Not If It's Legitimate Rape

Today's post is my commentary on an article published by The Telegraph today, entitled "Republican congressman: 'legitimate rape' does not cause pregnancies".

According to US Representative Todd Akin, "the female body has ways of trying to shut that whole thing down" if a woman has become pregnant following a "legitimate rape". Although he does not explain how a woman's body can tell the difference, he does claim to have gleaned this understanding of the female body from "doctors".

So there you have it folks, from a man who knows all about these things thanks to "doctors". Our bodies can just "shut the whole thing down" if we females become pregnant via "legitimate rape".

PHEW!

I guess we don't need access to safe, legal abortion after all. Who would've thought it could be so easy?

*Post-publishing addition: Still confused about what "legitimate" rape is? This article on Jezebel.com should help clear things up for you, and also highlight the ongoing idiocy of some (sadly) powerful and influential people. To me, this statement says it all:

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Excerpt from The Official Guide to Legitimate Rape:

Let's stop differentiating between different types of rape as if they were different flavors at an ice cream shop. Politicians need to get over the pervasive fear that adopting a zero-tolerance attitude towards rape means that people will be able to disingenuously "cry rape" if they're having a bad day. That's not going to happen. You know what's way more dangerous? Allowing legislators like Akin to make declarative statements that are unarguably false. If you don't know how basic biology works, you shouldn't be able to hold a government position that gives you real power over the bodies of millions of women.

Sure, it would be a hell of a lot easier if uteri were able to define rape for us. But they can't, and it's insane to pretend otherwise.
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And there's also this great post, from PsychCentral.com, which talks about the actual statistics surrounding rape and pregnancy: Rep. Todd Akin, Abortion and Rape

Newsworthy Sex! Let's talk about "sluts" ...

Okay, so if you're Canadian like me you have probably heard something about the recent, inappropriate and offensive comments made by a Toronto police officer while visiting York University in Toronto.  I'm referring to the comments stating that, to avoid being sexually assaulted (y'know, raped), women shouldn't dress like sluts.  Because *obviously* if a woman is raped, she's to blame (note the sarcasm!).

Out of the response to these comments (and the countless others like them), SlutWalk has been born.  If you're not familiar with SlutWalk, you can educate yourself here.

I haven't posted about this movement until now because I wanted to see where it would go and to further educate myself, before adding my voice to the chorus.  Rather than bombard you with my opinion on this issue (which you can probably gather on your own ... refer to the above sarcastic statement for insight), I'm going to point you onwards.  The blog I'm encouraging you to read, No Greater Male Supporter, is refreshing, insightful and well-written.  The particular post I've linked you to is an interesting examination of victim blaming, patriarchy and the way feminism is typically received (or rejected) in our society.  It's well worth reading!

Thank you to my dear friend Janet for sending it my way!

Enjoy!
Candice