Tag Archives: Rape Culture

The Price of Principle

By U.S. Air Force photo illustration by Airman 1st Class Kenna Jackson [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Letting your mind be “occupied” means you consider the principle at play in most interactions you have in life. From the grocery clerk to the solicitor at the door, you must pause and ask yourself, “How does this align with the tenants and values of the Occupy movement?”

We operate our lives much like our vehicles. We have an assumed trust that the oncoming car will not cross the center line and enter our lane. We assume everyone will stop at a four-way stop, and that motorists will not go down a one-way street the wrong direction. By following the basic rules, we arrive at our destinations safely. It is a grand bargain that works for everyone on the road.

Sometimes there is a collision. Like the scene of any bad accident, you realize that every witness sees things differently. Even if the other driver was impaired, it does not change the fact that the “rules” were not followed and someone pays. Maybe it is as serious as the loss of life, maybe it is simply increased insurance premiums. But someone pays.

So it is when we find things that we may hold very dear to us but, for whatever reason, they no longer align with the tenants and values of the Occupy Movement, nor in the thinking of an “occupied mind.” This is when you pause and say “I must make a choice. What means more, this “thing” or the principles I value and the voice I have chosen? Will making a stand make a difference, and does it matter if I try, or can I just let this one go?”

One of the firmest stands I have made in my life is the solidarity I take with domestic violence and rape survivors. Unwavering in my commitment to educate those who live in ignorance of the cultures in our society that perpetuate these issues and generate more victims, I can not make exception even if I want to.

When I met my husband, he had been participating in a hobby/craft for decades. His involvement introduced me to a new world, where I made many friends and enjoyed myself immensely. It became the center of our social life and allowed us time with other couples with like interests.

Until.

Until we learned that one of the “members” of the group we were not as close to was a convicted felon who had beat the face of his then-wife in with the butt of a gun. He is serving his “extended supervision” portion of his sentence by violating the terms of the court every chance he gets in order to participate in the activities as though every thing is as acceptable as a speeding ticket. When he is arrested for his infractions, he blames his now ex-wife for reporting him, not recognizing it was his choice to violate the terms of his sentence in the first place.

As a result, I have felt forced to withdraw my participation and isolate myself from the group of friends I truly enjoy, all in order to first; teach them that this convicted felon’s behavior is not acceptable, and secondly, to prevent the PTSD and panic disorders triggered by this particular individuals’ actions from occurring. My husband is still considering if he can continue participation much longer.

Is this what I wanted? NO. Did I have a choice? NO.

But when when your principles means more than the things in life that humor you, it is worth the stand. When I know I affected at least one life with my decision, it is the start of change.

What change are you willing to stand up to make?

They Aren’t The Problem

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Photo via Twitter

Last week, between 20 and 30 teenage girls in the Labrador and Newfoundland provinces of Canada were sent home from school for wearing sleeveless shirts that exposed their bra straps. Emily Connors, one of the girls, told CBC News that the girls were told it was “because of our bra straps, and that it was inappropriate because some of the male teachers, and male students found it distracting for them.” Other students told the National Post that the school stated that their bare shoulders could “invite unneeded attention” from male students because “boys will be boys.”

It’s been unseasonably warm in Canada this spring, and the girls were dressing this way to be comfortable. And, they aren’t the only ones to get this response. In another example from last week, Lindsey Stocker, a 15 year old Quebec student, was told to change her shorts after the school decided they were too short. Lindsey described the incident; “In front of all my peers and my teacher they said I had to change. And when I said no they said I was making a bad choice. They kept shaking their heads. In front of everybody.”

“They continued to tell me would be suspended if I didn’t start following the rules. When I told them I didn’t understand why I had to change they told me that it doesn’t matter – I don’t have to understand the rules, I just have to comply by them. She also claims that the rules were meant to “target girls,” and that school officials “don’t really care what guys wear.”

And, the Canadians aren’t alone. In this country, a Virginia girl was kicked out of the Richmond Homeschool Prom because her dress was causing “impure thoughts” among the boys and male chaperones. In Evanston, Illinois, the Haven Middle School banned girls from wearing leggings, shorts and yoga pants because they’re “too distracting” for the boys. Then, there was the Utah school (Wasatch High School), that photoshopped girls’ yearbook pictures so it looked as if they had higher necklines and longer sleeves than they actually did.

Occupy World Writes rejects these schools’ rationales for their actions. The idea that boys or men can’t control themselves and that it’s up to the girls or women to prevent this is repugnant, and propagates the rape culture so prevalent in today’s society. We’ll let Lindsey Stoker speak for us, via a poster that she posted in numerous locations in her school:

“Don’t humiliate her because she’s wearing shorts. It’s hot outside. Instead of shaming girls for their bodies, teach boys that girls are not sexual objects.”

Five Years After

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Dr. George Tiller. Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

On the morning of May 31, 2009, Dr. George Tiller, a Kansas physician and abortion provider, was murdered as he was serving as an usher in his church in Wichita, Kansas. His murderer, Scott Roeder, was arrested 170 miles away three hours later. He confessed to the murder and said he felt no remorse: “No, I don’t have any regrets because I have been told so far at least four women have changed their minds, that I know of, and have chosen to have the baby. So even if one changed her mind it would be worth it. No, I don’t have any regrets.”

I remember that day well. I remember the shock and outrage I felt over the fact that someone would walk up to a doctor in church and kill him because the doctor was providing a legal and Constitutionally protected health care service to women.

Saturday was the fifth anniversary of Dr. Tiller’s assassination. Over the last five years, we’ve seen a steady attack on a woman’s right to choose what she can do with her own body. Multiple states, including Kansas, have banned abortion at 20 weeks, despite such a ban being unconstitutional. Many clinics have been forced into closing their doors, thus severely limiting women’s access to reproductive services in some states. Six states are one clinic away from having no legal abortion providers. In all, there’s been 300 bills to restrict abortion access since 2010. And, I won’t even get into the personhood movement spreading across the country, which has been backing bills to not only outlaw abortion but also many commonly used means of birth control.

The violence is also ramping up. According to Vicki Sapota, the president of the National Abortion Federation (NAF), there have been at least 61 acts of vandalism, 14 assaults, six arsons, and a bombing in the years since Tiller was murdered, as well as ten death threats.

All is not doom and gloom, though. The doctors who continue to provide these necessary services aren’t backing down despite the threats and legal hurdles thrown at them. And last year, the South Wind Women’s Center opened in the same building where Dr. Tiller had his clinic.

Occupy World Writes salutes the bravery of the doctors and staff providing these much needed services. We feel that a person’s right to control what happens with his or her body is one of the most fundamental of human rights, if not the most. And, as we remember George Tiller, we vow to not quit fighting until that right is guaranteed to all.

One Way To Fight Rape Culture

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Photo by Atomic Grill via Facebook

Rape culture is one of the biggest human rights issues facing us. It’s a global problem, and we see stories in the news every day where rape culture and the sexism that fosters it bring tragedy into women’s lives. MNgranny’s written numerous articles about it and the impact on society, and sometimes we despair of ever having good news in the war on those attitudes. But, today we have one piece of good news.

Atomic Grill is a barbecue restaurant in Morgantown, West Virginia. Recently, a customer had left a review on UrbanSpoon requesting that the staff “show more skin.” The review singled out one server in particular and “got a little obsessive, a little creepy,” to the point where coworkers would escort her out to her car when she left work, according to Daniel McCawley, Atomic Grill’s owner. “I’m a father and a husband, I’ve got five sisters,” he said. “So this sort of thing hit home especially hard for me.”

Daniel’s response was brilliant, and hopefully will serve as a model for others. From now through the Memorial day weekend, Atomic Grill will be featuring a $7 potato skins special, asking customers to “Come out and help Atomic show our skins! Potato skins, that is!”

All of the profits from the special will be donated to the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information Services. McCawley explains that the organization does much for women’s rights in West Virginia, and said; “We’ve got to put our money where our mouth is.”

The response has been overwhelming, with support coming in from all over the world. For example, one lady in Oregon has donated money so that the staff could hand out potato skins to whoever walked in.

Occupy World Writes applauds Mr. McCawley for his concern for his employees, and for his brilliant response to a boorish customer. We also encourage you to like Atomic Grill on Facebook. We hope that both his feelings and his actions inspire others to stand up to sexism and rape culture in their communities.

“Emotional” Damage

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Barack and Michelle Obama greet guests following the Women’s History Month reception in the East Room of the White House on March 18, 2013.
By Pete Souza [Public domain], via Wikimedia Common

Patriarchal society has dominated human culture for centuries. With rare exception, men are seen as the providers of safety, economic income, the head of the family and the leaders of the community.

International communities recognize the absence of women in the most important discussions taking place today. The UN has questioned why more women are not involved in the peace processes. More women are now involved in parliaments and governments the world over. But it is still not representative of the populations being represented. In October, 2013, the United Nations Security Council and senior UN officials “issued a strong call on the international community to strengthen its commitment to ensuring that women play a more prominent role in conflict prevention, resolution and in post-war peacebuilding,” according to a UN News Centre article.

But I am becoming increasingly concerned when I see a country attempt to go back from over 50 years in progress toward women’s rights – and for the purpose of polarized politics in a reprehensible soup of despicable vitriol. And at the end of the day, the damage done is not to the women themselves, but to those who lose their credibility by sacrificing their morality in a verbal jihad resulting in sentiments that will linger long after the battles are seemingly over.

Women Grow Business bootcamp 2010 for #dcweek #wgbiz.
By ShashiBellamkonda [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

I never thought I would find myself defending Bridget Kelly until Chris Christie’s attorneys released their “document” that accused Kelly of being “emotional” and therefore causing the traffic problems in Ft. Lee, or their description of Dawn Zimmer as being “emotional” about her allegation of Christie’s office holding Sandy Aid money in exchange for support of a development project. It was done again when former CIA Director Michael Hayden called Dianne Feinstein “emotional” in her CIA investigation remarks. Lois Lerner was said to be “emotional” when she took the fifth during the IRS investigation. I could only think of the rape victims who were not allowed to testify at the trial of their rapist because their testimony would be too “emotional” and might sway the jury. In all these instances, “emotional” is meant to convey weakness, poor judgement, lack of knowledge and unprofessionalism.

It started a few years back, but we’ve watched the momentum increase. Since 2009, legislatures across the country have introduced new bills that repress women’s rights. While they may seem insignificant when viewed individually, collectively they represent a regression that appears to be orchestrated by men that feel threatened by women’s empowerment.

You look confused – let me explain. You already are familiar with the claw back of abortion access in America. We have also seen laws that attempt to redefine rape so fewer women can receive abortion when impregnated by their rapist. The IRS was almost forced to audit rape victims before this was struck from a pending bill due to public outrage. And let’s not forget the Michigan “rape Insurance” bill, requiring a pre-purchased policy that covers the “just in case” scenario, and then the state made the policy itself unavailable to women in the state.

Connie Reece and others offer “social media therapy” sessions during the Austin Women in Technology (AWT) Business Conference.
By TheSeafarer [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Washington committees review policies on women’s health, yet will not allow women to testify to these committees. They state myths as facts and claim facts are myths, and refuse to allow anyone to correct their misinformed ignorance. Medical science and facts be damned, these men know what’s best for womens health.

Some cities have passed rules that take domestic violence off the “calls we respond to” list for local police departments, citing budget cuts. Those cities report domestic violence being so high that the police spend “excessive” time dealing with the issue.

Voter ID laws make it especially difficult for women who have changed their name, either through marriage or divorce, to attain proper voting documentation. The restricted hours for voting target single working women.

Budget cuts in Washington have resulted in SNAP funds being slashed – hitting single mothers hardest. The response of “women need to get married as a means of improving their lives” mantra we are beginning to hear is not a policy or solution.

Pell grants, currently being threatened in Washington, benefit women overwhelmingly, offering a means to rise above their economic restrictions.

Federal minimum wage increases would benefit women, who work more entry level and service sector jobs than men.

This week, we are hearing people argue that women don’t need or want equal pay for equal work. Yet women make on average, .77 for every $1.00 earned by a man doing the same work with the same qualifications.

Targets now include birth control in general, single mothers, making divorce more difficult, health insurance coverage, banking and lending policies, the list continues to grow.

All this takes place in the backdrop of men who were elected for their “family values” who then pass laws that they exempt themselves from regarding sexual harassment, get caught on camera in extra-marital affairs and worry about how men will be impacted if the Violence Against Women Act allows white rapists on Indian reservations to be prosecuted in court instead of falling through the legal loopholes. And now they are using the “negative impact” on men as an excuse to not pass the Equal Pay Act.

What is it called when you say one thing and do another? H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-S-Y

Victims Don’t Get Plea Bargains!

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Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair. Photo courtesy of US Army

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair has reached a plea bargain deal with prosecutors, meaning the sexual assault charges against him have been dropped in exchange for pleading guilty to lessor charges. The result will mean he does not have to register as a sex offender and he is still able to retire with benefits from the military.

Sinclair, 51 and the former deputy commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, was accused of twice forcing a female captain to perform oral sex on him in Afghanistan in 2011 during a three-year extramarital affair. He is also accused of possessing pornographic material in a field of combat, considered an action against the military code of conduct. Sinclair is believed to be the highest-ranking U.S. military officer court-martialed on sexual assault charges.

The case is examined in detail in a report from Daily Mail Reporter on March 17. He has agreed to plead guilty to charges of disobeying orders, misuse of a credit card and causing “emotional duress” to his victims.

When do the victims of rape and sexual assault get to plea bargain? What kind of “deal” do they get to help them live out their days with the ramifications of the crime which has been committed? Assuming most victims will live through their nightmares, what plea bargains do families get for those who are murdered?

Meet LaVena Johnson.

Photo courtesy of the family of LaVena Johnson

On July 18, 2005, LaVena became the first woman soldier to die while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The army classified LaVena’s death as a suicide. Somehow, prior to committing “suicide”, the army claims LaVena managed to beat herself enough to bruise her upper torso, leaving bite marks in various places, and breaking her nose and neck. She also, according to the army reports, poured a caustic chemical over her genital area, glued her white dress gloves to her badly burned hands, and fired a M16 into her mouth. She left a trail of blood on the ground as she dragged herself into the tent of a contractor to commit this “suicide” and set the tent on fire as well, the army claims in the autopsy reports that LaVena’s family was able to attain only through Freedom of Information requests.

Despite exhuming their daughter’s body and having independent investigations reveal that LaVena was killed by a 9mm shot to the side of her head, the evidence of rape and the clear evidence that the reports include that directly contradict the final determination of suicide, the army refuses to recognize her death as anything BUT a suicide.

No ongoing investigation in the army exists and no one has been brought to justice for the murder of this young woman who was serving her country at the time of her death.

When you consider both these cases, the obvious truth is also the most shameful one. There is no indication the military has any intention of changing how they deal with the rape and sexual assault crimes that are taking place. Their continued protection of the rights of the perpetrators over that of the victims speaks to a contribution toward rape culture, not toward discipline within the ranks.

Shouldn’t “plea bargains” have to be acceptable to the VICTIM of the crime, not to those trying to cover a crime up? Shouldn’t victims’ voices be the FIRST consideration, not an afterthought? How do we expect things to get better if we allow them to stay the same?

Occupy World Writes joins all those who have called for an end to allowing protections and decisions from superior officers that are, often times, perpetrators themselves. Rape and sexual assault have no place in the military and those who commit these offenses are not worthy to wear the uniform of the Armed Services. LaVena Johnson believed our nation was worth serving. Doesn’t that mean she is worth protecting?

You can sign the Change.org petition asking the Army to reopen the investigation regarding LaVena Johnson here: http://www.change.org/petitions/it-s-time-to-act-now-claim-justice-for-pfc-lavena-johnson

When Students Learn Too Much

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By U.S. Air Force photo illustration by Airman 1st Class Kenna Jackson [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Like many high schools across our nation, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, offers their journalism students the student-run newspaper to publish their articles and experience the world of reporting. Cardinal Columns is extremely well written, edited and published while the school administration, as well as the student body at large, should be proud of the accomplishments of their talented students.

The February issue of Cardinal Columns included a 6-page feature story by its editor-in-chief, Tanvi Kumar, titled “The Rape Joke: Surviving Rape in a Culture That Won’t Let You.” An extremely well-written piece, Kumar drew from the experiences of three Fond Du Lac high school students, “Sarah,” “Emily” and “Mary,” who recount what life is like in the culture of their high school student body. As survivors of rape and sexual assault, all three victims tell harrowing stories of the “Joke” that is commonly made of rape victims and the persistent propensity to blame the victims for the crimes of their perpetrators.

The article concludes with this remarkable paragraph: “Only 46% of surveyed students believe that sexual abuse or harassment is an issue at Fond Du Lac High School, but 80% of them have heard a rape joke in the past month. That’s the rape joke. One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually assaulted before their eighteenth birthday. That’s the rape joke. 60% of sexual assaults are never reported to the police, and 97% of rapists will never spend a day in jail. That’s the rape joke… By the time you will have finished reading this, 11 people will have been sexually assaulted. That’s the rape joke. Now ask yourself– did you laugh?”

Image courtesy of Ms. Foundation for Women

The school administration did not think much of the story. They have seized control of the student newspaper and will now decide what stories the students can write through new “guidelines.” Every single article must be approved by the principle before print or on-line publication, and only the superintendent can over ride his decision.

Raw Story reports “Under the new guidelines, the school district — as represented by Principal Jon Wiltzius — will determine what the students can write about. “The newspaper, Cardinal Columns, is a publication of Fond Du Lac High School so there is the ability for the principal or the advisor or the superintendent to oversee any of these publications,” he told WBAY,” a local news agency.

Public outrage has resulted in a petition on Change.org, demanding the school reverse their decision and allow the students to continue their work as before this article ran. We support this petition and encourage others to sign it.

At no time in the past can we find record of the school having exercised their editorial control over the student-run publication. It is only this story that has upset their “balance,” and in our opinion, helps embed rape culture rather than expose and eliminate it from the hallways of the high school they are responsible for. One must ask who is in need of protection in order to make such an arbitrary decision, and why their protection of their female students is not a higher priority.

Occupy World Writes supports the students at Fond Du Lac High School and all student journalists who report on real issues within their schools. We reject any authority that would usurp the voices of those wanting to bring positive change to their student body by discussing topics that need to be brought to the forefront.

STOP RAPE CULTURE

How America Celebrates Women

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New York City, May 6, 1912. Public Domain via Wiki Media Commons.

Today is INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY. Here is a glimpse of what caught our attention while looking for motivational stories or events to mark the importance of women throughout the United States:

MASSACHUSETTS: Court ruled there is nothing illegal about “upskirting”, the practice of using a phone or other device to photograph under women’s skirts while in public. Responding to public pressure and outrage, the legislators in that state quickly passed a law that would protect the expected privacy rights of women who are brave enough to venture out into public while dressing like – GASP! – a woman! Check your local listings for laws in your state.

TEXAS: By September of this year, all but six abortion clinics will be closed as state laws are passed limiting the ability of most to remain open. There are 26 million women in the state of Texas. Meanwhile, women are going back to pre-Roe days to find a means to terminate pregnancy, even in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is endangered. As a result, more women are suffering serious health issues and death from self-induced procedures gone wrong.

On March 6, a bill to reform how the military handles cases of rape and sexual harassment in the military was once again defeated. Meanwhile, 40% of assault victims report the perpetrator was their ranking officer. 79% of women serving in the military during the past 40 years report persistent experiences of sexual harassment. The Army is investigating its top sex-crimes prosecutor, Lt. Col. Joseph Morse, on allegations that he groped a female lawyer at a sexual-assault conference in 2011, Army officials disclosed Thursday. Sexual assaults in the military during 2013 rose by 60% over the reported numbers from the year before.

The recently passed Farm Bill, with its reductions in SNAP spending, in addition to the recent budget and sequester that took cuts to the same program, targets low-income, predominantly single parent homes by reducing their benefit by 50%. Most of these recipients are single moms.

We repeatedly see rapists and domestic abusers released by the courts, while the victims continue to suffer public trial and internal terror as their nightmare never ends. Their justice is not served when restraining orders are not enforced, probation violators are not locked up and communities rally behind the perpetrators if they happen to be athletes or prominent figures.

Refusal to pass a minimum wage increase impacts more women than men, and in addition, women make less than men in the same positions. Economic hardship is a means of control for many women who desire to achieve higher goals in life.

CPAC: Paul Ryan tells a story of a boy who asks for a brown bag lunch instead of free lunch at school. Ryan declares “a full stomach and an empty soul” to describe the outcome of allowing children a free lunch at school. “A brown bag lunch means someone cares about me,” Ryan says the little boy claimed. What Ryan is really saying, in addition to his continued assault on low income families, is that if your mom doesn’t pack you a lunch instead of having you participate in the school lunch program, your mom doesn’t care as much about you. Shaming a parent for poverty by using their child is reprehensible.

Affordable Health Care Act: Bills introduced in Washington would allow corporations to decide contraceptive coverage under health insurance policies for female employees, based on the religious convictions of their superiors, most time men. The measure would allow invasive questions including how often they intend to have sexual relations.

Voter ID laws target women who have changed their name through marriage or divorce. If the photo ID is not an exact match to the name in the voting record, the voter must provide documentation. By abiding by most state requirements to replace driver’s licenses or other identification within 30 days of a name change, women risk not being able to vote in their next election.

If I were to list everything that has taken place recently, this posting would go on forever. My point is that until we treat women the way our laws and media say we do, these things will continue to happen. Never have we seen such a concerted effort to retreat to an era we fought to emerge from so many decades ago.

Celebrate this day by making the decision to inspire change where you can.

We Fought This War Already

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Photo by Harris & Ewing [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Women in America are fortunate. At least that what the laws will would tell you. Enforcement of those laws and the very rights of women are so threatened in today’s landscape that we have reached a new level in our oppression of over half the US population.

This is not about just contraception and health care rights. It is not a question about abortion alone. It is not just about our right to equal pay for equal work. It is more than about our right to live in a society where we can be safe in our homes and on our streets from domestic violence and rape. It goes beyond the voter ID laws that target women who have changed their names.

This is about control. Today’s atmosphere is so ripe for the oppression of women that ALEC and certain lawmakers are now introducing stone-age era legislation – here’s just some of the latest highlights in the battle:

Legislation making it harder for women to escape abusive marriages by labeling single mothers as “child abusers,” locking them up and awarding custody to either the father or the state.
Not enforcing current laws that are supposed to keep abusers behind bars – instead, they are released and their anger is unleashed on the victim.
Debates and committees in Washington meet to discuss women’s healthcare, “legitimate” rape and other issues, yet women are barred from the committees or from testifying.
Some communities are no longer prosecuting domestic violence because of budget cuts, yet this crime continues to skyrocket as economic and social conditions worsen.
SNAP, WIC and other programs are being slashed at both state and federal levels, worsening conditions for struggling women who earn .23 cents less an hour than their male coworkers..
Numerous laws at state levels are designed to make it difficult if not outright impossible for women to exercise their rights to control their own bodies.

One must question what men fear so much that causes the same approach to handling women’s issues as is orchestrated in anti-trust monopolies. If SCOTUS can rule that corporations are people, than women should be considered corporations. Then we could file a class action lawsuit on the merits of an oppressive monopoly that denies us our right to compete, to function safely and to protect our interests.

I declare myself a non-profit so I no longer have to pay taxes to a government that suppresses me.

US House Wants IRS to Audit Rape Victims

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By U.S. Air Force photo illustration by Airman 1st Class Kenna Jackson [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Once again, men in Washington think they are more knowledgeable about the realities of rape than the victims who survive the crime. In the continuation to oppress women and promote rape culture by blaming the victim, 164 people, 93% of them men, are supporting H.R.7, a bill that would require the IRS to audit rape victims to determine if their rape is “legitimate.” The Senate has 24 members, one a woman, who have signed onto an identical piece of legislation in that body, S.946.

Federal law, through the Hyde amendment, restricts federal funding of abortions. This new legislation is redundant and a waste of time and money, without even beginning to discuss the negative ethical implications it provides for. This forces legal discrimination of a class of people because they are victims of a crime. It intimidates women into not reporting a crime for fear of public criticism. It forces victims to re-live their experiences through invasive interviews with unqualified individuals, who are then entitled to pass judgement on their truthfulness.

What is the inspiration behind this? Consider the magnitude of states who have introduced bills that have limited or restricted access to abortion services. In Iowa, you need the signature of the governor of the state to get the legal procedure provided. In Texas, you may have to drive more than 400 miles, twice, before you can get to the remaining clinics for the procedure. In North Dakota, 6 weeks is the cut for when you can have an abortion in the one clinic remaining in the state.

When I was raped over 35 years ago, no one talked about it. The police investigator asked what I was wearing, but not for a description of my assailant. I thought our society could advance if this crime became understood, so I allowed my name to be published. Instead, I was discriminated and punished by the community I lived in. This law allows us to go further back in time than that – and not only legalizes, but perpetuates – rape culture within our communities and even our tax inspectors.

Enough is enough. Even women in Washington are fighting back, staging protests in the halls outside of the committee hearing room. We need your help to put a stop to this nonsense. Tell your friends to join us in a campaign to tell every politician signing this outrageous legislation that they are on notice. We will give you ideas for messages you can send, just visit our FB page.

The War on Women will be met with a War For Women!

Rape Culture allows stories like these to exist: Steubenville, Maryville, Saratoga.