Tag Archives: contraception

Meet Lila Rose, Anti-Abortion Crusader & Co-Opter Of Feminism

Jessica WakemanApril 9, 2012 //

Lila Rose, a twentysomething anti-abortion activist who conducts “sting” operations on Planned Parenthood, penned a piece last week for the news site Politico about the voice she says has been absent from the debate over women’s health care: “that of the anti-abortion feminist.”

Now, it’s not a news that a feminist would also be opposed to abortion; there have always been feminists who have made the individual choice not to have an abortion when presented with an unwanted pregnancy. The problem is when women who call themselves feminists and are also anti-abortion try to climb into my bed, my OB/GYN office, my medical records, and tell me what to do — women like Lila Rose, who writes:

We are women who view the intentional killing of children not as a constitutional right, a matter of privacy or a necessary evil but, rather, as profoundly anti-woman and the antithesis of love. … We are women who believe that something precious is lost when fertility is intentionally excluded from marriage, a sacred bond and a total giving of each spouse to the other. We are women who believe that sex and pregnancy aren’t just health issues; they are also inextricably linked with family, morals, faith and values. And we are women who love everything about being a woman, including being mothers. Keep reading »

“Women Don’t Care About Contraception,” SC Governor Nikki Haley Claims

Jessica WakemanApril 3, 2012 //

BC For Everybody

Health insurers are required to offer birth control without co-pays. Read More »

Birth Control Idiocy

Birth control "just costs a few dollars," says expert Rick Santorum. Read More »

2012 Election

All of The Frisky's posts about the 2012 election. Read More »

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If you thought it was just dude politicians who were tone deaf on women, think again: South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley visited “The View” today and declared, “Women don’t care about contraception.”

Oh jeez Louise. Keep reading »

Susan Sarandon Is More Sensible On Birth Control Than Many Of Our Elected Officials

Jessica WakemanMarch 16, 2012 //

Susan Pole Dances

Susan Sarandon poledances with her daughter Eva Amurri. 8 Photos »

Susan & Tim Split

Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon are no more. Read More »

Susan Calls Pope "Nazi"

Tell us how you really feel, Susan Sarandon. Read More »

“I don’t understand how you can be so anxious to populate the world with children who can’t afford to get an education or are going hungry. It’s wonderful to have a family but it takes money. We’re in an election right now where there’s a lot of talk about how the government is not supposed to make it easy for you to get health care, education, food, or any of the things you need to give a child a chance to be a contributing member of society. I don’t understand how that works? If you don’t have control over your reproductive system as a woman, then who steps in to help you? Clearly, abstinence doesn’t work, and we’re living in an age where a lot of gentlemen don’t take responsibility for the children they’re so happy to give to women. So who helps? … Are the Republicans suggesting that they take care of all the children that are born when you don’t have birth control available to you when you’re a poor woman? Do these guys not understand what it takes to raise a child, financially and time-wise? They sound like complete idiots!”

– Susan Sarandon reminds me why she’s my favorite feminist in Hollywood (and not just because she played the mom in the “Little Women” remake). Elsewhere in this interview she calls Rush Limbaugh “a Barnum & Bailey showman” who “doesn’t care who he endangers or what it means” and when asked about dating her much-younger business partner after she split from Tim Robbins, goes off on the double standard against sexual women. She’s also playing “four or five different men” in a movie version of the novel Cloud Atlas, which sounds wild. LOVE HER. [The Daily Beast]

Today’s Lady News: 11 Advertisers Drop Rush Limbaugh’s Show

Jessica WakemanMarch 5, 2012 //

As of this evening, 11 advertisers, including corporate biggie AOL, have dropped their $$$ from Rush Limbaugh’s show after he called a woman a “prostitute” and “slut” on air. [Think Progress]
Could — and would — Sandra Fluke sue Rush? [The Daily Beast]
Women earn less then men at every education level, according to a new report by the U.S. Census Bureau. [GOOD]
Riot police arrested 31 non-violent demonstrators yesterday who were protesting against Virginia’s new law that forces a woman seeking an abortion to undergo an ultrasound first. (A previous iteration of this law would have forced women to have an invasive transvaginal ultrasound.) [Feministing] Keep reading »

Sandra Fluke Talks Rush Limbaugh’s ‘Slut’ Smear On “The View”

Jessica WakemanMarch 5, 2012 //

Advertisers Drop Rush

A number of advertisers have dropped Rush Limbaugh. Read More »

Limbaugh's Insult

The conservative host calls Sandra Fluke a "slut." Read More »

Sausagefest

Congress convened an all-male panel to talk about ladybusiness. Read More »

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Sandra Fluke, the Georgetown University Law student who was called a “slut” and a “prostitute” by Rush Limbaugh last week, appeared on “The View” this morning. She utterly floored me with her articulation, composure and professionalism.

Three weeks ago, Fluke was barred from testifying to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committe about women’s access to affordable birth control. Instead an all-male panel trashed President Obama’s compromise on health care reform that if religiously-affiliated employers won’t pay for contraception for their employees, insurers must pick up the cost themselves. Sandra Fluke was later given an opportunity to testify to a group of Democrats, although it was not official, in which she explained how female students at Georgetown are struggling to pay the cost of birth control. Rush Limbaugh then attacked her on air, calling her a “slut” and a “prostitute,” and demanded she post videos of herself having sex online. Keep reading »

Senate Defeats Blunt Amendment Allowing Employers, Insurers To Opt Out Of Paying For Birth Control

Jessica WakemanMarch 1, 2012 //

A Compromise

Obama tries to settles birth control debate in health care reform. Read More »

Birth Control? Boooo!

Crowd boos birth control at GOP debate. Watch »

Birth Control Idiocy

Birth control "just costs a few dollars," says expert Rick Santorum. Read More »

Earlier today, the Senate narrowly defeated a proposal called the Blunt Amendment that would have allowed employers and health care insurers to opt out of paying for birth control (and other medical services) if it is contrary to their religious beliefs. The vote was 51 to 48, with Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine the sole Republican to support it.

Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) proposed this amendment in response to the Obama administration’s decision that if a religiously affiliated employer refuses to cover the cost the cost of birth control, the tab must be picked up by the insurer. Democrats countered that Obama’s compromise should suffice and that the Blunt amendment would give employers power to make medical decisions for their employees. Keep reading »

Hey, Boss, May I Please Go On The Pill?

Jessica WakemanMarch 1, 2012 //

You’ve probably read — on The Frisky or elsewhere — that religious employers are at odds with the Obama administration over the requirement, under the health care reform law, that insurers cover the cost of birth control if the employer itself — say, a Catholic school — refuses. These employers say it’s against their conscience to have insurers that cover birth control (despite the fact many do already, anyway). Now, someone cheeky over at the Tumblr for Obama’s reelection campaign mocked up this permission slip so employees can ask their bosses for permission to take contraception. Thankfully I work at The Frisky, where having lotsa sex and not getting preggo before you’re ready is encouraged! [BarackObama.Tumblr.com]

Today’s Lady News: Women More Likely To Support Obama’s Birth Control Decision

Jessica WakemanFebruary 29, 2012 //

Women are more likely than men to support President Obama’s mandate that insurers cover the cost of birth control, according to a new poll of registered voters by Poll Position. Forty-six percent of women supported the mandate, compared to only 37 percent of men. Anyone else surprised these numbers are so low? [UPI]
Senator Olympia Snowe, a moderate Republican, announced she will not be seeking reelection. [New York Times]
A Michigan school district has introduced a new comprehensive sex ed program that will discuss homosexuality and transgender issues with 4th and 5th graders. This has Gretchen Carlson of Fox News very upset that kids are learning “explicit sex.” [Think Progress] Keep reading »

Today’s Lady News: More Birth Control Pills Recalled

Jessica WakemanFebruary 28, 2012 //

Birth control pills made by Glenmark Generics are being recalled because some of the active/non-active pills have been placed in the wrong order. Check at the link to see if one of your packets of pills has been recalled and use another form of birth control in the meantime! [MSNBC]
An Alabama lawmaker is backing off his support for an anti-abortion “transvaginal ultrasound” bill, which is similar to the one which caused an uproar recently in Virginia. [Talking Points Memo]
Virginia’s state Senate has advanced a bill mandating women receive an ultrasound before an abortion. (Previously the language of this bill would have required women to have an invasive “transvaginal ultrasound,” but that has since been dropped.) A Democratic state senator proposed an amendment that would require the state to pay for the exam if she cannot afford it, that insurance be required to cover it, and that a woman not be required to have an ultrasound if her doctor tells her the fetus has severe abnormalities. The Republican majority rejected all those suggestions, but did add an exception for rape and incest claims that have been reported to police. [MSNBC] Keep reading »

Obama Settles Birth Control Debate, Telling Insurers They Must Pick Up Tab If Employer Won’t

Jessica WakemanFebruary 13, 2012 //

Birth Control Victory

Birth control will be covered by most employers under health care reform. Read More »

Birth Control Lies

Rick Santorum says it "is not something you need insurance for." Read More »

Mitt On Morning After

Mitt Romney called the morning after pill "abortive pills." Read More »

Every woman will have access to birth control under the Obama administration’s latest decision regarding health care reform, which was meant to appease Catholic bishops who balked at a previous iteration of the rule. White House officials stated on Friday that insurers must create a policy that doesn’t offer coverage of contraceptives that can be used by religiously-affiliated employers that object. But insurers also have to offer a plan that covers contraceptives without co-pays or deductibles and they are required to reach out and offer it to women. Explicitly religious employers, such as houses of worship, are still exempt from covering contraception in their prescription plans. Keep reading »