I’m sure we’re all very familiar with John Boehner’s latest assault on women. I have run out of shades of appalling to describe HR3. The squeeze on reproductive rights by members of the GOP is bad enough, but that sacred (albeit hypocritical if you ask me) truce when it comes to rape victims is being threatened in a huge way.
Got drugged? Too bad. Family member raped you? Too bad. Scared to fight back? Not good enough. They seek to remove funding and ban abortions from “non-forcible” rape. Now….raise your hand if you have the VERY BASIC UNDERSTANDING that ALL rape is “forcible” rape. If we play by the rules of the GOP, abortion can only be provided for victims of the violent rapes. Those only account for 30% of rapes. I’m not even going to get into what this means for the disabled, who are at a high victimization rate to begin with. This bill legislates rape culture.
Even an overwhelming percentage of Republicans oppose this. I guess when you elect your officials based on promises of jobs and a better economy, you don’t figure that attacking women and girls would be the top of the list. Boehner thinks this would be a cost saving measure, but when it comes to the number of federally funded abortions that happen due to rape, I’m sure he’d save more money by laying off the self-tanner than interrogating rape victims about being attacked. But no, apparently it’s more important to set up RAPE PANELS.
This goes beyond just further demeaning and victimizing women who’ve been raped. We’re not so stupid to miss the fact that this is probably just the beginning. The GOP will try to evaporate the right to choose completely.
I know that internet activism isn’t always the best, but if you have a Twitter account, please check out the info courtesy of Sady Doyle on how you can get involved with her #DearJohn campaign. If you prefer to really get in your representatives’ faces, the information is provided there as well. Twitter, call, write, it doesn’t matter. Make noise, motivate some action and pass this around. Prove that we are not a passive generation that will stand for our rights being chipped away. Those of us who are not from the US, let’s raise our voices in solidarity. If anything, it won’t hurt to let the GOP know that the whole world is watching.
‘Forcible’ rape’?! As opposed to what, ‘non-forcible rape’? What?!
This is disgusting.
Tautology [from Greek , 'tauto': the same, and 'logos': word/idea] is an unnecessary or unessential repetition of meaning. It is often regarded as a fault of style and was defined by Fowler as “saying the same thing twice.”
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS NON-FORCIBLE RAPE.
I think that every denunciation of this bill has already been said and more eloquently by others, so I would like to ask for some help — I recently moved to Massachusetts, The Bluest State, and my new representative has a 100% rating from NARAL. I’ll call him, just in case, but there’s no way this guy would vote for the bill. I don’t have a Twitter. I’m used to living in a swing state! I don’t know what to do now to be helpful!
I just don’t understand the right… they say “less gov. interference!” and then they are ALL ABOUT gov. interference in personal lives (what to do with your body, who you sleep with, etc).
**headdesk**
Baraqiel – I’m in the same boat, and have sent some inquiries into the aether. If I get any info, I’ll update here, if that’s ok with the Harpies.
If you are fortunate enough to have representation in Congress, please reach out to them. If your rep has a 100 percent NARAL rating, send them a note to let them know you are aware of their record and appreciate their stance(s).
Twitter is fun, but it will be very easy for Boehner and his co-sponsors to tell themselves we are not their constituency anyway–just angry feminists with too much time on our hands. For the record, I did tweet in the #DearJohn campaign but letters (not signatures on online petitions) and phone calls are what counts. If you want you can let the bill’s sponsors know you will be donating to whomever opposes them in the next election.
@SarahMC: Thanks for the reminder that a few million Americans who would be affected by this bill—residents of D.C., Puerto Rico and territories—have no representation in Congress, which makes it even more important for those of us who are represented to take action.
#taxationwithoutrepresentation
I just finished a letter to Rep. Chris Smith, regarding the reprehensible bill, H.R. 3. Unfortunately, he is my representative. I’m going to follow up with a letter to John Boehner’s office. I plan to send both physical letters by registered mail, to ensure they are received. I plan to post the contents to both Facebook and Tumblr once they are done. I can’t sit idly by an watch this happen.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Amina Mithri, Pursuit of Harpyness. Pursuit of Harpyness said: Redefining Rape: More Important Than Jobs http://bit.ly/gZzr0q [...]
I am absolutely flustered by this bill.
I attend a small liberal arts college in the midwest and when I told some of my peers about this… they were in disbelief (partly because we get sucked into the college “bubble” and partly because of how absurd it is). I’m mostly using Twitter to get the word out, but you can bet I’ll be making some phone calls and writing some letters tomorrow.
Who decided this could ever be okay?
Sometimes people scare me.
Also, one of my favorite nicknames for HR3:
“Bruises-or-it-Didn’t-Happen” Bill
I’ve been active with #DearJohn. I emailed my congressman over the weekend. I also posted the Tiger Beatdown post to Facebook, which has resulted in reposting and at least two other letters to representatives. I’m calling Wednesday to make sure they got my email. It’s a little thing, but little things add up.
Think we’d be seeing the same kind of thing if male rape victims could get pregnant?
The fact that this is the 3rd bill the Repugs have introduced is a slap in the face to everyone in this country, considering the economic problems we are facing. It would seem that to the right, controlling women is much more of a priority than working on the real problems we have. Is this really what the voters wanted?
Hey y’all. Just wanted to let you know that there’s a petition from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee against H.R.3 on change.org: http://www.change.org/petitions/rape-is-rape-tell-speaker-boehner-to-drop-republicans-plan-to-redefine-rape
I know that the ACLU has one, too, but I signed it already and can’t link it. Google “ACLU abortion campaign” and it’s the first link to come up.
Also, SarahMC is completely right re: the importance of sending your own letters (not just online petitions), making your own phone calls, and notifying the bill’s sponsors that you will be donating to their opposition’s campaign in the next election. Let’s do it!
This issue is something that is extremely important to our ongoing struggle for women’s rights. At EMILY’s List, we know that over the past 26 years, our members have fought for the freedoms my generation enjoys today by helping to elect pro-choice Democratic women. We’re asking the GOP: what are your priorities? You spoke of an economic mandate, but your actions show a dedication to rolling back the rights of women.
Join EMILY’s List in sending this message to Speaker Boehner: we will not stand for these attacks on women’s rights.
Visit http://boehnersamerica.com today to join us.
I have commented a number of blogs on H.R. 3, so sorry if this is considered inapprorpriate. It is extremist opinions like those expressed in H.R. 3 that drove me away from the anti-choice movement. I think H.R. 3 is misogynist and classist (because the wealthy can pay for their abortions).
As a Canadian who doesn’t have twitter, I feel frustrated a lot of the time that I don’t know how to add my voice to issues like this one… any ideas on how a non-American can help?
@skara
I find that sharing links on Facebook, emailing them to American friends and just doing what I can do spread the knowledge as far out as I can is helping. Hope that helps!
Skara,
Donating money to pro-choice orgs is always important, as is donating money to any group that is trying to fight this law and work on behalf of women’s reproductive rights.
Astrid,
Did you used to be active in the anti-choice movement? I would love to hear your story if that’s the case! Maybe a guest post? Or you can just leave a comment!
I am one of those annoying people on facebook always posting political things. I posted yesterday a link to the petition against this. I have no idea if people actually pay attention to what I post but it’s worth a try. I hate when facebook “friends” write statuses voicing their opinions about it or battling it out with others whose opinions differ but yet do nothing that actually matters. I’m so glad you encourage people to take action about this!!!
The case of Russell Williams in Canada showed in a chilling manner that rape is rape, and all rape is forced, in the stories of two of his victims: one fought back physically with all her might – and he murdered her. Another fought back mentally with all her might (she complied, with the hope that he would let her go eventually) – and he murdered her too. Under this Bill, the first would be regarded as rape, and the second would not. That is, supposing the victims survived…
mischiefmanager,
You asked, “Think we’d be seeing the same kind of thing if male rape victims could get pregnant?”
Nope, the politicians would just continue to ignore us or openly mock us, like 99% of society. Per the norm.
Any type of hierarchy of survivorhood is an insult to all survivors, regardless of gender or circumstance with regard to their attacks and attackers.