Sunday, August 19, 2012

What we need to know.

Y'all. Forgive me, but it's about to get real in here. Uber-dudes and conservatives may not want to read this, but I think they need to know this as much as, if not more, than all of us like-minded folks.

A fact of dating is sex, and a fact of sex is the possibility of pregnancy. If you're going to date, and you're going to fuck, you're going to be taking risks, and the only risk one should ever take is an informed one. Therefore, let me stand on my soapbox for a minute and talk about a few issues related to pregnancy in our world that have me worried.

I'd been thinking about writing a post on how undereducated so many of us are when it comes to sexually transmitted infections/diseases and pregnancy. We'll get there, but first we need to discuss the issue of U.S. Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO). He pulled this junk today: LA Times Story To save you the time of reading/watching, he stated in an interview this morning that in cases of "legitimate rape," a woman's body shuts down so it's very hard for a woman to get pregnant as a result of rape. If, heaven forbid, a woman's weak body backfires and she gets pregnant, then we should, of course, punish the rapist and not the baby.

Reading about this made me physically ill. That's usually an exaggeration, but I still feel a bit nauseated. This man wants to be one of our country's leaders - one of our 102 senators - and help shape policy, including the incredibly contested medical issues that we currently face. He obviously does not know how the female body works or pregnancy happens, so why should we let him help decide this?

Furthermore, how do let someone like Paul Ryan potentially be this country's next vice president? He supports Personhood USA, which propounds the idea that life begins at conception. That idea makes your average oral contraceptive verboten because it works to keep a fertilized egg from implanting. Yup - no more pills. Needless to say, he's against abortion of any form, fashion, or rationalization. He would also like you to say goodbye to rape crisis centers, Planned Parenthood, and any other assistance provided for those looking for low cost sexual healthcare.

That's where I really get concerned. In a recent study (reported on here by The Atlantic), a third of all babies born in the US were not planned for, and the biggest reason that happened is because these women thought it couldn't happen to them. Unwanted/unplanned/unprotected pregnancies are more likely to be underweight, have issues at birth, and suffer from the effects of a severe lack of prenatal care. So why let this happen? If it's easy and affordable to get contraception in the first place, people (men and women) are less likely to be unprepared for sex. If sex education is emphasized, people (men, women, and U.S. legislators) will know how our bodies work and just how easy it is to get pregnant. (Hint: There is no "safe" time, way, method, or place to have unprotected heterosexual intercourse and be guaranteed a baby won't result.)

If you're interested, google "war on women." It exists for real in the United States, and if you don't think so, you're not paying attention. This isn't a matter of feminism or class or anything else - it's your basic healthcare and wellbeing. If this doesn't get you on your toes, give me a few days until I can get some thoughts together on sexually transmitted disease and infections. Abortion and pregnancy are far from the only issues we face, especially as women.

Until then, do keep dating and having fun and living your lives, but please be safe!

HAPPY DATING!

(These are solely my views, and I don't speak for the other editors of DIW. However, I hope they and you chime in.)

56 comments:

as PLANE JANE said...

He is an imbecile.

Jack said...

Nice post. Thank you!

Chris Shepherd said...

Thankfully, it looks like the Ryan and Romney ticket is headed to the dustbin of history.

Lisa Shield said...

I know. It's all really sad and hard to watch. I wish there was more I could do. Maybe just speaking out and spreading the word will help prevent these douche bags from getting into office.

Hydro said...

Really diggin' this post! You're 100% correct, a lot of people aren't as educated as they should be. If they do take away the clinics like Planned Parent Hood we will be one fucked country with even more wild kids running around poppin' out kids. Really looking forward to your STD post and your thoughts on that.

Unknown said...

Why do conservatives like Ryan lack common sense! I'm astonished that some people even women actually agree with him. It's posts such as these that help to take the power back! Thanks for raising awarness on such a crucial issue.

Anonymous said...

Uh, there are only 100 senators last I checked, not 102.

Date Question said...

Ryan is always like this. He need to get some sense.

Date Question said...

Why is he always like this.

dateman said...

Ryan acts funny lots of time. It beats me hollow to see him act this way

London Escorts said...

How can You Miss HIV. I read a story where i girl get raped my a man who had HIV and she get infected.....sometimes in life God as created so many Big challenges for humans.

Anonymous said...

Great article.
BUT, from a Republican pov, you need to have these unplanned babies and resulting kids who don't get properly cared for and educated (I'm not saying that all unplanned kids are neglected, nor am I saying that no planned kids get a raw deal, just that the odds favour the unplanned, especially if the mother is very young).
How else are you going to preserve the labouring class? Who will work at your McDonalds, clean your offices and work in your warehouses? And most importantly, who would fill up all those private, for-profit jails that you have down there and are owned by their friends?
~A Canadian Observer

Jeanine Nicole said...

How could a man of his statue even be so ignorant. What school did he go to? Paul Ryan is a perfect example of the religious brain-washed who hide behind their religion for their lack of common sense.

Better yet let him be ignorant to the masses. A better chance of him not getting into the White House. Unfortunate my fear is that he's even made it this far and spread propaganda to more and more people! Wow! At a loss for words!!

It is and shall forever be a woman's right and a woman's choice! Not to be made by man.

YouMeetMe said...

I wonder why politicians are playing the game with women. But let me tell they don't preach what they mean and they don't mean what they preach... I know it's a vote bank.

FindLove said...

Nice article...
how do let someone like Paul Ryan potentially be this country's next vice president?

football at california state university sacramento said...

Yeah this blog is have a serious knowledge about dating. A fact of dating is sex, and a fact of sex is the possibility of pregnancy. That is true. But sometimes not at all people who wants to date someone wants to have sex. This concept is really interesting.

Anamika said...

Only way to solve this is HEALTH EDUCATION. Like serious Health Education(Not merely teaching about contraception) where everyone (especially women) are able to access full and UNDERSTANDABLE information regarding pregnancy, transmission of diseases, etc.

And for the mean time, I agree, Happy Dating :))

http://onlinedatingsiteblogger.blogspot.com said...

Thank you for such informative post. I am a new member on your blog and I like your style. Nowadays early pregnancy and different infections you can find very often, unfortunately. But I guess much depends on eduction and if your parents have been talking with you about sex, you know what means to risk during sex.

Danie laurie said...

uh huh..thats the flaws of dating specially online dating..but for those who found their match such a wonderful experience

Bob said...

He is an evil, evil, evil human being. Thanks for your perspective.

Julia said...

great article! this is really sad.

Athena said...

Since the time when having sex with your partner, married or not, became a norm, uncontrollable chaos like this arised.

Patrick said...

I'm the father of one of those unplanned pregnancies. Best mistake I ever made. Coincidently I wasn't planning on having children, but clearly nature had other ideas. I'm fortunate I didn't pick up any nasties, and I've learnt my lesson to never ever skip protection again.

darcy said...

You absolutely nailed it! It's almost as if they are testing us to see how many more "sheeple" they've collected into their mindless droves!

Dating Products Review said...

When it comes to dating and relationships slower is always better. Granted we don’t date for years and years, but we also don’t settle, neither do we feel pressurised into making a commitment.

Anonymous said...

haha people man.. do you really not know how your birth control works? Or at least i hope you dont consider Plan B to be your plan A in BC...Pot here's the kettle and allll that.

The Otakuologist said...

I feel ya man. Todd Akin is not the first one to espouse those views. There was a judge, I think he may have been on the Supreme Court, I'm not sure but he said that rape was impossible because the "juices" on a woman don't flow, or some crap like that.

Mike Spenceley said...

I find it sad how the woman is always left with the burden of an unplanned pregnancy. There should be more responsibility directed back on the father. It is really unfair on the child to not have or know his father.

Mike said...

It's so important for a child to have a good father figure in their lives. I feel for kids who grow up with only one parent.

Jeff said...

Gives good men a bad name, senseless.

Sam said...

Yes, agree with Hydro above. We need more education. It's only through awareness and education that we will proceed forwards.

Mike Sorento said...

Too True!

Tilly said...

I agree with Elle

Sam S said...

@ Michael. Well said. Children need a father!

Sanyukta said...

yes agree with this.... Nice post...

Jacy Williams said...

yes, I agree with this...Nice post.

Sandra said...

No one ever said politicians were smart... and this tends to prove the point.

Ultimate power doesn't mean you have to have too many brain cells to rub together!

Lisa Stafford said...

Thank you for the word of caution.

Cheryl said...

Couldn't agree more.
Thumbs up for all the good points.

Cheryl said...

Couldn't agree more.
Thumbs up for all the good points.

Christy said...

I've seen it time and time again how some people use religion for strategic advantage. This post reminds me of a friend whose husband was having an affair. She caught him studying the Bible which was totally out of character for him. Later, when the affair was discovered, he explains to her that the woman he was having an affair with was a Christian and whould not have sex with anyone who was not a Christian. Please note, the other woman was married and she knew the man was married to. God and religion was created to justify our feelings of intitlement.

Online Dating said...

Yeah this is really true "A fact of dating is sex, and a fact of sex is the possibility of pregnancy"

Cindy said...

the truth has been told. like it a lot

James said...

Great post.
What kind of an imbecile could actually believe that a rape victim is less likely to become pregnant than anyone else?
That is just far beyond stupid.

Val said...

Excellent post! Thanks very much for bringing to our attention just one example of the multitude of misinformation that is out there.

Richard said...

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but someone in a prominant position really needs to stop and think before opening their mouth.
Being a politician shouldn't be an excuse for making wild comments.

Ted said...

It's nice looking in retrospect and seeing that everyone reasonable has disavowed that ludicrous comment!

Tao System said...

If more guys took the time to wear a condom, the world would be a lot safer from transmitted disease.

Anonymous said...

Most birth control pills stop you from ovulating. Some of the implants make impregnation impossible. Others create a hostile environment by changing the ph balance.

Janice said...

He is terrifying. But the pill prevents the release of an egg not the implantation of a fertilized egg. You are thinking of the morning after pill.

DWFF said...

Banning abortion and denying rape are retrogressive steps.If we start to impose religious laws on a secular society,then we are not being sensitive to diverse opinions in our society.

STDs are real but they are easily forgotten during the midst of pleasure.Couples who are looking towards a bright future together will not shy away from using protection.However,there are some ill-informed people who think asking or demanding protection is a sign of not trusting your partner i.e.lack of love.

DWFF said...

Banning abortion and denying rape are retrogressive steps.If we start to impose religious laws on a secular society,then we are not being sensitive to diverse opinions in our society.

STDs are real but they are easily forgotten during the midst of pleasure.Couples who are looking towards a bright future together will not shy away from using protection.However,there are some ill-informed people who think asking or demanding protection is a sign of not trusting your partner i.e.lack of love.

Conie said...

Nice post!! thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

Good Post. I would like to share my thought that, everybody want SEX but they do not want any emotional drama,they want No String Attached Sex. In Dating, people do not have any emotional melodrama.

Ray said...

"Legitimate Rape"? wow! whan an Ahole!

John said...

That's a nice post... anyway we all know the risks of pregnancy and STD but nowadays we have very efficient ways to prevent them and it's just a matter of using them or not... A lot still needs to be done with education!