I am in a position where I can influence a woman on the Georgia Commission for Women, my grandmother. However, her views on women's issues are, in my opinion, ghastly. The only quasi-feminist quality she has is that she sometimes has a pro-choice moment. I feel highly motivated to lobby her for support on women's health and protection issues, as we live in a state that isn't up to speed with the rest of the country, however I do not know how to go about doing this. Any suggestions as to how to lobby without turning my cause into a dinnertable argument? Sincerely, Amanda

Thanks for your note to FEMINIST.COM and for being so creative and generous with your connections. I, too, hate dinnertable arguments--not to mention having to be put in a position of defending every liberal who ever existed. I think the most constructive way to go about lobbying your grandmother is to start by issues that might affect her directy and/or someone she cares about--like you. For instance, what is her situation with health insurance, is she fed up with paying too much? Also, what diseases might run in the family--breast cancer? Use these personal issues as a way to get her thinking that there might be other people like her--and therefore, people like her that could benefit from her insight into these issues and support of.

You also might want to find out what issues are already coming before your state legislature this year--and therefore what issues might need some lobbying. Also, you could go right for the statistics. If over 50% of the female half of the U.S. population will have an abortion, shouldn't it be legal and safe? This seems like a basic math problem.

I hope those suggestions help--and mostly I hope that she values your nudging as much as I do. Thanks again - and let me know if you have further questions.

—Amy