As Tennessee Guerilla Women and Thoughts of an Average Woman have already reported, pro-choice women from Wellesley College, specifically Wellesley Women for Choice, have been bombarding Governor Bredesen's office with coat hangers bearing the message "Hang On To Choice" in support of Tennessee women's reproductive freedoms. The Hang On To Choice Campaign is intended to encourage the Governor to veto any legislation that would ban abortion. The group's logic is that Tennessee is one of the states where choice is most at risk; indeed, there is quite a bit of relevant pending legislation in the state.
I'm all for women taking action. My gut reaction to the Wellesley project, however, was one of discomfort. How well will the Governor react to an influx of mail from a liberal, Massachusetts women's college? Does it have any impact? Why aren't TN women doing the same? Is it embarrassing to the pro-choice in TN to be "scooped" on pro-choice activism? Does it matter? Shouldn't these efforts be followed up by some local action? What is Bredesen's response, because I haven't seen one anywhere? I think it's interesting that, while some claim abortion is a state issue, projects such as Hang on to Choice and efforts to support South Dakota women are springing up. I don't have any profound summary of this, it's just something I'm pondering.
Related: TGW and TOAAW also remind you to get your emergency contraception in advance, to avoid problems such as pharmacist refusals, lack of access to an open clinic, weekends, and other emergencies. This comes on the heels of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' annoucement of the "Ask Me" program to "aimed at educating women about emergency contraception (EC) and encouraging them to get an advance prescription from their ob-gyn. ACOG developed this campaign to help eliminate the logistical and political barriers that currently exist and make EC largely inaccessible to women." To locate clinics providing emergency contraception in your area, search the Not-2-Late directory. Kudos to those two local bloggers for bringing this to our attention.
Tuesday, May 9, 2006
TamPontificate!
TamPontification (a nightmare of a portmanteau...) is a tampon and menstruation-focused website from the folks at Seventh Generation, a company dedicated to "non-toxic and environmentally safe household products." The site invites women and girls to contribute their thoughts on menstruation, menstrual products, sexuality, and other related topics. There is also a long list of menstrual euphemisms.
Right now, you can use the TamPontification website to donate tampons and pads to a women's shelter in your state, by selecting your state and click-dragging a little heart graphic. From the website:
"Women’s shelters in the U.S. go through thousands of tampons and pads monthly, and, while agencies generally assist with everyday necessities such as toilet paper, diapers, and clothing, this most basic need is often overlooked. You and I may take our monthly trips down the feminine care aisle for granted, but, for women in shelters, a box of tampons is five dollars they can’t spare. Here’s some good news: you can help us contribute to rectifying this situation by making a virtual donation below! For each virtual donation, Seventh Generation will send a pack of organic cotton tampons or chlorine-free pads to a shelter in your state."
As you may know, I personally prefer other alternatives for menstrual care. However, if I were going to buy tampons, they'd be the kind that Seventh Generation or Natracare provide. Regardless of my own preference, it's for a good cause. Go click and donate.
Right now, you can use the TamPontification website to donate tampons and pads to a women's shelter in your state, by selecting your state and click-dragging a little heart graphic. From the website:
"Women’s shelters in the U.S. go through thousands of tampons and pads monthly, and, while agencies generally assist with everyday necessities such as toilet paper, diapers, and clothing, this most basic need is often overlooked. You and I may take our monthly trips down the feminine care aisle for granted, but, for women in shelters, a box of tampons is five dollars they can’t spare. Here’s some good news: you can help us contribute to rectifying this situation by making a virtual donation below! For each virtual donation, Seventh Generation will send a pack of organic cotton tampons or chlorine-free pads to a shelter in your state."
As you may know, I personally prefer other alternatives for menstrual care. However, if I were going to buy tampons, they'd be the kind that Seventh Generation or Natracare provide. Regardless of my own preference, it's for a good cause. Go click and donate.
Contribute to the Creation of "The Vagina: An Owner's Manual"
Janna Cuneo, a friend of a friend of a friend (don't you love the internet?), works for a family planning clinic in Seattle and is hoping to create an "owner's guide" of sorts on vaginas and women's health. The first phase of her project is figuring out gaps in knowledge, hence a short questionnaire, which is pasted below some information I received via email with more detail.
Janna asks that you be "be brutually, tact-lessly honest and forthcoming" in your responses, which you can email to vaginabookproject at hotmail dot com. Feel free to forward this around to the other women in your life.
The Questions: (with my answers, to get you started)
1) What do you wish you knew sooner about your vagina?
When everything would happen - hair, periods; what should and should not come from there
2) What do think is missing from a young woman's education about her
reproductive health?
Alternative menstrual products, masturbation, lesbian health, clear info on risks/benefits/efficacy of numerous contraceptives, what rights women have as minors with regards to reproductive health and physician care in general (confidentiality, information that can be given to parents, etc.)
3) What is your number one worry about your vagina (vague or specific)?
That somebody will call my "vulva" my "vagina." :P
4) What is your number one complaint about vaginal care you have recieved?
Lots of women still don't know that they shouldn't douche.
5) If you will have/have had a daughter, what would you/have you thought was the most important info to pass on about the vagina?
Oh, so many things - up front info on periods, infections, STDs, hygiene, alternative menstrual products, etc. What to do in emergencies such as sexual assault. How to perform a self-exam so you can see your own stuff. :)
6) Do you think a project like this is useful/necessary/worth my time? Why or why not?
Yes, if the target audience and the approach are carefully selected to fill in existing holes in the available material
7) What would you do if this was your project? What should I focus on?
I might extend it to be "The Vulva: An Owner's Manual." I would look at as many existing similar manuals (print and online) as I could get my hands on, and try to figure out what is missing.
8) What types of information (charts, definitions, essays, statistics,
diagrams) do you find useful and readable when you are trying to learn about your health?
Definitions. Images. Flowcharts to help decide when urgent or self-care is appropriate. Information that helps me know what to expect.
9) What do you think you still don't know enough about in terms of your vaginal well being?
10) Open space for general peanut gallery commentary!
11) What is your age?
Confidentiality:
"Just so you know, your name will never be attached to this in any public forum unless you want it to be, this is all very private. My background in all this is as a labor support doula (like a birth coach) for low-income women giving birth, and as a medical assistant in an abortion clinic. I've been working in women's clinics for the last three years, and hopefully some day I'll get myself together and go to grad school for midwifery. Some day."
Some other things you might want to ponder as you respond: (based on my own thoughts so far)
Is there an age group, such as pre-teens or teens, or other subset of women that is excluded by other existing products such as Our Bodies, Ourselves?
Is there a specific focus this should take to fill existing gaps in readability, tone, comprehensiveness, frankness, or some other factor?
"I want to put together a reference for women about their vaginas specifically. Let's call it THE VAGINA: AN OWNER'S MANUAL. I'm dreaming up a reference that gives us all a first place to start looking or asking for more information. I think it should be organized by experience, aka a chapter on 'Smells coming from the vagina' or 'Fluids coming from the vagina' or 'when it looks angry on the outside.' I think it should have good solid information about the whys and hows, but references so women can go more in depth if they choose, but don't get overwhelmed by the Merck Manual definitions at first glance. These are my preliminary thoughts. I realize, however, that this project won't work without an accurate idea of where all of our gaps in information are/were. Hence the questionaire below."
Janna asks that you be "be brutually, tact-lessly honest and forthcoming" in your responses, which you can email to vaginabookproject at hotmail dot com. Feel free to forward this around to the other women in your life.
The Questions: (with my answers, to get you started)
1) What do you wish you knew sooner about your vagina?
When everything would happen - hair, periods; what should and should not come from there
2) What do think is missing from a young woman's education about her
reproductive health?
Alternative menstrual products, masturbation, lesbian health, clear info on risks/benefits/efficacy of numerous contraceptives, what rights women have as minors with regards to reproductive health and physician care in general (confidentiality, information that can be given to parents, etc.)
3) What is your number one worry about your vagina (vague or specific)?
That somebody will call my "vulva" my "vagina." :P
4) What is your number one complaint about vaginal care you have recieved?
Lots of women still don't know that they shouldn't douche.
5) If you will have/have had a daughter, what would you/have you thought was the most important info to pass on about the vagina?
Oh, so many things - up front info on periods, infections, STDs, hygiene, alternative menstrual products, etc. What to do in emergencies such as sexual assault. How to perform a self-exam so you can see your own stuff. :)
6) Do you think a project like this is useful/necessary/worth my time? Why or why not?
Yes, if the target audience and the approach are carefully selected to fill in existing holes in the available material
7) What would you do if this was your project? What should I focus on?
I might extend it to be "The Vulva: An Owner's Manual." I would look at as many existing similar manuals (print and online) as I could get my hands on, and try to figure out what is missing.
8) What types of information (charts, definitions, essays, statistics,
diagrams) do you find useful and readable when you are trying to learn about your health?
Definitions. Images. Flowcharts to help decide when urgent or self-care is appropriate. Information that helps me know what to expect.
9) What do you think you still don't know enough about in terms of your vaginal well being?
10) Open space for general peanut gallery commentary!
11) What is your age?
Confidentiality:
"Just so you know, your name will never be attached to this in any public forum unless you want it to be, this is all very private. My background in all this is as a labor support doula (like a birth coach) for low-income women giving birth, and as a medical assistant in an abortion clinic. I've been working in women's clinics for the last three years, and hopefully some day I'll get myself together and go to grad school for midwifery. Some day."
Some other things you might want to ponder as you respond: (based on my own thoughts so far)
Safe Motherhood Champions Awards Announced
The American College of Nurse-Midwives and the White Ribbon Alliance For Safe Motherhood are announcing their 2006 Safe Motherhood Champion Awards. According to the ACNM's press release, "The award recognizes an individual and a group or organization for their work aiding pregnant women, new mothers, and infants affected by Hurricane Katrina." The awards are as follows; see the press release for details on the efforts of each award winner:
Group Awards:
March of Dimes
Baton Rouge Woman's Hospital
Louisiana Office of Public Health and Maternal Health
Family Road of Greater Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge General and Earl K Long Hospitals
Individual Award:
Cheri Johnson, RN, Director of Maternal-Child Services at Baton Rouge General Medical Center
Technorati Tags: American College of Nurse-Midwives; Louisiana; motherhood; safety; White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood
MeSH Tags: Maternal Health Services
Group Awards:
March of Dimes
Baton Rouge Woman's Hospital
Louisiana Office of Public Health and Maternal Health
Family Road of Greater Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge General and Earl K Long Hospitals
Individual Award:
Cheri Johnson, RN, Director of Maternal-Child Services at Baton Rouge General Medical Center
Technorati Tags: American College of Nurse-Midwives; Louisiana; motherhood; safety; White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood
MeSH Tags: Maternal Health Services
Sunday, May 7, 2006
The Growing Anti-Contraception Movement
The New York Times has a lengthy article today that addresses the changing nature of the conservative approach to reproductive freedoms, "Contra-Contraception." The piece addresses a number of issues, including historical perspectives on sex and marriage, evangelical and conservative perspectives on birth control, arguments about how contraceptives work and where the line is between contraception and abortion, the FDA's actions on Plan B, misleading tactics on condom reliability, the strategy as an attempt to eliminate sex outside of marriage rather than as a public health approach, and how the US compares to other nations on unplanned pregnancy and abortion. The anti-contraception viewpoint is presented as being largely driven by the desire to keep sex and reproduction linked, although it does not address how this excludes infertile couples (except by also opposing fertility treatments that generate unused fertilized cells). Some notable segments of the report, presented with links and questions for discussion:
On contraception affecting attitudes toward children:
"'We see a direct connection between the practice of contraception and the practice of abortion,' says Judie Brown, president of the American Life League, an organization that has battled abortion for 27 years but that, like others, now has a larger mission. 'The mind-set that invites a couple to use contraception is an antichild mind-set,' she told me. 'So when a baby is conceived accidentally, the couple already have this negative attitude toward the child. Therefore seeking an abortion is a natural outcome. We oppose all forms of contraception.'"
This was part of an argument that sex is intended solely for reproduction. What of couples who use contraception in order to postpone childbearing until they are emotionally and financially ready? Is that not very prochild? What of couples who are infertile, or women for whom bearing a child would be life-threateningly dangerous? By this logic, should they, even in marriage, be discouraged from having sex? By the argument that sex without the intent to reproduce is demeaning or harmful, what is the logical conclusion for those who cannot reproduce?
On contraception promoting "deviant" lifestyles:
"Focus on the Family posts a kind of contraceptive warning label on its Web site: 'Modern contraceptive inventions have given many an exaggerated sense of safety and prompted more people than ever before to move sexual expression outside the marriage boundary.' Contraception, by this logic, encourages sexual promiscuity, sexual deviance (like homosexuality) and a preoccupation with sex that is unhealthful even within marriage."
I initially supposed the author got it wrong on this point, taking FotF's view to an illogical conclusion. Is he suggesting that contraceptive availability so denaturalizes the purpose of sex such that it "turns people gay?" Does FotF believe there is a link between the two? At this time, their position statement on contraceptives doesn't say so, so the author may have overreached.
On public health:
"'Ten years ago the fight was all about abortion,' says Cynthia Dailard, a senior public-policy associate at Guttmacher. 'Increasingly, they have moved to attack and denigrate contraception. For those of us who work in the public health field, and respect longstanding public health principles — that condoms reduce S.T.D.'s, that contraception is the most effective way to help people avoid unintended pregnancy — it's extremely disheartening to think we may be set back decades.'"
This is related to the issue of groups that promote abstinence spreading sometimes misleading or inaccurate information on the efficacy of condoms in preventing the spread of STDs, according to the article. The New York Times previously reported on the expunging of condom information on the government's own websites.
On when pregnancy begins and emergency contraception:
"The issue is partly — but only partly — one of definition. According to the makers of the emergency contraception pill, it has three possible means of functioning. Most commonly, it stops ovulation — the release of an egg —or prevents sperm from fertilizing an egg. In some cases, however, depending on where a woman is in her cycle, it may stop an already fertilized egg from attaching to the uterine wall. In such a situation, for those who believe that life — and thus also pregnancy — begins at the moment of fertilization, it would indeed function as an abortifacient. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, however, pregnancy begins not at fertilization but at implantation. The medical thinking behind this definition has to do with the fact that implantation is the moment when a woman's body begins to nurture the fertilized egg. The roughly one-half of all fertilized eggs that never attach to a uterine wall are thus not generally considered to be tiny humans — ensouled beings — that died but rather fertilized eggs that did not turn into pregnancies. Federal regulations enacted during the Bush administration agree with this, stating, 'Pregnancy encompasses the period of time from implantation until delivery.'
This is something that Aunt B has brought up on several occassions. There's a reason we don't think of fertilized eggs as babies, and that's partly because women's own bodies reject a huge percentage of those eggs, expelling them naturally before a pregnancy can be established. If we want to consider every fertilized but unimplanted egg a "pregnancy," and protect every such pregnancy regardless of the woman's intent, there may serious social and personal consequences for women.
On where this viewpoint leaves us:
"What's more, Dr. Trussell [Office of Population Research, Princeton] added: 'There is evidence that there is a contraceptive effect of breast feeding after fertilization. While a woman is breast feeding, the first ovulation is characterized by a short luteal phase, or second half of the cycle. It's thought that because of that, implantation does not occur.' In other words, if the emergency contraception pill causes abortions by blocking implantation, then by the same definition breast feeding may as well. Besides that, the intrauterine device, or IUD, can alter the lining of the uterus and, in theory, prevent implantation."
Seriously. Are we prepared to also consider breastfeeding a form of abortion? Because that's where this "every fertilized egg is a human being" seems to leave us. Can we really argue intent on what should be a medical definition?
More from Leslee Unruh:
"In addition to providing an information center for the abstinence industry that has blossomed in recent years, she takes her message directly to kids. Besides 'Girls Gone Mild,' she sponsors 'Purity Balls,' which fathers attend with their teenage daughters. 'We think the relationship between fathers and their daughters is the key,' she told me. At the purity ball, a father gives a 'purity ring' to his daughter — a symbol of the promise she makes to maintain her virginity for her future husband. Then, during her marriage ceremony, the daughter gives the ring to her new husband. Abstinence Clearinghouse's Web site advertises the purity ball as an event 'which celebrates your 'little girl' and her gift of sexual purity.'"
Gah. Something about this idea of a girl's body and sexuality as property to be transferred from father to husband really turns my stomach. You? Feministing hit the gross nail on the head by titling their post on the topic "Daddy's little hymen." Broadsheet was slightly more delicate, with the piece, "Daddy's little virgin."
On the overseas consequences:
"Abstinence has also become a primary element of Pepfar, President Bush's overseas AIDS relief program — with, some experts say, disastrous results. The Government Accountability Office released a study in April that found that in many countries administrators were forced to cut funds intended to fight mother-to-child H.I.V. infection in order to finance abstinence programs. Stephen Lewis, the United Nations special envoy for H.I.V./AIDS in Africa [UNAIDS site], who had previously charged that the Bush program put 'significant numbers' of people in Africa at risk, told me: 'I feel vindicated by the G.A.O. study. I think it raises legitimate questions about the disproportionate attention given to abstinence as opposed to condoms. At this moment, even the Catholic Church is reconsidering condoms.' On April 7, the State Department issued its own response to the G.A.O. study, in which it claimed that as a result of approaches like the Bush administration's 'ABC policy' — promoting 'abstinence' and 'being faithful,' then 'condoms' — H.I.V. transmission has fallen in Uganda, Zimbabwe and Kenya and 'male faithfulness' has increased."
I don't have a problem with telling people that if they don't have sex they won't get HIV, because that's mostly true, although it should be accompanied with information on preventing HIV in sexual activity. What I have a huge problem with is the notion of having to divert funds from preventing mother to child transmission to promoting abstinence. Mother to child transmission and prevention of initial infection are two totally separate issues, and each requires its own attention.
You should really check out the entire NYTimes article, and I'm interested in your reactions.
Updates: Via the Reproductive Rights Blog, a Slate piece on the abstinence agenda and science, and link to the upcoming 2006 National STD Prevention Conference.
Other blogs covering the story:
Hullaballo
Feminist Law Professors
Pandagon
The Cynical Idealist (inaugural post)
Free Republic
Technorati Tags: Abstinence Clearinghouse; birth control; contraception; emergency contraception; HIV; pregnancy; reproductive rights; Focus on the Family; Leslee Unruh; Purity Balls; sex
On contraception affecting attitudes toward children:
"'We see a direct connection between the practice of contraception and the practice of abortion,' says Judie Brown, president of the American Life League, an organization that has battled abortion for 27 years but that, like others, now has a larger mission. 'The mind-set that invites a couple to use contraception is an antichild mind-set,' she told me. 'So when a baby is conceived accidentally, the couple already have this negative attitude toward the child. Therefore seeking an abortion is a natural outcome. We oppose all forms of contraception.'"
This was part of an argument that sex is intended solely for reproduction. What of couples who use contraception in order to postpone childbearing until they are emotionally and financially ready? Is that not very prochild? What of couples who are infertile, or women for whom bearing a child would be life-threateningly dangerous? By this logic, should they, even in marriage, be discouraged from having sex? By the argument that sex without the intent to reproduce is demeaning or harmful, what is the logical conclusion for those who cannot reproduce?
On contraception promoting "deviant" lifestyles:
"Focus on the Family posts a kind of contraceptive warning label on its Web site: 'Modern contraceptive inventions have given many an exaggerated sense of safety and prompted more people than ever before to move sexual expression outside the marriage boundary.' Contraception, by this logic, encourages sexual promiscuity, sexual deviance (like homosexuality) and a preoccupation with sex that is unhealthful even within marriage."
I initially supposed the author got it wrong on this point, taking FotF's view to an illogical conclusion. Is he suggesting that contraceptive availability so denaturalizes the purpose of sex such that it "turns people gay?" Does FotF believe there is a link between the two? At this time, their position statement on contraceptives doesn't say so, so the author may have overreached.
On public health:
"'Ten years ago the fight was all about abortion,' says Cynthia Dailard, a senior public-policy associate at Guttmacher. 'Increasingly, they have moved to attack and denigrate contraception. For those of us who work in the public health field, and respect longstanding public health principles — that condoms reduce S.T.D.'s, that contraception is the most effective way to help people avoid unintended pregnancy — it's extremely disheartening to think we may be set back decades.'"
This is related to the issue of groups that promote abstinence spreading sometimes misleading or inaccurate information on the efficacy of condoms in preventing the spread of STDs, according to the article. The New York Times previously reported on the expunging of condom information on the government's own websites.
On when pregnancy begins and emergency contraception:
"The issue is partly — but only partly — one of definition. According to the makers of the emergency contraception pill, it has three possible means of functioning. Most commonly, it stops ovulation — the release of an egg —or prevents sperm from fertilizing an egg. In some cases, however, depending on where a woman is in her cycle, it may stop an already fertilized egg from attaching to the uterine wall. In such a situation, for those who believe that life — and thus also pregnancy — begins at the moment of fertilization, it would indeed function as an abortifacient. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, however, pregnancy begins not at fertilization but at implantation. The medical thinking behind this definition has to do with the fact that implantation is the moment when a woman's body begins to nurture the fertilized egg. The roughly one-half of all fertilized eggs that never attach to a uterine wall are thus not generally considered to be tiny humans — ensouled beings — that died but rather fertilized eggs that did not turn into pregnancies. Federal regulations enacted during the Bush administration agree with this, stating, 'Pregnancy encompasses the period of time from implantation until delivery.'
This is something that Aunt B has brought up on several occassions. There's a reason we don't think of fertilized eggs as babies, and that's partly because women's own bodies reject a huge percentage of those eggs, expelling them naturally before a pregnancy can be established. If we want to consider every fertilized but unimplanted egg a "pregnancy," and protect every such pregnancy regardless of the woman's intent, there may serious social and personal consequences for women.
On where this viewpoint leaves us:
"What's more, Dr. Trussell [Office of Population Research, Princeton] added: 'There is evidence that there is a contraceptive effect of breast feeding after fertilization. While a woman is breast feeding, the first ovulation is characterized by a short luteal phase, or second half of the cycle. It's thought that because of that, implantation does not occur.' In other words, if the emergency contraception pill causes abortions by blocking implantation, then by the same definition breast feeding may as well. Besides that, the intrauterine device, or IUD, can alter the lining of the uterus and, in theory, prevent implantation."
Seriously. Are we prepared to also consider breastfeeding a form of abortion? Because that's where this "every fertilized egg is a human being" seems to leave us. Can we really argue intent on what should be a medical definition?
More from Leslee Unruh:
"In addition to providing an information center for the abstinence industry that has blossomed in recent years, she takes her message directly to kids. Besides 'Girls Gone Mild,' she sponsors 'Purity Balls,' which fathers attend with their teenage daughters. 'We think the relationship between fathers and their daughters is the key,' she told me. At the purity ball, a father gives a 'purity ring' to his daughter — a symbol of the promise she makes to maintain her virginity for her future husband. Then, during her marriage ceremony, the daughter gives the ring to her new husband. Abstinence Clearinghouse's Web site advertises the purity ball as an event 'which celebrates your 'little girl' and her gift of sexual purity.'"
Gah. Something about this idea of a girl's body and sexuality as property to be transferred from father to husband really turns my stomach. You? Feministing hit the gross nail on the head by titling their post on the topic "Daddy's little hymen." Broadsheet was slightly more delicate, with the piece, "Daddy's little virgin."
On the overseas consequences:
"Abstinence has also become a primary element of Pepfar, President Bush's overseas AIDS relief program — with, some experts say, disastrous results. The Government Accountability Office released a study in April that found that in many countries administrators were forced to cut funds intended to fight mother-to-child H.I.V. infection in order to finance abstinence programs. Stephen Lewis, the United Nations special envoy for H.I.V./AIDS in Africa [UNAIDS site], who had previously charged that the Bush program put 'significant numbers' of people in Africa at risk, told me: 'I feel vindicated by the G.A.O. study. I think it raises legitimate questions about the disproportionate attention given to abstinence as opposed to condoms. At this moment, even the Catholic Church is reconsidering condoms.' On April 7, the State Department issued its own response to the G.A.O. study, in which it claimed that as a result of approaches like the Bush administration's 'ABC policy' — promoting 'abstinence' and 'being faithful,' then 'condoms' — H.I.V. transmission has fallen in Uganda, Zimbabwe and Kenya and 'male faithfulness' has increased."
I don't have a problem with telling people that if they don't have sex they won't get HIV, because that's mostly true, although it should be accompanied with information on preventing HIV in sexual activity. What I have a huge problem with is the notion of having to divert funds from preventing mother to child transmission to promoting abstinence. Mother to child transmission and prevention of initial infection are two totally separate issues, and each requires its own attention.
You should really check out the entire NYTimes article, and I'm interested in your reactions.
Updates: Via the Reproductive Rights Blog, a Slate piece on the abstinence agenda and science, and link to the upcoming 2006 National STD Prevention Conference.
Other blogs covering the story:
Hullaballo
Feminist Law Professors
Pandagon
The Cynical Idealist (inaugural post)
Free Republic
Technorati Tags: Abstinence Clearinghouse; birth control; contraception; emergency contraception; HIV; pregnancy; reproductive rights; Focus on the Family; Leslee Unruh; Purity Balls; sex
Saturday, May 6, 2006
Hey There, Dollface
I'm going to file this loosely under sex and body image. It seems that Hasbro, the company that brought you the Bratz dolls, is planning to roll out its own Pussycat dolls. Yes, they're modeled after these Pussycat Dolls, and are intended for your 6 to 9 year old.
Hasbro's general manager for marketing said, "Bratz has pushed the envelope in this area and has been extraordinarily successful." I don't think we're trying to push the envelope any further, but we're trying to add an aspect of realism. These are people that have real careers." Girls, never give up your dream of a career as an underdressed Vegas performer. Sigh.
Meanwhile, the collectors edition Barbie being released this month is a French maid, which supposedly "celebrates the working woman."
Don't cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like... these dolls?
FYI - the Pussycat Dolls thing came out a couple of weeks ago, but I just noticed it. Lots of comments on the news at Huffington Post and Blogging Baby.
One more doll thing. Oh my. I'm aware of the Real Doll company (thanks, Mark...), so their existence is no surprise. However, Salon talked to the founder last fall, who shared some stories of weird and disturbing customer encounters:
"While he does do custom work on occasion for customers who are willing to pay the price or have legitimate needs, say a paraplegic who needs a lightweight doll he can easily move around in his lap -- McMullen does sometimes put his foot down. No lactating dolls, urinating dolls, amputees, 7-foot-tall dolls, Britney Spears replicas, or dolls with armpit hair or heartbeats. And no dogs either, as was the request of one prospective customer... Another prospective customer sent nude pictures of his 60-year-old mother, wanting a custom-built replica. Then there was the surgical pathologist who wanted a vagina duplicated from a specimen he had in a jar. As for the frequent requests for child dolls, those are also flatly rejected. 'I don't get into debates, scolding them, I just say I can't go there, sorry,' McMullen says."
You know, I'm glad he's not making sex dolls modeled after children or dogs. I'm not, however, sure how those things are at all equivalent with armpit hair, particularly when he does allow customers to choose between 3 types each of pubic hair color and style.
I'm going to go scrub out my eyeballs with bleach now. Do not try this at home! :P
Technorati Tags: body image; Hasbro; Pussycat Dolls; Real Doll; sex
MeSH Tags: Body Image; Play and Playthings; Sexual Behavior
Hasbro's general manager for marketing said, "Bratz has pushed the envelope in this area and has been extraordinarily successful." I don't think we're trying to push the envelope any further, but we're trying to add an aspect of realism. These are people that have real careers." Girls, never give up your dream of a career as an underdressed Vegas performer. Sigh.
Meanwhile, the collectors edition Barbie being released this month is a French maid, which supposedly "celebrates the working woman."
Don't cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like... these dolls?
FYI - the Pussycat Dolls thing came out a couple of weeks ago, but I just noticed it. Lots of comments on the news at Huffington Post and Blogging Baby.
One more doll thing. Oh my. I'm aware of the Real Doll company (thanks, Mark...), so their existence is no surprise. However, Salon talked to the founder last fall, who shared some stories of weird and disturbing customer encounters:
"While he does do custom work on occasion for customers who are willing to pay the price or have legitimate needs, say a paraplegic who needs a lightweight doll he can easily move around in his lap -- McMullen does sometimes put his foot down. No lactating dolls, urinating dolls, amputees, 7-foot-tall dolls, Britney Spears replicas, or dolls with armpit hair or heartbeats. And no dogs either, as was the request of one prospective customer... Another prospective customer sent nude pictures of his 60-year-old mother, wanting a custom-built replica. Then there was the surgical pathologist who wanted a vagina duplicated from a specimen he had in a jar. As for the frequent requests for child dolls, those are also flatly rejected. 'I don't get into debates, scolding them, I just say I can't go there, sorry,' McMullen says."
You know, I'm glad he's not making sex dolls modeled after children or dogs. I'm not, however, sure how those things are at all equivalent with armpit hair, particularly when he does allow customers to choose between 3 types each of pubic hair color and style.
I'm going to go scrub out my eyeballs with bleach now. Do not try this at home! :P
Technorati Tags: body image; Hasbro; Pussycat Dolls; Real Doll; sex
MeSH Tags: Body Image; Play and Playthings; Sexual Behavior
May is National [assorted health topics] Month
Your selected health observances for May are as follows:
Hepatitis Awareness Month
Living with Hepatitis - Hepatitis Foundation International
MedlinePlus: Hepatitis
Hepatitis A, B, and C: Learn the Differences - Immunization Action Coalition
Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C - American Liver Foundation
Hepatitis - National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
High Blood Pressure Education Month
Activity Kit for the observance - National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Your Guide to Lowering High Blood Pressure - NHLBI
MedlinePlus: High Blood Pressure
High Blood Pressure - American Heart Association
Lyme Disease Awareness Month (this one's for you, Ivy!)
Lyme Disease - familydoctor.org
Learn About Lyme Disease - the CDC's Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases
Lyme Disease - MayoClinic.com
American Lyme Disease Foundation
MedlinePlus: Lyme Disease
Mental Health Month
Mind Your Health - National Mental Health Association
MedlinePlus: Mental Health
Healthy Minds. Healthy Lives - American Pyschiatric Association
Mental Health Services Locator - US Dept of Health & Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Mental Health Topics - National Institute of Mental Health
Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
National Osteoporosis Foundation
Your Disease Risk: Osteoporosis - Harvard School of Public Health
Osteoporosis - American College of Rheumatology
National Institutes of Health, Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases - National Resource Center
MedlinePlus: Osteoporosis
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
Teen Pregnancy Prevention - Advocates for Youth
MedlinePlus: Teenage Pregnancy
National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
Teen Health and Reducine Teenage Pregnancy - Planned Parenthood
Adolescents - Guttmacher Institute
National Women's Health Week: May 14-20, 2006
National Women's Health Week
National Women's Health Information Center
Our Bodies, Ourselves - Boston Women's Health Book Collective
Society for Women's Health Research
MedlinePlus: Women's Health Topics
Black Women's Health Imperative
International Women's Health Coalition
Planned Parenthood
Technorati Tags: hepatitis; high blood pressure; hypertension; lyme disease; mental health; osteoporosis; teen pregnancy; women's health
MeSH Tags: Hepatitis; Hypertension; Lyme Disease; Mental Disorders; Mental Health; Osteoporosis; Pregnancy in Adolescence; Women's Health
Hepatitis Awareness Month
Living with Hepatitis - Hepatitis Foundation International
MedlinePlus: Hepatitis
Hepatitis A, B, and C: Learn the Differences - Immunization Action Coalition
Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C - American Liver Foundation
Hepatitis - National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
High Blood Pressure Education Month
Activity Kit for the observance - National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Your Guide to Lowering High Blood Pressure - NHLBI
MedlinePlus: High Blood Pressure
High Blood Pressure - American Heart Association
Lyme Disease Awareness Month (this one's for you, Ivy!)
Lyme Disease - familydoctor.org
Learn About Lyme Disease - the CDC's Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases
Lyme Disease - MayoClinic.com
American Lyme Disease Foundation
MedlinePlus: Lyme Disease
Mental Health Month
Mind Your Health - National Mental Health Association
MedlinePlus: Mental Health
Healthy Minds. Healthy Lives - American Pyschiatric Association
Mental Health Services Locator - US Dept of Health & Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Mental Health Topics - National Institute of Mental Health
Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
National Osteoporosis Foundation
Your Disease Risk: Osteoporosis - Harvard School of Public Health
Osteoporosis - American College of Rheumatology
National Institutes of Health, Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases - National Resource Center
MedlinePlus: Osteoporosis
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
Teen Pregnancy Prevention - Advocates for Youth
MedlinePlus: Teenage Pregnancy
National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
Teen Health and Reducine Teenage Pregnancy - Planned Parenthood
Adolescents - Guttmacher Institute
National Women's Health Week: May 14-20, 2006
National Women's Health Week
National Women's Health Information Center
Our Bodies, Ourselves - Boston Women's Health Book Collective
Society for Women's Health Research
MedlinePlus: Women's Health Topics
Black Women's Health Imperative
International Women's Health Coalition
Planned Parenthood
Technorati Tags: hepatitis; high blood pressure; hypertension; lyme disease; mental health; osteoporosis; teen pregnancy; women's health
MeSH Tags: Hepatitis; Hypertension; Lyme Disease; Mental Disorders; Mental Health; Osteoporosis; Pregnancy in Adolescence; Women's Health
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)