Women's Issues

Looking through the text of the bill, while I'm not seeing the "outlawing abortion" part, I am seeing how this could raise the same questions about whether or not this would criminalize miscarriage, or certain types of birth control that prevent implantation after conception

It looks like it's supposed to be one of those things where they tack on additional charges if the fetus dies after assault or something, but it's REALLY badly worded.

edited 12th Mar '13 10:00:02 PM by DrunkGirlfriend

They've already banned abortion after 12 weeks. Various congressmen, including Rapert said they wouldn't rest until Arkansas was the first state to eliminate abortion. They are also redefining rape (which is drastically under reported and prosecuted even by national standards.)

Yes, the crazies are here and they're in office.

Oh no, I get that. I just don't see anything in this specific bill that's that terrible.

Of course, this isn't the entirety of the legal code, so it may very well play off the specific wording in the legislation banning abortions after 12 weeks. Eg, that law says something along the lines of "abortion is banned in the case of an 'unborn child' as defined in §§ 5-10-101 — 5-10-105". In which case, this would be changing the definition of "unborn child" in §§ 5-10-101 — 5-10-105 to "any human offspring".

How are they redefining rape?

The problem with these new antiabortion laws is there is no exemption for rape or incest. A congressman named Mayberry attempted to add that in back in February, but it was voted down.

So now they have this ban, but now they have to try and figure out how they are going to work out a rape exception without allowing abortion. So now there are various proposals to make it harder to declare rape. Some have argued loosening the age of consent (it's currently 16.) Some have argued to change the age gap in statatory rape situations to make it more accessible for older people to have sex with younger people. There is also the motion to decriminalize inscest if both parties are over a certain age range, but the members can't decide what age is acceptable. Some say 16 due to age of consent, others don't.

It's a damn mess.

I always felt the incest exception was a bit redundant if there was a rape exception. Then again it is the south...

I don't suppose anyone has any good news to lighten the mood?

edited 12th Mar '13 11:19:38 PM by joeyjojo

Texas might be backpedaling on the cuts to Planned Parenthood. I'm kind of skeptical, personally, but the consequences are becoming clear here. I just hope it results in long term, actually helpful change.

So has any heard of this?

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jludRDnJa6Xc3TPiZ6SMZbrJaSOA

http://minivannews.com/politics/15-year-old-rape-victim-deserves-flogging-for-crime-of-fornication-adhaalath-party-53861

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/sentenced-to-100-lashes-in-the-maldives-15yearold-girl-raped-by-stepfather-who-then-murdered-baby-8513293.html

It's about a 15 year old rape victim being punished with a 100 lashes for the 'crime of fornication. It's kind of turned into a shit storm. There is also a petition out now calling for the girl's sentence to be changed:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Prevent_a_rape_victim_from_being_punished/?wvpCEcb

I wish that I could be surprised from this but I am not. This area of the world is very much troubled by religious fundamentalism, both from Islamic, Hindu, and Christian backgrounds.

I wish I could also be surprised that the male isn't being flogged for adultery and incest as he is eligible for on top of the actual criminal charges. What most outsiders don't know is Islam actually condones the punishments of men equal to that of women. It's just most people who choose to enforce Shar'ia law magically forget that aspect.

Most religious systems are meant to be for the overall good. Islam is no different. It's what people do with these institutions that makes it problematic and disgusting.

In less depressing news the Pakistani schoolgirl the Taliban shot in the head for trying to read is making a good recovery and recently a become a Nobel Prize nominate.

I bet who ever shot her feels like a right twat now.

edited 4th May '13 3:30:18 PM by joeyjojo

Who hooo!

That is nifty!

Not that the Nobel Prize matters much anymore, but this girl, despite having a heartwarming and meaningful story, should not be receiving a Nobel Peace Prize. She just hasn't done anything. Back when the prize actually mattered, it was about a lifetime commitment to bringing about peace, not getting shot on the way to school.

Wasn't she shot because of her campaigning for education for girls?

Malala Yousufzai is a teen civil rights advocate who has petitioned and sent news stories to the western world to allow Pakistani girls the right to an education. She was shot because she refused to stop accepting interviews and trying to get involvement for her cause.

What , and said. She isn't some kid who got randomly shot on the way to school, she's a teenage civil rights campaigners who the Taliban tried to assassinate.

That makes much more sense. Looks like I didn't look into the issue enough. While it's still hardly peace, it's certainly genuine activism. I withdraw my earlier comment and plead ignorance as my defense.

She's still working towards her charitable and activist goals, you know. Even a near-death experience hasn't stopped her. If anything, it's given her far more of a platform and she seems keen to use it.

Yup: guy who fired that bullet? Scored an own-goal at the same time. Well done, chum.

Ulta does have a point about if the peace prize is the right one though. I'm sure we'd all agree that she deserves some kind of recognition, but the peace prize is meant to be about peace between nations. Still on many levels the peace prize isn't about peace anymore, after all, 5 of the awards since 2000 have specifically mentioned Human Rights as part of the reasoning for them reviving the award (another one mentioned Women's rights specifically and another one mentioned "advancing economic and social opportunities for the poor, especially women").

Her getting an award like that, and all the monatary, social, and educational oppertunities is going to not only be a blow to the Taliban, but a wake up call to the world.

I think she is a far more suited canadiate than say, Barak Obama.

It depends on how we define the prize, if we stick with the original definition of it being a prize for people who contribute to peace between nations then I'm afraid her work doesn't fit. However if we instead define the prize as what it's become, as being for contributing to the betterment of humanity, then she certainly deserves it more then plenty of people who've received it.

Edit: Actually... thinking about it her work does fit with the original definition. Even without going into how equality naturally breads more stable and peace loving governments. Her work is pretty much in direct opposition of the Taliban, resulting in them having less power and thus being less able to damage global peace.

edited 16th Mar '13 9:10:40 PM by Silasw

@Euodiachloris:

All he had to to was take out a school girl and he managed to mess that up. I don't think the Taliban are happy with him.

Honestly those countries that flog rape victims and treat women like shit...

I wish we could carpet bomb the fuck out out of them. See how their outdated and frankly fucked up views against women hold up to high explosive ordinance.

Sadly we can't do that. Best we can do is educate them against such backwards views.

Because, of course, the best way to improve the lot of women in the Maldives is to drop bombs on their heads.

It's worth remembering that such countries often have their own womens-rights movements, difficult as it may be for them to operate, and it's generally best to support them and let them take the lead. They usually have the best idea of what they need, after all.

edited 17th Mar '13 1:10:33 AM by Iaculus

Oops wrong thread

edited 17th Mar '13 7:31:45 AM by joeyjojo

A discussion on the current state of child brides.

It's one of the better discussions I have heard in a while. The UN is trying to see about chartering measures, but as one commentator points out there are often laws against this already, things are just not being enforced.

Here is a link to help find charities centered on this issue.