Amazing after all these years, we have to pass a law, to call for an end to gender bias regarding medical research. But sadly here it is. It doesn't surprise me personally, after all my medical trials and tribulations, but it doesn't make me feel real good about the immediate future, because medical trials take time, and that means we all get to deal with the research that's available now, which is mostly based on male physiology.
I have seen this mentioned before. No one wants to deal with the hormonal fluctuations of females in testing. Oh well boo-fucking-hoo scientist people-cry me a goddamn river. I don't suppose it's too late to warn readers that some snark may be involved.
New Law calls for an end to bias on medical research.
Follow me through the orange vesica piscis if you want to see more on the War on Women.
A serious WTF moment from the Music Wold. Warning Trigger--violent images. Someone decided to show us in real life, what it would look like if the lyrics of certain songs were to be enacted in the real world, and what I saw was basically a montage of domestic violence and gratuitous physical abuse of women with images so violent, that for a moment I thought I was watching a movie about serial killers.
Deadline for victims of NC Sterilization program In the previous installment, it was announced that California still uses this medical abuse to punish female prisoners. Really California? I mean it's a goddamn shame that this form of rape exists at all in the US, but really? California? Shame. The (I don't want to call it good) news, is that those who were mutilated and raped in this "social hygiene" program in North Carolina can get damages. Apparently a woman's reproductive capacity and sexual functioning, and bodily integrity is only worth about 20,000 dollars thereabouts. This is a topic that they don't teach you in American History class. So for those who don't know, these sterilization programs were common right up until the 1970s, and in California (present day), and often targeted Hispanic, African American and Native American women, usually without their knowledge or consent.
This one doesn't shock me in the least bit. I am not happy to read about it, but I am not surprised either. Mormon Feminist excommunicated for Apostasy The nerve of some women! Wanting females ordained! Next thing ya know, they will be demanding shoes, and the VOTE! FYI, should have put this in earlier- but shouldn't she be accused of Heresy? Just my two cents if we are going to use the big words and all.
This one also doesn't surprise me. Women believe that sexual assault is a normal part of life. Count the women and girls you know, on one hand that haven't been subjected to some kind of sexual imposition. Even the very young ones, and tell yourself that it won't happen again. Now say it with a straight face devoid of worry.
More women and children kidnapped by terrorists in Nigeria Women are seen as a commodity to such a degree, that they can just be taken like someone steals lawn furniture or a car, or a purse.
Be sure and watch this Daily Show treatment about Sexual Assault and Harassment in College. The differences in perspective regarding being in college between males and females was perfectly illustrated.
More jaw-droppingly stupid commentary inspired by George Will and his ilk, compiled and analyzed by The Guardian. Spoiler alert--the only women who give explicit consent to sex before engaging in sexual congress, are in fact prostitutes. I would like to give a shout out to the NY Post for that driblet of wisdom! Thank you for making the world that much richer gentlemen--with the oh so subtle odor of misogynistic bullshit.
Recently the Supreme Court threw out the 35 foot buffer zone around Family Planning Clinics, leaving women, their escorts, and medical personnel open to harassment, threats, abuse, and possibly to physical assault as they walk the gauntlet of religionists who seek to shame them for going into the clinic at all. A Kossack wrote a diary about their time as a Director of Security for a Family Planning Clinic, detailing all the different kinds of abuse, threats that occurred daily even with such a zone. It's a rather chilling first hand report. Assuming you have read this diary (because you should) lets use this as a jumping off point to Sexual Harassment. Harassment is defined as :
"annoying or unpleasant behavior toward someone that takes place regularly, for example threats, offensive remarks, or physical attacks "
For some reason, our legal system seems to believe that SEXUAL harassment only occurs in the workplace and ONLY affects employees, which is why it's so difficult I suppose to get people to understand how scary STREET HARASSMENT can be.
One legal description of Sexual Harassment:
Sexual harassment occurs when a person is subject to unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
This doesn't just happen at work. Ladies, Gentlemen, etc., this sort of behavior can happen anywhere, and create a hostile, abusive, threatening atmosphere that communicates to the subject that they are in danger of being raped, abused, beaten, or even killed. Sexual Harassment, in my experience has always been the prelude to STALKING.
Yelling threatening religious messages to people like, YOU ARE GOING TO HELL, to me is a death threat. It implies that they want to show you the way. That they want you to die and might be willing to help you along. Especially given the frothy nature of the message and it's delivery. Calling a woman a slut in addition to that, or implying she is sexually loose, or implying any sexually charged message at all, makes this sexual harassment and street harassment.
Filming her or recording her information is a form of Stalking and Sexual Harassment because this action would not be taken, unless the perpetrator felt it was okay due to their perception of the woman's sexual history and availability. And FYI--being an old lady screaming epithets at younger females in this context STILL means you are sexual harassing and Sexually Stalking the victim.
According to the Stalking Resource Center, Stalking is:
a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.
Their list of things that some Stalkers Do:
Follow you and show up wherever you are.
Send unwanted gifts, letters, cards, or e-mails.
Damage your home, car, or other property.
Monitor your phone calls or computer use.
Use technology, like hidden cameras or global positioning systems (GPS), to track where you go.
Drive by or hang out at your home, school, or work.
Threaten to hurt you, your family, friends, or pets.
Find out about you by using public records or online search services, hiring investigators, going through your garbage, or contacting friends, family, neighbors, or co-workers.
Posting information or spreading rumors about you on the Internet, in a public place, or by word of mouth.
Other actions that control, track, or frighten you.
Janusdog covered all of those behaviors and then some in their diary, 35 Feet which is on Abortion Clinic Harassment. The harassment of women and medical personnel isn't about free speech. It's about sexual harassment, sexual intimidation, Stalking and controlling. And that's what we should call it.
Sexual Shaming, Sexual Harassment, Sexual intimidation, and Stalking. Period. Lets call this behavior what it is, and reframe the conversation. Evil cannot hide if we rip away the veil of deceit.
Rachel Maddow show for June 26, 2014: Courts Not Swayed by Violent Threat to Cinics--covers the law that has been upended, including shootings, and people filming those entering and leaving the clinic. Including how fetus worshippers re-enact an killing at a family planning clinic. "One Thing Is For Sure, No Innocent People Will Be Killed In That Clinic Today." quoting the shooter who assassinated a Doctor that day. After that was yelled out by the re-enactors, the protesters sang and cheered this death. A video well worth watching that gives a great back-story to this whole mess. Rachel Maddow points out that the Supreme Court has a huge Buffer Zone--the very thing they have for "security" that they deny to women who are visiting the doctor. You cannot even protest on that buffer zone--that plaza. The very definition of hypocrisy. The Supreme Court also affirmed in 2011, that there are protest zones around Military Funerals, there are also protest zones around polling places.
STEM Careers still hold a giant gap between female and male candidates. Hey what's up all you Atheist and Agnostic Scientists out there? I mean if you don't buy into the Abrahamic Alienation Myth, then why persist in the belief--and perpetuate the notion that females are inferior to males in the STEM careers or in any capacity at all?
The case of the Sudanese woman put on Death Row for being a Christian is looking more and more like the Witchcraft cases of old. Apparently part of the inspiration that lead to her being charged for Apostasy involves a desire for her personal wealth. Apostasy means renunciation of a religious faith as in defection. But there is an added connotation to that word, that it implies that you left the "correct" faith as well, and replaced it with something inferior. Many cases of Witchcraft during the Early Modern Witch Hunts also involved accusations of Apostasy and also revolved around property and wealth disputes. Targeting women during those times was convenient because those women held very little social or political clout in comparison to males but most especially religious males, and religious organizations run by males. The fact that these new accusations are being tendered while blatantly ignoring previous court rulings is also truly disturbing. This is also the perfect example of what is known as a Kangaroo Court.
Some things I found online were not attacks, but in fact good news, even good, interesting news. You just have to read this link to believe it.
Women Photographers of the Middle East. 17 slides from an art show, depicting female photographers of the Middle East. Keep up the artistic self expression ladies, because we in the West want to hear more from you in the Near East and Middle East.
Pregnant woman runs 800 meters--34 Weeks pregnant! I remember being that pregnant. I walked a lot. But still, hats off to you woman!
Just some little things to end all of this on a more positive note. There may be chaos and stupidity all around us, but that doesn't mean we must submit to any of it.