Posts Categorized: Uncategorized
Demi-What?
Demisexual: “a person who does not experience sexual attraction unless they form a strong emotional connection with someone.” Is this term new for you? It was new for me not too long ago, so don’t feel bad if you don’t recognize it. I stumbled across the term on tumblr—a place where I have learned many new words and definitions—and, curious, looked it up. And after I read the definition, I had to read it again. And again. And then I looked up more and more about demisexuality because finally, finally, finally, I had found the word that described my sexuality. I had never been sexually attracted to a stranger. I had never had passing thoughts of what it would be like to have sex with an acquaintance. In general, while… Read more »
Reducing the Stigma: Stop Blaming Mass Shootings on Mental Illness
As yet another mass shooting occurs, we are faced with the same bullshit excuse that we hear every time a white man commits one of these heinous acts; it must be mental illness. I am SO tired of the media throwing the mentally ill under the bus as a cop-out to avoid discussing the real issues of gun control and toxic masculinity in America. A Salon article written by Arthur Chu (which is actually the article that inspired me to write this post) discusses how after the Sandy Hook incident the NRA claimed that creating a national registry of firearms owners was a threat to the safety of the citizens, but a registry of the mentally ill was acceptable. Chu goes on to say, We’ve successfully created a world so… Read more »
Female Genital Mutilation as a Domestic Issue
Recently my URGE chapter at Wichita State hosted the president and founder of the Keep Girls Safe Foundation Sien Lengeju. Keep Girls Safe’s work is focused on ending female genital mutilation (FGM) in Kenya and here in the States. Before hosting the presentation, I was slightly aware of the issue across the Atlantic but completely ignorant to the problem in our own country, and I know many others are just like me in this. So I want to share a little bit of what I learned to help spread awareness for Keep Girls Safe’s cause. There are three common terms for FGM which are female genital mutilation, female circumcision, and female genital cutting. Each term carries its own respective connotation that give a different meaning to the human rights violation…. Read more »
They Can’t Hyde It From Us
Today marks the anniversary of a dark day in America’s history. On September 30th, 1976, the Hyde Amendment was passed. If you’re friends on social media with anybody with the slightest interest in reproductive justice, I’m sure you’ll hear about this today, and maybe you already know what it is, but if you’re curious, I’ll answer your questions now. Let’s start with the basics. What is the Hyde Amendment? The Hyde Amendment bans federal funding of abortions, with Medicaid being the primary target. Exceptions are made for rape, incest, and danger to the mother’s life. Well that doesn’t seem so bad. Maybe it’s a budget thing. Hasn’t Medicaid funding been banned for other conditions? Actually, no. Abortion is the “only procedure that has ever been banned from Medicaid.” Can’t people find… Read more »
The Importance of Planned Parenthood in a College Community
As a college student, living paycheck-to-paycheck, I understand the importance of affordable healthcare. I am lucky enough to still be on my parent’s health insurance which covers my current method of birth control. I am privileged beyond compare by this alone, but not everyone is so lucky. College is a time specifically known for growth and struggle. I mean, we hear people constantly referring to life in college revolving around being able to afford nothing but ramen noodles and cereal for dinner every night. It’s no surprise that if college aged students can barely afford their meals, that they probably struggle with paying for their medical needs as well. This is what Planned Parenthood is here for. Planned Parenthood works towards offering healthcare to those without insurance, to those who… Read more »
Planned Parenthood Sues Alabama Governor Over Cut Medicaid Contract
Not a month after being sued for removing a Confederate flag from the grounds of the state capitol, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley is once again being taken to court, this time by Planned Parenthood. Amid national controversy concerning an anti-choice video claiming that the organization sells fetal tissue — a video that has been repeatedly criticized for heavy editing that misrepresents the content of the video by independent transcribers — Bentley canceled the state’s Medicaid contract with the organization. The case began its hearings last week. The suit against Bentley is being reviewed by a federal judge. A similar recent case in Arkansas may inform the Judge’s decision, as well as an ongoing suit in Louisiana. Planned Parenthood also receives $500 million annually from the federal government, funding that has been repeatedly… Read more »
#ShoutYourAbortion and Questions of Morality
If you’ve been paying attention to the news lately and paying attention to social media, I hope you’ve noticed the sad dilemma of threats from Congress to defund Planned Parenthood. Last week, by a 287-147 vote, the House of Representatives voted to pass a bill that would defund what is said to be the nation’s largest reproductive health provider. Wednesday began the process of one of several planned hearings on the heels of undercover videos from anti-abortion activists who claim Planned Parenthood benefited from the sale of fetal tissue. The hearing, which was entitled “Examining the Horrific Abortion Practices at the Nation’s Largest Abortion Provider,” did not allow any representatives from Planned Parenthood to attend, which was called ‘political theater at its’ worst.’ The bill might die in the Senate… Read more »
The Little-Known Problem of Chemical Pregnancies
She came up to me before class on a Tuesday afternoon with tears in her eyes. “Can I talk to you about something?” she asked quietly. I was taken aback; this was a girl I had only met a couple months earlier in the very classroom we were waiting outside of, who I spoke to twice a week, and whose last name I didn’t know, yet I was the person she chose to turn to during a time of crisis. She was clearly upset, so I nodded, and she said those two words that can be spoken with great joy or harrowing fear: “I’m pregnant.” My natural, knee-jerk reaction was to gasp. And then I asked the typical and insensitive question: “Are you sure?” She started to cry then and… Read more »
My Armpits, My Choice: An Open Letter
Dear everyone that I’ve caught staring at the patches of hair under my arms, You aren’t mistaken; there is DEFINITELY hair there. You can stop staring now. The incessant looking me over after seeing the patches of brown growing beneath my armpits, making sure that I am in fact a female, is both unnecessary and rude. And before you get all defensive saying that I’m “only doing it for attention” and am therefore asking for your gaze, please recognize that the world doesn’t in fact revolve around you and this is a choice I’ve made for myself. I’m sorry to be so hostile, one just grows tired of the looks of disgust (that our male counterparts rarely receive for their body hair) and rude comments about hygiene and femininity. (Which… Read more »
Bisexuality and Queer Policing
This Saturday kicked off my town’s week long pride festival. It was a small outdoor concert and variety show at our town’s Native American center. It was full of great organizational tables, good local food, and good music. The MC was a black trans woman who was fabulous; the whole event was pretty fabulous. Overall, it was a super inclusive community event that even included a couple of drag kings. There was one point with a call and answer part where they would call out an orientation or gender and that respective group would cheer back. It was a great way to pep up the crowd, and it worked. Unfortunately one group was left out. No, not straight allies. They were recognized, too. Bisexual men and women didn’t even get… Read more »
