WTF OTD: 66% of Rhode Island Domestic Violence Cases Are Dismissed

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Photo credit: European Parliament / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND

This piece is part of a daily “What the Fuck of the Day” series here on Antigone Awakens, where I briefly discuss one thing each day that has me seriously saying, WTF?!?!

This story popped up in my Feedly google alerts feed (side note: if y’all aren’t using Feedly, start using it, like yesterday) today, and my eyes almost fell out of my head.

TWO THIRDS of domestic violence cases in Rhode Island are dismissed. TWO THIRDS?!?!?! As a domestic violence survivor and advocate, I can’t begin to describe how troubling I find this.

And the problem isn’t just that an individual offense isn’t being prosecuted and the effect that individual denial might have on a survivor/victim’s safety. It’s that, without prior convictions, it’s difficult to show a pattern of abuse that can lead to longer sentences / protection orders that keep survivors/victims more safe.

Seriously, Rhode Island, WTF?!

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WTF OTD – Rape Conviction Overturned Because Victim’s Sexual History Not Revealed

I’m sorry – what?

A Zimbabwean national was convicted of raping a woman in Ireland in 2008. It was recently discovered that the woman told prosecutors that, prior to being with her boyfriend, she had briefly dated a few of her boyfriend’s friends and engaged in intercourse with them. And because this fact wasn’t revealed at trial (that the woman had engaged in intercourse with her boyfriend’s friends while dating them), her rapist’s conviction was overturned and he is now able to seek damages.

W.T.F.

Since when is a survivor’s sexual history of ANY relevance to whether or not a given sexual encounter is consensual or not?

Again, W.T.F.

How the Anti-Choice community created a monster.

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Reblogged from Si vis pacem, Para bellum:

Kermit Gosnell is the inevitable result of Anti-choice legislation.

This was a man who exploited a system built to stigmatize poverty-stricken women seeking abortion. Anti-abortion laws have ensured that women who live in poverty receive no extra funding for abortions with the Hyde Amendment. They’ve supported mandatory waiting periods for abortion which ensures that women have to take days off of work which inevitably leads to income instability.

WTF OTD: Less than 1/3 of States Require ER’s to Tell Sexual Assault Survivors About Emergency Contraception

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I just came across this graphic in my feedly google alerts and I.am.STUNNED.

I knew this was a problem, but I didn’t know it was this large of a problem. Only sixteen states plus DC require emergency room personnel to inform sexual assault survivors about emergency contraception, and only TWELVE plus DC require them to dispense it.

WTF kind of world are we living in where we demonize women for having abortions, but refuse to help them prevent pregnancy, even when they are sexually assaulted????

Till next time,

- H

p.s. Ohio, what’s up with you? Get your shite together.

On Personhood, Fetal Homicide, And The Cleveland Kidnappings

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Last Thursday, Cuyahoga County prosecutor Timothy McGinty announced he would be attempting to persuade the grand jury to indict Ariel Castro for “each act of aggravated murder he committed by terminating pregnancies that the offender perpetuated against the hostages during this decade-long ordeal.”

His announcement has drawn speculation from both sides of the abortion rights debate, with prochoice advocates concerned that prosecuting Ariel Castro could lead to an infringement upon a woman’s right to access abortion services, and antichoice advocates claiming victory concerning fetal personhood. Continue reading →

WTF OTD – Using Sex to Sell Pap Smears???

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Came across this Singaporean ad on Buzzfeed and had my WTF moment for the day:

“Lift your skirt. Save your life.”

Wow – copywriters and editors are really hitting home runs this week, aren’t they? SMDH.

While I don’t deny that the ad is eye-catching (it’s hard not to notice the iconic imagery), I can’t believe that the copy or the image made it into final print. As a cervical cancer survivor, I can agree that promoting awareness and screening is incredibly important. But voyeuristically using women’s sexuality to accomplish those goals? That gets a gigantic WTF from me. You can get your message across without dehumanizing women, kthxbai.

Till next time,

- H

p.s. FTR, I feel the same way about breast cancer awareness programs like “save the tatas” – that shite’s offensive.

Antigone Awakens

Occasionally sarcastic commentary on all things related to women's rights from a policy advocate, grassroots organizer, and sometimes attorney

WTF OTD: 66% of Rhode Island Domestic Violence Cases Are Dismissed

How the Anti-Choice community created a monster.

WTF OTD: Less than 1/3 of States Require ER’s to Tell Sexual Assault Survivors About Emergency Contraception

On Personhood, Fetal Homicide, And The Cleveland Kidnappings

WTF OTD – Using Sex to Sell Pap Smears???

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