Rep. Todd Akin meet Sherry Matulis.

I'm a little late to the conversation, but I'll add my two cents anyway.

“If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."

~Rep. Todd Akin 

KTVI-TV Interview, August 2012.

Flipping through Women Without Superstition this quote by Sherry Matulis recounting her rape and consequent pregnancy in 1954 caught my eye:

"Contrary to what the purveyors of mystical notions seem to think happens in cases such as this, I discovered that my ovaries hadn't magically shut down; and I had been impregnated by the rape.  The feeling that came over me at that time is one I've never really been able to describe.  It was part fear, panic, revulsion and ,mostly, an overwhelming sense of helplessness --- of not knowing where to turn for help because at that time there wasn't any help."

~Sherry Matulis 

in her speech How I Earned My Feminist Credentials delivered at the fiftieth annual convention of the American Humanist Association in Chicago, May 1991.

Akin has apologized, "I used the wrong words in the wrong way and for that I apologize."  Then later says in his reasoning for not dropping out of the race, "Is there a matter of some justice here? I misspoke one word in one sentence on one day." (Quotes from here).

The fact that he thinks the only erroneous mistake was the word "legitimate" (which is as bad as "forcible") rape tells me it wasn't a slip up - that what he said to him is truth.  This is why decisions about our bodies shouldn't be made by old men. We've made progress, thanks in no small part to Sherry Matulis and all the women fighting for our reproductive rights - the right to control our own bodies and live healthy and productive lives.  

We've made progress, but more need to join the fight.  Count me in.

My New Hero: Caitlin Moran

I finished Caitlin Moran's book How To Be a Woman and she is officially my new hero. :)

Quote on the back cover, "Caitlin Moran taught me more about being a woman than being a woman did.  I'm pretty sure I had testicles before I read this book." - Jenny Lawson, author of Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir)

I'd already purchased the book when I saw this, but it made me want to read it even more.

"I am a feminist!"

Of the multitudinous good points made by Caitlin Moran throughout her book I really like her views of feminism.  In addition to the quote in the NPR story where I first heard about this book, the following quote makes me laugh:

"So here is a quick way of working out if you're a feminist.  Put your hand in your underpants.  a) Do you have a vagina? and b) Do you want to be in charge of it?  If you said "yes" to both, then congratulations! You're a feminist."

In a world where reproductive rights are threatened, pay inequality persists, glass ceilings exist, and sexism overtly and covertly pervades the day to day we need more people to stand up and shout, "I AM A FEMINIST!"

"I don't want men to go away.  I don't want men to stop what they're doing.  What I want, instead, are some radical market forces.  I want CHOICE. I want VARIETY. I want MORE. I want WOMEN.  I want women to have more of the world, not just because it would be fairer, but because it would be better.  More exciting.  Reordered.  Reinvented.  We should have the lady-balls to say, "Yeah -- I like the look of this world.  And I've been here for a good while, watching.  Now -- here's how I'd tweak it. Because we're all in this together.  We're all just, you know.  The Guys.""

I've been a feminist for awhile, but a quiet almost embarrassed type of feminist, because who talks about feminism these days.  Her book was exactly what I needed: loud, brash, humorous, and honest.  I will forever appreciate her personal account of her abortion and her views on the subject.

So, to anyone reading, "I AM A FEMINIST". :)

Allison Janney

(I'm ignoring the political situation in my state and looking at something happier).

One of my favorite actresses is Allison Janney.  I first took notice of her work when she was playing C.J. Cregg in The West Wing:

She was a very strong character in the White House, a good role model.






She also takes quirky roles in other movies and I just love her for it.


 Like highly religious Prudy Pingleton in Hairspray:

And the student counselor/pornographic romance novel writer in 10 Things I Hate About You:

Juno's step mom:

The starfish Peach in Finding Nemo:

Not all are goofy, like her role as Charlotte Phelan in The Help:

Any role I've seen her in I love her. :)

Current Fav. Actress

I watched 'Mona Lisa Smile' and remembered how much I love Maggie Gyllenhaal:

She is so gorgeous!

I mean, really - how can you deny that??

Contraception Coverage

Based on the information available to me this is what the Affordable Care Act will do for contraception access, "most health insurance plans will cover women’s preventive services, including contraception, without charging a co-pay or deductible beginning in August, 2012...Under this policy, women who want contraception will have access to it through their insurance without paying a co-pay or deductible.  But no one will be forced to buy or use contraception."

The Catholic Church is outraged that Obama is infringing on their religious freedoms.

Churches are exempt from this ruling, but Catholic hospitals/clinics and universities would not be.  I think this is a fair ruling.  What are the odds that everyone working at, say, Notre Dame are Catholic?  Non-Catholic employees should have the same access to contraceptives as women working anywhere else.  The option should be available to all women, which is what the Affordable Care Act is attempting to do.  As stated above, no one is being forced to buy or use contraception.  If your religion says that you shouldn't use it, then don't use it, but don't impose your beliefs on others.

Sara Pezzini

I'm in serious need of strong female characters so I'm going to do a short series on some of my favorites.

     The first one is Detective Sara Pezzini from the live action 'Witchblade'.  I distinguish between live action and animated because this was originally a graphic novel series and then an animated series.  Of the three I much prefer the live action.  The main reason being that Sara isn't portrayed as a blatant sex object here.  In the comic (I found a cache of free online versions to read through) she is scantily clad and bursting out of what little she has on at the time.

In the live action version Sara Pezzini is portrayed more realistically.  She's a hard-ass cop, excellent boxer, good shot, motorcycle driver, and good looking.  Her mother died when she was young and her father was murdered when she was in her teens or early twenties.  When the series begins her best friend was just found murdered in a high end hotel room.  Sara is sure she knows who did it, a mobster who has it out for her, but has of yet been unable to find evidence to that end.  In pursuit of one of his associates Sara comes into contact with the Witchblade.

When introduced to the Witchblade she stays outwardly strong even though she is having to deal with visions, changes in her perception of time, and vivid dreams.  When going after the mobster, Gallo, a second time she and her partner are ambushed.  Gallo shoots her partner.  With the Witchblade she takes out several of his men.

A lot of people want to control her throughout the series.  Irons, a billionaire who owns a large portion of New York City, wants control of the Witchblade.  The Witchblade can only be wielded by a woman, so he knows he has to control her.  In the first few comics Sara seems a bit damsel in distress around Irons but in the live action show she figures him out pretty quickly.  Gallo wants Pezzini dead and a few of her fellow cops want her off the force.

Though she has lost so much she remains strong.  One aspect of her character that I particularly like is that she doesn't let other people control her and she catches on quickly when they try.  Any advice or ideas she gets she works through, tests its applicability, before integrating it.

Sarah Jane Smith

     The old series of Doctor Who, what episodes I have access to here in the U.S., are classic entertainment.  Yes, the special affects were, well, "special" and the plot lines were sometimes a bit slower than we're used to today, but they're still entertaining.  Part of their charm is in how horrible some of the monster/alien costumes are (the aliens in the 'Ark in Space' are green cloth covered bubble wrapped people who inched along the floor like worms - it was hysterical!).  I started with the fourth doctor, Tom Baker, because he was the face I associated with Doctor Who from age 5.  I've backed up now, to the third doctor, Jon Pertwee.  Last night I watched 'Carnival of Monsters', and the evening before "The Time Warrior".  I watched them in the wrong order, but it gave me a greater appreciation for Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen).

Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) with the third Doctor (Jon Pertwee)

     The companion prior to Sarah Jane Smith, Jo, was rescued constantly.  She often gave up when a situation seemed dire and with near constance acted like a dumb blonde.  There were a few moments of bravery in 'Carnival of Monsters', but mostly she was a bit of a drag.  The writer, Robert Holmes, would have continued to write in characters like Jo who screamed bloody murder and waited for the Doctor to swoop in and save them, but the prevalence of Feminism wouldn't let him get away with it any longer.  This was the birth of the character Sarah Jane Smith.  Sarah was an investigative reporter who constantly asked questions and got herself into trouble.  In 'The Time Warrior' she takes her aunt's place in a secret government facility where scientists have been disappearing.  The Doctor figures out where the scientists are being taken and uses the Tardis to follow their trail.  Sarah stows away on the Tardis.  When they land in the middle ages Sarah is taken hostage by Irongron and his band of ruffians/thieves (all the troops are at battle leaving much of the land up for grabs for groups like this).  Unlike other companions Sarah isn't cowed by her attackers.  Even when confronted with Irongron she talks back, asks questions, and refuses to be taken advantage of.  She manages to get away, taking another prisoner with her who takes her to the neighboring castle.  There she concocts a plan to kidnap the Doctor who she believes is behind the missing scientists.  Her plan is successful and after she figures out that the Doctor isn't the enemy they join forces.  She is instrumental in the success of the following plans.

Scene from 'The Time Warrior'

     In essence Sarah Jane Smith handles whatever situation she is put into with courage.  Her character actually has a hand in moving the plot line along rather than holding it back.  Elisabeth Sladen worked well with both Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker.  

Elisabeth Sladen with the fourth Doctor, Tom Baker 

     She is also the only classic companion so far to have her own spin off television show (The Sarah Jane Adventures) and return in classic episodes and in the new Doctor Who series.  

K9, Elisabeth Sladen, and the tenth Doctor, David Tennant

     The writers must have decided that after Sarah Jane Smith there would be a compromise on the next companion.  Leela (Louise Jameson) was a warrior.  Her character was a brave, strong fighter, but her outfit was barely there.  So the women got a strong female character and the men got gaping cleavage and long legs to stare at.

Leela (Louise Jameson)

     The new Doctor Who series writers have worked hard at making any traveling companions strong characters in their own right.  Sarah Jane Smith was the first companion in this trend.  Through her time on Doctor Who there were still traces of the frail female (she was hypnotized by the Doctor and baddies left and right), but essentially she was a fresh take on the assistant character.   

Planned Parenthood

Straight off, I stand with Planned Parenthood.

The debates across the country and on Capitol Hill about the funding of Planned Parenthood have started to drive me crazy.  What drives me the most mad are the lies that Defunders spread. Republican Senator from Arizona John Kyl stated on the Senate floor that "...if you want an abortion you go to Planned Parenthood.  And that's well over 90 percent of what Planned Parenthood does."  His office then later said that his statement wasn't meant to be factual.  Then why the f*ck would you say it on the Senate floor, a place where facts should be front and center?

Because basic math will tell you that 3% = well over 90%.

Another state representative that makes me mad is Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) who openly opposes continued funding for Planned Parenthood.  Bachmann spoke on the House floor about Planned Parenthood express centers, how women are, "picking up Starbucks, living their daily lives, and stopping off to have an abortion". The express centers make picking up birth control, finding a place for STD and pregnancy testing more convenient.  She spoke in Illinois about how the President of the local Planned Parenthood stated that they "want to become the LensCrafter of big abortion for Illinois". Anderson Cooper called her out on this quote - she made it up!  The real quote by Steve Trombley (CEO of PP IL) was, "I like to think of it as the LensCrafter of family planning". If she doesn't understand why making up a quote is wrong then she needs to go back to kindergarten.  She also stated that Planned Parenthood is "one of the largest political organizations that you can imagine".  This is also a lie.

Bachmann is testing the waters for her chance at being a Republican Presidential candidate.  Dear god save us.

There are a multitude of similarly minded representatives.  I am very grateful that President Obama put his foot down about defunding Planned Parenthood during budget debates.  The fight won't stop, but we won't back down.  From the NPR article in Morning Edition today, "Florida State professor Rohlinger says what the anti-abortion movement hates most about Planned Parenthood is its persistence: "It basically stands in the way of its primary goal, which is to make the abortion procedure inaccessible in the U.S." I will stand up with Planned Parenthood to make sure they are annoyingly persistent.


I may have some out there thoughts on the reasons for having abortion available.  I personally believe that it should be a last resort, but that it should be an option.  From an ecological sense, considering that the current human population is approaching 7 billion, there is no reason that a woman can't have complete control of her reproductive organs.  If, say, conditions were like they are in 'Children of Men', then I could see people having a fit over abortion.  If there were a situation where the survival of the human species were at risk, then maybe, maybe I could consider taking away the right to have an abortion.

The incessant chatter from all sides on this topic made me crazy enough to blog about it.  Now, hopefully, I'll be able to go back to the lab and concentrate on working.

Beauty

One of the PostSecrets from this week was something I've thought from time to time. :)

I have to be careful of what I wear so that I don't look like a slut.  I also have to be careful what I wear when I'm teaching or I'll give my students a free show when I bend over to help them with microscope work.  I waffle between being happy with them and being embarrassed by them.  I found this book when I was working at Barnes and Noble several years ago and its been one of my favorites ever since:

It is beautiful photography and with each picture comes an excerpt written by that person on how they feel about their body, what they think beauty is, or a story from their past.  When I'm feeling self-conscious I can turn to this and know we are beautiful no matter our shape or size - and that others have struggled with their self-image as well. Too often we are shown the perfect way to be and we, men and women alike, kill ourselves to attain that image.  I think we should celebrate our uniqueness more often.  If we were all the same life would be so boring - likely our genetics would be too and that would cause complications all its own.

I am, in general, procrastinating right now. :)  I have a meeting with my advisor in an hour and a half and my brain is still in Beaver Bay.  That break was wonderful, but now I'm having a hard time getting back to work.  My mind wanders to topics like this... and Captain Jack Harkness - he keeps appearing in my dreams.

Off to stare at my computer screen for a little while longer. :)

Tangents

I had an idea for a blog entry yesterday but put it off so long that it flittered away and all that I am left with is a series of tangents.

The first tangent being that I love water.  I was spiraling yesterday - camped out in my room, in my own head - and the thing that brought me back was a long hot shower.  A shower always seems to do that.  It frees my mind and I am content.  That first blast of hot water falling on my head is a pagan baptism.  I guess that's why I am so excited about my weekend away from this place.  The room I got has a jacuzzi.  I haven't been able to soak in water since Christmas vacation.  If I could I would be doing this right now:

With even more candles.  Flames are comforting as well.

I've been reading the Nikki Heat books by Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion).  They aren't half bad.  I liked that they reintroduced me to John Singer Sargent's 'Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose', one of Nikki's favorite pieces.

I do envy childhood bliss sometimes.  Not knowing about all the horrible things that have happened, that could happen, would be nice.  Not having to worry about the protests in WI and whether or not there will be a job waiting for me when I'm done.  Not having to worry about women's rights being suppressed, having less control over my own body.  Those two little girls are young enough to have few cares.  They're lighting the lanterns before they run off to play in their white dresses.

I find the situation in WI and the attacks on Planned Parenthood troublesome.  I wanted to work for the state when I graduated, but there may be no place for me over there.  I worry about the attacks on Planned Parenthood - the attempts to defund life saving cancer screenings, access to birth control, and contraceptives.  Conservatives and pro-lifers squawk that if they were to never provide abortions again that there would be plenty of funding.  I find that utter bullshit.  I've never had an abortion, but there may come a time when I need one.  I don't expect that I will, but I want the option.  It sickens me that some want to take a step back in women's health care.  Abortion should be the last stop, the last choice, but it should be there.  Women's health care starts with providing information, some information that I was not privy to at my relatively conservative, though public, school.

Enough on that tangent. :)  I can't think of another one I'd like to talk about now so I think I'll go back to watching Doctor Who.  I finally watched 'The End of Time' the last two episodes with David Tennant.  I'd put it off so long because I didn't want to see him go.

"I don't want to go."