That Feminist Dyke

oddlyclad:

simonedugal:

This is a call to arms.

Are you fed up with being pegged as a whore because you use birth control? Are you sick of the displaced misogynist abuse deterred towards women whom consensually have/ don’t have an avid sex life?Why are we treated as if we’re incapable of managing our own bodies?

As women, we’ve been sexually oppressed for years. Finally, within the last few decades, we’ve had the opportunity to embrace ourselves with access to contraceptives.

Then suddenly, a shit-storm of privileged, caucasian, heterosexual males are propositioning rules that are harmful to our well-being. Suddenly, we’re “whores” because we use contraception. Then we’re “prostitutes” because we want birth control to be covered by health insurance. We’re “frigid spinsters” because we choose to not have sex. Then, we’re the devil Himself because we need/ want access to safe abortions. Last but not least, if we do give birth, then we’re labeled as incompetent. 

The main fact that the GOP is ignoring is that a majority of us aren’t using birth control because we want to run rampant on the streets, exposing our “orchids” to any and all pedestrians.

Sure, some of us are merely using contraceptives because we don’t want children (yet or ever). However, brace yourself, this might come off as baffling, but some of us use birth control due to medical conditions.

For example, according to WebMD, birth control (OCs) can lower the risk of cancer, make periods lighter, PMS/PMDD relief, fewer periods, and ease the pain and symptoms caused by endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Krystal, a fellow organizer and the brains behind this project states that: “it shouldn’t matter if women are using contraceptives for preventative measures or due to any of the reasons stated above. The [GOP] cannot and will not condemn us for wanting to prevent an accidental pregnancy and then torture us for getting pregnant without a means of prevention. What they need to do is increase sex education and make access to birth control easier.”

Personally, I use birth control for two reasons:

1. I’m in college and I’m in a monogamous relationship. However, my partner and I are not ready for a child because we are not mature enough to take care of another human-being (puppies don’t count) and we are not financially stable.

2. I have PMDD that quite literally drives myself and everyone around me insane. Because I’ve had access to birth control, I was able to graduate with two AA degrees and transfer to a University.

Not because I didn’t have a child, but because my hormones and mood-swings were finally balanced. I wasn’t falling into depression anymore. I was finally able to focus on my goals after being completely lost and confused for a year. I literally thought that I was becoming clinically insane and it was time to check myself into an asylum.

If you take birth control for any reason, may it be because of PCOS or simply because you don’t plan on starting a family any time soon, and you’re enraged over the recent controversy revolving around women’s rights…. Then I have a proposition for you.

How would you feel about stylin’ a “Scarlett Letter”? If you personally take birth control (for ANY reason at all), just find a piece of fabric and make yourself a patch.

If your significant other would want to support the cause as well, I’m sure that they can pin one on for support!

If you have any splendid ideas for what the patch/ pin could be of- shoot it over in the comments! It would be better if all the materials are practical and handy because this is a DIY grass-roots movement that could potentially take the world by storm!

Boost this shit.

foreverliberal:

I was looking up information pertaining to Rape Crisis Centers and I found a great list of rape myths that I thought would be good to share —

MYTH: Rape = Sex
FACT: People commit rape for power, control & domination.

MYTH: Rapist are sex-starved perverts.
FACT: Most rapists are married, or have a regular, consenting sex partner.

MYTH: I could never be raped.
FACT: Unfortunately, every one is vulnerable to rape.

MYTH: Strangers commit rape.
FACT: Nationally, 82% of rape victims know the person who raped them. According to the San Antonio Police Department in 1,750 cases committed from 1999 through 2001, 92% of the victims knew their perpetrators.

MYTH: Rape happens in bad neighborhoods, down dark alleys.
FACT: Most rapes happen in the home of the victim, the rapist, or a friend.

MYTH: Some women ask to be raped by the way they dress.
FACT: Rapists choose their victims based on availability, not on the way they look.

MYTH: If a women gets drunk and leads a guy, then she ‘asked’ to be raped.
FACT: A person who is drinking or using drugs CANNOT consent to sex under any circumstance. The other individual is expected to know consent cannot be given.

MYTH: Men can’t control themselves. If he’s turn on and can’t stop, it’s her fault.
FACT: Every one can control his or her actions. Raping someone is an action. Each person is responsible for his her own actions.

MYTH: Women often lie about being raped to get back at a guy or to get revenge.
FACT: False reports of rape are very rare. It is difficult to lie about rape because of the medical exam, the investigation, and most importantly, the shame involved.

MYTH: You can pick out a rapist by the way he looks.
FACT: Rapists can be young, old, rich, poor, good-looking, ugly, male, female, smart or stupid. You cannot pick a rapist out of a crowd.

MYTH: Men cannot be raped.
FACT: Approximately 111,000 adult men are raped in America every year.

MYTH: Rape is ‘just sex she/he didn’t want’.
FACT: Rape is about violence. Sex is being used as a weapon against someone’s will.

MYTH: All women really want to be raped.
FACT: No one wants to be raped. Women do not like rape.

MYTH: ‘No’ sometimes means ‘Yes’ or ‘Try harder’.
FACT: No always means no.

MYTH: If someone never says, ‘No,’ it can’t be called rape.
FACT: The law says consent must be a verbal agreement. The person has to say “yes.”

MYTH: Rape victimes are ‘damaged goods’ or no longer virgins.
FACT: Being raped does not fundamentally change the character, the values, the strengths, or the positive attributes of the victim. It is a bad thing that happened TO them, not because of them.

It is NEVER someone’s fault that they were sexually assaulted, and it is absolutely crucial that we stop victim shaming. The responsibility of rape is with the rapist and the rapist alone. To everyone who has been a victim of sexual assault — my heart goes out to you and I hope that you all can find healing in your lives. 

— Brittany