Women who use birth control are sluts

At least that is what Rush Limbaugh would have us believe. This week, Rush got on his popular radio show, and as most of the world is now aware, and referred to Sandra Fluke, the law student who was barred from testifying about contraception before a congressional committee a slut and a prostitute. Why is Sandra being labeled such? She had the audacity to support the notion that women should have easier access to birth control. Because we all know that women who use birth control do so just so they can sleep around.

I am sick to death of the shaming of women that is currently going on. It extends beyond some idiot's comments calling a woman a slut for advocating for easier access to birth control. Last year, a police officer said that women who dress like sluts shouldn't be surprised when they are raped (I'm paraphrasing, but that was the general idea). The ensuing "slut walks" sought to raise awareness of sexual violence and point out that the way women are dressed is never a justification for sexual assault. The dialogue surrounding this original comment and the resulting "slut walks" ran the gamete of support to shaming to blaming. It is also evident in the proposed bills and legislation mandating that a woman seeking an abortion be given a transvaginal ultrasound (Virginia) or that a ultrasound must be performed and the images explicitly described by a doctor before an abortion can be performed with a 24 hour waiting period (Texas). Many other states are exploring similar legislation. I'm not interested in debating the morality of abortion, but what this says to me is that a woman and her doctor can not be trusted to make the right decision so we have to add these additional safe guards to help her choose "correctly". Because women can't be trusted to make an informed decision on their own or with their doctor about a legal medical procedure. And wanting to prevent an abortion or an unplanned pregnancy by making an informed and responsible decision to use birth control makes you a slut. We can't really win, can we?

And finally, if you want to read more about the double standard, you can find some more here.