In case you were under a rock: Todd Akin's insanely preposterous and wrong comments about how when a woman is legitimately raped, her body will "shut down" a pregnancy. Because SCIENCE.
From Eve Ensler: Dear Todd Akin (fun fact: I hugged Eve Ensler at an event at Smith. It was awesome).
Could I be pregnant? flowchart (warning: it's not scientific, like Todd Akin's views on rape).
Shocking! Romney has no support from black voters.
Just in case you were feeling too secure about yourself--here's everything that dudes think is wrong with you.
Much love,
The Sheriff
Friday, August 24, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
lessons from the freshman year of life
As many of ya'll know, the Sheriff (yours truly) went to Smith College, the land of feminism and liberalism and far too many nose rings. Looking back, everything is in some sort of Instagram style filter--I ate exotic foods downtown! I debated the important of gender and class until 3AM! I had #whitegirlcollegeproblems! Even as I juggled part-time jobs and occasional douche bag significant other woes, life was good.
And it came to an end. And I stumbled into the Real World during one of the worst recessions since the Depression, with about $35K in debt and a terribly UNspecific plan to do important things that mattered, fabulously. The freshman year of life was tumultuous, no doubt about it. I over-drafted my account far more than I'd like to admit, wasted time and energy on men who were so far from right, and endured my first actual back pain from late night lesson planning. But I also signed my first lease, learned how to use the Philly subway, and enjoyed some incredible late night dancing, all while inching ever so slightly closer to figuring out my purpose in life.
Some lessons and reflections from this year, some of which I'm still processing:
--It's okay to still not know what you want to do in life. But forward motion is what matters. Be proactive, do research, explore some options. Take some risks! It's terrifying in this economy to abandon a well-paying gig for the unknown, so I'm not advocating putting yourself in the poorhouse, but this process of finding your way towards work and a life that fulfills you is the important part, not just reaching the destination of ultimate success and fulfillment that we imagine is waiting at the end of the rainbow.
--On that note: having a big, scary notion of success that motivates you in a positive way is exhilarating and wonderful. But it's really far more important to try to ditch those definitions of success that make you feel like you're a failure or not enough. To quote Kate of Eat The Damn Cake (which I'm clearly obsessed with), "I think about it like this: GOLD MEDAL NOBEL PEACE PRIZE PULITZER A MILLION DOLLARS GIANT BOOK DEAL HOUSEHOLD NAME SUPERMODEL MOVIE STAR EVERYONE IN THE WORLD LOVES YOU MORE THAN THEY LOVE THEIR KIDS." I usually think of success like this too. It doesn't help that my parents are mildly disappointed by the fact that I'm not at least a Senator of a small state yet. And it's doing me absolutely NO GOOD. Click here to read more of that excerpt from ETDC. Seriously. Do it.
--Know your checking account balance. Err'day. Overdraft fees suck.
--Find the things that you loved about college and try to re-create them in whatever place you're in now. Loved having a community of women? Reach out to people who live near you, or nurture the friendships you already have developed. Missing the thirsty Thursdays? Make sure that you enjoy after work happy hours! Wish you still had that intellectual stimulation? Join a class or go to lectures at a nearby campus.
--Give yourself time to be by yourself. It'll let you figure things out, like what's really important to you and what hobbies you actually like when you're not busy avoiding writing papers.
--RELAX. There is actually no deadline by which you must have your life figured out or else be branded a failure (none that anyone's told me about yet!). There are lots of ways to live an incredible and fulfilling life that makes you happy without it being totally perfect. You will get there. And I will to.
What've you learned this year, freshman year of life or not?
Much love,
The Sheriff
And it came to an end. And I stumbled into the Real World during one of the worst recessions since the Depression, with about $35K in debt and a terribly UNspecific plan to do important things that mattered, fabulously. The freshman year of life was tumultuous, no doubt about it. I over-drafted my account far more than I'd like to admit, wasted time and energy on men who were so far from right, and endured my first actual back pain from late night lesson planning. But I also signed my first lease, learned how to use the Philly subway, and enjoyed some incredible late night dancing, all while inching ever so slightly closer to figuring out my purpose in life.
Some lessons and reflections from this year, some of which I'm still processing:
--It's okay to still not know what you want to do in life. But forward motion is what matters. Be proactive, do research, explore some options. Take some risks! It's terrifying in this economy to abandon a well-paying gig for the unknown, so I'm not advocating putting yourself in the poorhouse, but this process of finding your way towards work and a life that fulfills you is the important part, not just reaching the destination of ultimate success and fulfillment that we imagine is waiting at the end of the rainbow.
--On that note: having a big, scary notion of success that motivates you in a positive way is exhilarating and wonderful. But it's really far more important to try to ditch those definitions of success that make you feel like you're a failure or not enough. To quote Kate of Eat The Damn Cake (which I'm clearly obsessed with), "I think about it like this: GOLD MEDAL NOBEL PEACE PRIZE PULITZER A MILLION DOLLARS GIANT BOOK DEAL HOUSEHOLD NAME SUPERMODEL MOVIE STAR EVERYONE IN THE WORLD LOVES YOU MORE THAN THEY LOVE THEIR KIDS." I usually think of success like this too. It doesn't help that my parents are mildly disappointed by the fact that I'm not at least a Senator of a small state yet. And it's doing me absolutely NO GOOD. Click here to read more of that excerpt from ETDC. Seriously. Do it.
--Know your checking account balance. Err'day. Overdraft fees suck.
--Find the things that you loved about college and try to re-create them in whatever place you're in now. Loved having a community of women? Reach out to people who live near you, or nurture the friendships you already have developed. Missing the thirsty Thursdays? Make sure that you enjoy after work happy hours! Wish you still had that intellectual stimulation? Join a class or go to lectures at a nearby campus.
--Give yourself time to be by yourself. It'll let you figure things out, like what's really important to you and what hobbies you actually like when you're not busy avoiding writing papers.
--RELAX. There is actually no deadline by which you must have your life figured out or else be branded a failure (none that anyone's told me about yet!). There are lots of ways to live an incredible and fulfilling life that makes you happy without it being totally perfect. You will get there. And I will to.
What've you learned this year, freshman year of life or not?
Much love,
The Sheriff
Monday, August 20, 2012
poor Missouri has to deal with Todd Akin
Did you know that victims of legitimate rape don't get pregnant?
Yup. It's true. If you're Todd Akin and inventing your own science.
Recently, this Representative from Missouri (a Republican nominee for Senate) made the claim that "legitimate rape" victims don't get pregnant from their rape.
Problematic for several absolutely awful reasons.
1. This is just so bad, it seems like an article from The Onion.
2. There is no illegitimate rape. If a sexual act occurs and consent was not part of it, it's rape. Even without a rape. Even without scary bushes and a creepy van.
3. The fact that a MAN is trying to define rape and trying to restrict a woman's access to abortion after a crime has been committed on her body and left her with an involuntary pregnancy is beyond understanding.
4. What doctors is he talking to that tell him these things? Why do we have a significant portion of our country that thinks it can ignore science and facts about things ranging from the functioning of a females reproductive system to the erosion of our planet?
Oy. SO MANY FEELINGS. Your thoughts on this absurdity?
Much love,
The Sheriff
Yup. It's true. If you're Todd Akin and inventing your own science.
Recently, this Representative from Missouri (a Republican nominee for Senate) made the claim that "legitimate rape" victims don't get pregnant from their rape.
Problematic for several absolutely awful reasons.
1. This is just so bad, it seems like an article from The Onion.
2. There is no illegitimate rape. If a sexual act occurs and consent was not part of it, it's rape. Even without a rape. Even without scary bushes and a creepy van.
3. The fact that a MAN is trying to define rape and trying to restrict a woman's access to abortion after a crime has been committed on her body and left her with an involuntary pregnancy is beyond understanding.
4. What doctors is he talking to that tell him these things? Why do we have a significant portion of our country that thinks it can ignore science and facts about things ranging from the functioning of a females reproductive system to the erosion of our planet?
Oy. SO MANY FEELINGS. Your thoughts on this absurdity?
Much love,
The Sheriff
Friday, August 17, 2012
friday links
Monday, August 13, 2012
the whole mess of religion and birth control
Someone on Twitter (shout out @ThortsMagorts!) asked me recently for a post on birth control and religion and what all the fuss is about. If birth control violates your religion, why don't you just not take it? Which, frankly, is a great question.
It's complicated.
Most religious people generally are sane folks who don't meddle too much in people's personal affairs. But a fair share of them seek ways to limit women's access to abortion and birth control. There's arguments about the sanctity of life and not trying to act like God by controlling the number and timing of children (like the Duggars, from 19 and Counting or whatever number of kids they're up to now).
But often it's about controlling women and their bodies and their choices. With the recent provisions of the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies are required to cover contraception with no co-pays for the women whose health care they are covering. Even employers with a religious lean. Which some people are pretty upset about, because unfortunately self-righteousness means that religious people think they know what's best for everyone and want to extend their religion to EVERYBODY.
The law actually leaves quite a bit of space for religious freedom--of individuals, not of businesses since businesses are not people. If a woman does not want contraception to be covered by her insurance company or employer, she won't buy it or ask them to cover it. Boom. Done. Sounds like religious freedom to me.
Do you think that employers/insurance companies should have to cover birth control?
Much love,
The Sheriff
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| source |
It's complicated.
Most religious people generally are sane folks who don't meddle too much in people's personal affairs. But a fair share of them seek ways to limit women's access to abortion and birth control. There's arguments about the sanctity of life and not trying to act like God by controlling the number and timing of children (like the Duggars, from 19 and Counting or whatever number of kids they're up to now).
But often it's about controlling women and their bodies and their choices. With the recent provisions of the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies are required to cover contraception with no co-pays for the women whose health care they are covering. Even employers with a religious lean. Which some people are pretty upset about, because unfortunately self-righteousness means that religious people think they know what's best for everyone and want to extend their religion to EVERYBODY.
The law actually leaves quite a bit of space for religious freedom--of individuals, not of businesses since businesses are not people. If a woman does not want contraception to be covered by her insurance company or employer, she won't buy it or ask them to cover it. Boom. Done. Sounds like religious freedom to me.
Do you think that employers/insurance companies should have to cover birth control?
Much love,
The Sheriff
Friday, August 10, 2012
friday links
I love this list: Is Your Relationship Normal?
Yes.
Ever wonder what kind of woman would get a late-term abortion? Check this out.
I love everything about this: the upside of ugly, and why we shouldn't teach girls that being beautiful is a worthy goal.
Not necessarily about fornicating or feminism, but interesting: what foreigners think of America.
Much love,
The Sheriff
PS--follow us on Twitter! Or Facebook!
Yes.
Ever wonder what kind of woman would get a late-term abortion? Check this out.
I love everything about this: the upside of ugly, and why we shouldn't teach girls that being beautiful is a worthy goal.
Not necessarily about fornicating or feminism, but interesting: what foreigners think of America.
Much love,
The Sheriff
PS--follow us on Twitter! Or Facebook!
Monday, August 6, 2012
Leave Lolo Jones Alone
The New York Times featured an article on Saturday written by Jere Longman entitled "For Lolo Jones, Everything Is Image." Longman basically kinda roasts Lolo, as you could probably guess from the title, and claims that she's basically just a bunch of image and sexy acting but without any athletic achievement to back it up.
Hold on, boy.
I am not a fan of Lolo. Or the Olympics in general. It's fascinating, in a vague kind of way, like how I feel about the fact that it is possible to buy skin cream that costs over $100 an ounce. But I don't like how this guy seems to be unfairly targeting her (a woman of color) for doing something that ALL athletes do (creating an image and having endorsements). You think Ryan Lochte is just naturally that much of a frat boy (...well, maybe)?
The fact that he takes issue with how she portrays herself as "vixen, virgin, victim" is especially irksome. Vixen? She's a vixen for posing for nude photos (which were pretty tasteful, by the way)? Na, I don't buy it. Dozens of female athletes are oversexualized and their bodies fetishized not for their skill or talent but for their taut muscles. Jones is no different. As for her virginity, she's open about it and how it impacts her dating life. Marketing strategy? Perhaps. But by talking it up, the media is only helping her to work it harder. As for her being a victim, she has mentioned her hard childhood in interviews (poor, father was in and out of jail, moved around a lot, lived in the basement of a Salvation Army). But having watched some of them, it hardly seems like she's playing up her victimhood. She's telling her story, openly. She's not begging for a handout, just stating the facts of her life.
And why is she getting so much attention? Because last time she participated in the Olympics, she was in the lead and on the way to a goal when she tripped on a hurdle, and then cried on the track. This is the perfect setup for a redemption based comeback story for her, so of course there's more focus on her than the other track and field athletes. Also? This is America. Not many folks care about track and field. We can focus on one, maybe two athletes for each sport.
What do you think? Is he right to critique her for being all style, no substance?
Much love,
The Sheriff
PS--follow me on Twitter!
PPS--for a humorous take on the oversexualization of female athletes, check this out: sports photographed the same way they do to volleyball.
Hold on, boy.
I am not a fan of Lolo. Or the Olympics in general. It's fascinating, in a vague kind of way, like how I feel about the fact that it is possible to buy skin cream that costs over $100 an ounce. But I don't like how this guy seems to be unfairly targeting her (a woman of color) for doing something that ALL athletes do (creating an image and having endorsements). You think Ryan Lochte is just naturally that much of a frat boy (...well, maybe)?
The fact that he takes issue with how she portrays herself as "vixen, virgin, victim" is especially irksome. Vixen? She's a vixen for posing for nude photos (which were pretty tasteful, by the way)? Na, I don't buy it. Dozens of female athletes are oversexualized and their bodies fetishized not for their skill or talent but for their taut muscles. Jones is no different. As for her virginity, she's open about it and how it impacts her dating life. Marketing strategy? Perhaps. But by talking it up, the media is only helping her to work it harder. As for her being a victim, she has mentioned her hard childhood in interviews (poor, father was in and out of jail, moved around a lot, lived in the basement of a Salvation Army). But having watched some of them, it hardly seems like she's playing up her victimhood. She's telling her story, openly. She's not begging for a handout, just stating the facts of her life.
And why is she getting so much attention? Because last time she participated in the Olympics, she was in the lead and on the way to a goal when she tripped on a hurdle, and then cried on the track. This is the perfect setup for a redemption based comeback story for her, so of course there's more focus on her than the other track and field athletes. Also? This is America. Not many folks care about track and field. We can focus on one, maybe two athletes for each sport.
What do you think? Is he right to critique her for being all style, no substance?
Much love,
The Sheriff
PS--follow me on Twitter!
PPS--for a humorous take on the oversexualization of female athletes, check this out: sports photographed the same way they do to volleyball.
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