SOURCE: Perrin, Dennis. “Hitchens Rehabilitated?” Mother Jones 16, no. 3 (May–June 1991): 12.

In the following essay, Perrin discusses Hitchens's controversial position on abortion and defense of misogynist rap lyrics.

Is Christopher Hitchens a feminist's enemy? From his pulpit in The Nation, Hitchens has issued columns on abortion and sexist rap lyrics, which drew a storm of repudiation from women's-rights advocates. Hitchens, who writes for Harper's and women's magazines and recently hilariously humbled pro-war Charlton Heston in a CNN debate, has never directly responded to feminist critics. Until now.

In April 1989, he wrote: “I have always been convinced that the term ‘unborn child’ is a genuine description of material reality. Obviously, the fetus is alive. …” So Hitchens suggested a “historic compromise” with right-to-lifers, which would make free contraception available, promote adoption, and provide free abortions to rape or incest victims, or women whose health is threatened. He made no mention of...