Reclaiming Roe

I AM Planned Parenthood.

2012-02-01T20:56:00.003-05:00

Planned Parenthood was there. Planned Parenthood is there.
So many people misconstrue what Planned Parenthood really is and give them a bad name.
They call them the baby killers. They call it an abortion mill. GOP extremists are threatening to shut.it.down. What are they doing to women's health? They're putting it in their hands. They are putting it in their privileged, patriarchy supporting hands. But what does Planned Parenthood really do? For starters, only 3% of their services are abortion services. Three percent. NINETY SEVEN percent of what they do in unrelated to abortions. They help prevent unintended pregnancies. They test for STIs and cancers. They provide birth control. Many women who cannot afford regular health checkups use PP as their primary. I consider myself lucky to still have insurance under my parents. Many people my age or inn their young adult years do not have insurance. When I no longer can use my health insurance, where will I go? I take birth control to prevent horrible cramping I've had since puberty. I need the birth control pills to keep from being bedridden one week a month. That's 25% of a month that I would be unproductive to society if I couldn't afford my birth control. I'd be off from work, and then make even less. I will turn to Planned Parenthood, if I still can. If the right wing extremists don't make it impossible. I will not stand for attacks on women's health. I will not stand for attacks on my body. I will not stand for attacks on choice.

I AM Planned Parenthood.

I got 99 problems and society's cissexism is one.

2011-08-29T21:41:00.000-04:00

Transgenderism and cissexism is a sensitive topic, and I am doing my best to tread on this topic lightly, if anything needs to be corrected, feel free to let me know.

I take for granted my cisgender status every day. My biological sex and my gender identity coalesce into me being a female by societal and biological standards. However, there are those that do not feel at home into the sex that they were born. (Notice I am using the words sex and gender, as they are different concepts). Some people know that they don't fit into the sex unto which they were born and feel that they are of a different gender* Those that are transgender do not suffer from a mental disorder. Gender dysphoria is different than body dysmorphic disorder. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the APA, considers it a mental illness defined by four criteria. However, the DSMV is also the publication which once listed homosexuality as a disease. The APA is behind when it comes to social movement.

As I said, my cisgender status is something I take for granted. I am often not as cognizant of transphobia/cissexism, as I am of homophobia. Tonight, however, I realize how much we have to grow as a society.

Lady Gaga is known for her antics. She is the performer who released her "Judas" video during Lent and the performer who wore a dress made of meat. Tonight, at the 2011 VMAs, Lady Gaga performer her newest single "You and I" dressed as her alter ego, Jo Calderone. Lady Gaga is not transgender, but her performance has opened my eyes to cissexism among society. On the internet, I have read negative comments about women dressed as men. The negative comments towards her are similar to the bullying in which those that are transgender sometimes suffer. This is what got me thinking about the topic of cissexism. RMJ over at Deeply Problematic offers a great explanation of what cissexism is)

Watching the audience in his performance really shines a light on this: there is disgust and shock (however some pure love, as well).

Some of the comments, of the many, on Lady Gaga's performance that disturbed me:

"Justin Bieber is upset that lady gaga is more of a man than he is" First of all, in this sense we should not be saying her. We should say Jo and we should say he.

"What does the REAL Lady Gaga look like? Does anyone know? She's always flanked in meat and now looking like a man. #VMA"

"Lady Gaga is a better looking man than woman. She might want to get that operation......"

"Lady Gaga is one ugly dude!!! He sho can saaaang though!!!"

These comments make me sad, because these are people that don't understand. Those that are cisgender can be cruel, often without realizing it. These comments are most likely intended to be humorous, but they are projecting hate and cissexism. These people feel as though they are superior to those that are transgender or transsexual. Cissexism is a problem in society and we should aim to fix it, even if it means just starting with realizing what we ourselves are saying.

Below is the video of Jo performing "You and I."

Jo Calderone by caseycarlsonx1

*-For those reading and need some clarification on the difference of sex and gender. Sex is the physiological and biological characteristics someone is born with (generally we are born with the chromosomes of XX or XY, unless there is a chromosomal mutation). Gender is the socially constructed roles that are given to men and women.

What The Hell? Moment of The Week 4/24-4/30

2011-04-26T19:41:00.002-04:00

2011-03-30T15:15:00.001-04:00

Happy 10th anniversary of "Back-Up-Your-Birth-Control" Day!

image courtesy of the Back Up Your Birth Control Campaign

Prevent Kanye's Video Release

2011-01-20T19:34:00.006-05:00

Kanye is known as a great artist, both lyrically and with stage presence. He is also known for his controvery, from his Taylor Swift incident to "George Bush hates black people." But what happens when he takes his attitude to his videos? What happens when he expresses misogyny in his music, disseminating his message of male dominance?

This:

Kanye's teaser video for his song "Monster" was leaked recently, causing an outrage among many. Not only does this video objectify women by dressing them in skimpy clothing, but it objectifies women as objects of lust. This video shows West sitting in a room with dead women wrapped in chains. West makes sexual advances towards victims that are clearly dead or under the influence of drugs. Videos like this are seen by children and teens and it can project the image that sex is okay even if the person is drunk or drugged, although consent cannot be given. This is degrading and disgusting and must be stopped.

. Please sign the petition to prevent the release of this video This petition is sponsored by: Coalition Against Trafficking in Women Australia; Collective Shout; Adios Barbie

A Feminist Folly

2011-01-20T19:32:00.001-05:00

I started a full time job and let this blog fall by the wayside. So now it's time for another update!

Feminist Video Win

2010-08-23T14:35:00.002-04:00

Posted this on facebook a few weeks ago, but it just needs to be here, too.

I Want It! (Feminist Crafts on Etsy)

2010-08-22T15:47:00.004-04:00

Rosie the Riveter plush Uterus. $65
VulvaLoveLovely Etsy Shop

Facebook still okay with rape -- Quick Update

2010-08-22T01:19:00.008-04:00

The page that I blogged about over a month ago, "It isn't r.a.p.e...It's SURPRISE SEX. (:", is STILL up on Facebook. With now an overwhelming membership of 43,152 people. Some members have joined to protest the existence of the group, but there are still many people who see the group as a joke. The group for the deletion of the page has 6,550 members. These members also share their stories, one writing that she "was a victim, but not anymore" and another writing that she "is a survivor, no longer a victim."

What would those in the group think if they knew that 1.3 rapes occurred every minute? They think that they may be joking, but they are truly supporting the rape culture that is so etched into our society.

A little late on this...but

2010-08-21T21:57:00.003-04:00

I actively use twitter to receive prochoice news and sexual education news. One of the regular "pro-lifers" (aka antichoice) tweeters responded to my post saying: "You said, 'I'm #prochoice because I trust women.' Well I trust that women won't drive thru red lights. Shall we remove the lights?"

This man was Fr. Frank Pavone. I blew it off, a) because I don't engage the anti-choicers that often and b) he is a founder of an antichoice group known as Priests for Life.

Little did I know, this man was the one that "saved" Roe and received her into the Catholic church.

SNAP. Haters gonna hate.

Reclaiming Roe

2010-08-19T21:42:00.003-04:00

Why is this blog called Reclaiming Roe?

Roe V. Wade was the landmark case, the first true win for reproductive freedoms in the court. Norma L. McCorvey, also known as "Jane Roe" was the woman behind this case. She became pregnant and wanted an abortion, but could not legally obtain one unless it was a case of rape. The lack of police report/evidence meant she could not obtain the abortion.

So, why then would I call this blog Reclaiming Roe? The Prolife/antichoice camp boasts that "Roe has been saved" (image displayed at bottom via American Life League). Roe has turned to prolife. Norma L. McCorvey may have been the one that started Roe V. Wade, but she is not Roe. Prochoice must reclaim Roe as our own. Roe is choice. Roe is freedom. Roe is the single mother with four children who decides she cannot have another. Roe is the teenage girl who wants to continue on to college, but not with a baby. Roe is the married woman who finds out her fetus has a life-threatening condition and will not survive after birth. Roe is the students who believe in reproductive justice and sex education.

Facebook Is Cool With Sexual Violence

2010-07-13T22:06:00.005-04:00

Facebook is a place for people to get together, reconnect, and naturally, joke about rape. Wait a minute...what about that last one? On the social networking site there is a group entitled: "It isn't r.a.p.e.... It's SURPRISE SEX. (:" 6,000+ people are in this group. 6,000 people joking about an act that hurts men, women and children. Facebook has done away with other groups that are racist or give ideas of violence or criminal acts. Rape is a horrifying act in which it takes. According to RAINN, one in four women is assaulted. Would these people still be part of this group if they knew that this assault could happen to their mother, sister, daughter, or friend? How many of these people also participate in victim blaming? "She was asking for it dressed like that." No one asks to be raped. Rape is not "surprise sex." Sex is something that two consenting adults chose to do. Rape is not sex. Rape is unwanted. Rape is violence.

Link to group

Link to group demanding deletion of page. Join!

Real Life, Real Talk: What do you wish someone had told you about sex?

2010-07-08T20:13:00.004-04:00

Real Life. Real Talk. Syracuse, New York - Hitting the Streets from Todd Cross on Vimeo.

Real Life, Real Talk is a fabulous non-profit organization aimed towards creating an open and honest dialogue for parents and their children. I am a former intern of PPRSR (Planned Parenthood of the Rochester/Syracuse Region) and they are partnered with RLRT in Syracuse. This is a video filmed in Syracuse in which people answer the question: "What do you wish someone had told you about sex?"

This video is worth the watch.