne Falvin. An exploration of how the state has been intruding more and more deeply into women's reproduction.

• The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For, Alison Bechdel. A definitive collection spanning the life of Bechdel's beloved comic strip.

• It's a Jungle Out There: A Feminist Survival Guide to Politically Inhospitable Environments by our own Amanda Marcotte - an essential  for the modern gal contending with the everyday trials of a still-patriarchal world.

Kids Books and Magazines

• The Tales of Beedle the Bard, by J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter's author offersa small book for children, a collection of wizard fairy tales (with some fairly empowered heroines in them!). Sales of the book are going towards Rowling's children's charity.

• Looking for children and young adult books that won't send young women icky messages? Check out the Bloomer awards, which honor kids' books with feminist heroines and messages.

• Want a quicker read? Send your favorite friend a subscription to one or more fun, feminist magazines. There are the famed trio of Bitch, Bust, and Ms. and they all need all the subscribers you can get. But don't forget other indy pubs like Hip Mama, East Village Inky, Make/Shift, or Venus Zine. Just not Cosmopolitan.

DVDS+ Music:

• 4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days - Two women's harrowing journey to procure an abortion in totalitarian Romania is frighteningly relevant.

• The Business of Being Born-  Ricki Lake's documentary questioning the medicalization of the birth process in America.

• All of Us - A documentary exploring women and HIV in the South Bronx and Ethiopia.

• Mama Mia! - A cheesy ABBA schlock-fest, true - but the fact that it was directed, written, and produced by women  means a surprisingly refreshing gender outlook.

• For a big splurge, buy a DVD set of a TV series with three-dimensional, interesting female characters and a smart exploration of gender roles: my faves are small-town teen soap Friday Night Lights, therapy drama In Treatment and 60s ad-world saga Mad Men.
• For feminist-friendly tunes, pick up Erykah Badu, Nellie McKay or Dar Williams' latest CDs, support Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls in her fight with her record label over her belly appearing in a music video (yep, you heard right) - or buy an album from a funky all-female rock group like the Vivian Girls.

Donate to a Cause

Nonprofits need support more than ever this year.

• SisterSong - Women of color uniting for reproductive justice.

• The Birth Attendants - Doulas in Washington who provide free services for incarcerated, pregnant women. 
• Lydia's House works to end domestic violence by providing a place of healing and a voice of hope for abused women and their children. Lydia's House is Missouri's largest provider of confidentially-located, furnished apartments for abused women and children for up to 24 months, and is one of the largest programs of its type in the United States. 

• The National Network of Abortion Funds provides funds for women seeking abortions who cannot afford them.

• Backline - A hotline for women considering how to respond to pregnancy.

• One by One - prevents and treats obstetrical fistula in women in developing nations.

• Katrina Women's Response Fund - Helping women of color affected by Hurricane Katrina.

• National Advocates for Pregnant Women - Advocates for health and civil rights of vulnerable pregnant and parenting women.

• Organizations that empower young women like: Bella Abzug Leadership Initiative, Girls Initiative Network,  Teen Voices, Sadie Nash Leadership Project, The Young Women's Project and more!
  

The Material World

If you or your loved ones' wardrobes are getting thin or you're dying for some adornment and indulgence, try some of these ideas:

• The Rosie the Riveter package at The Union Shop comes with a Rosie T-shirt, coasters, and a book explaining the history of the symbol of empowered womanhood. All union-made.

• "This is what a feminist looks like" T-shirts at the Feminist Majority

• Fair trade scarves and accessories at the global exchange store benefit the craftswomen who made them.

• A spa basket of lotions and other indulgent body products made and packaged by women at a Chicago nonprofit for women "who are working toward self-sufficiency and economic independence."

• And for particularly intimate gifts, patronize your local feminist sex shop. This thread on feministing has a nice compilation.

Happy holidays!