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meridian_roseUntil very recently I wouldn't have thought of myself as politically minded. But the Internet has made it easier to get involved with campaigns, and has made it easier to be aware of what's going on. I'm also seeing a backlash against all the gains I took for granted growing up, with homophobia, misogyny, racism and trans-hate becoming more prevalent.
A short while ago a UK MP, Nadine Dorris, tried to propose changes to reproductive health care that would have resulted in pregnant people requesting/needing an abortion to receive extra, mandatory, counselling. It was discovered that this was religiously motivated and despite her claims that the counselling would be 'unbiased' that one of the major providers putting themselves forward was an anti-abortion charity with direct links to pious Christian Dorris. The Bill was thrown out in a humiliating defeat.
Unfortunately, Dorris isn't done yet. Now she's trying to propose 'abstinence only education' in our schools. Worse, this would only be for 'girls' - that is, any female bodied student. Because there's nothing to prop up the victim blaming rape culture where a woman's only inherent worth is in her virginity - which MUST be surrendered when she inevitably marries - like abstinence only education.
I want sexual education to say 'it's okay to not have sex'. I want asexuality to be discussed as a valid orientation. I want real discussion about gender identity. I want emphasis on 'don't rape' rather than 'don't get yourself raped'. I want discussions about bodily autonomy and communication and respect and personal boundaries and how this applies in all relationships. But I don't want to see some ridiculous ideal of Purity taught in schools.
I also read an article recently on how abstinence education in the USA not only hasn't been effective but actually helps promote bullying because of the rigid gender roles and sexual expressions it holds up as ideals along with victim blaming and slut-shaming:
http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2012/01/03/did-abstinence-only-ideology-create-bully-generation
I'm just venting. I've emailed to my MP for all the good I think it will do, but that's not something I would have done a year or so ago. I'm just angry that so many people seem determined to turn back to the clock.
A short while ago a UK MP, Nadine Dorris, tried to propose changes to reproductive health care that would have resulted in pregnant people requesting/needing an abortion to receive extra, mandatory, counselling. It was discovered that this was religiously motivated and despite her claims that the counselling would be 'unbiased' that one of the major providers putting themselves forward was an anti-abortion charity with direct links to pious Christian Dorris. The Bill was thrown out in a humiliating defeat.
Unfortunately, Dorris isn't done yet. Now she's trying to propose 'abstinence only education' in our schools. Worse, this would only be for 'girls' - that is, any female bodied student. Because there's nothing to prop up the victim blaming rape culture where a woman's only inherent worth is in her virginity - which MUST be surrendered when she inevitably marries - like abstinence only education.
I want sexual education to say 'it's okay to not have sex'. I want asexuality to be discussed as a valid orientation. I want real discussion about gender identity. I want emphasis on 'don't rape' rather than 'don't get yourself raped'. I want discussions about bodily autonomy and communication and respect and personal boundaries and how this applies in all relationships. But I don't want to see some ridiculous ideal of Purity taught in schools.
I also read an article recently on how abstinence education in the USA not only hasn't been effective but actually helps promote bullying because of the rigid gender roles and sexual expressions it holds up as ideals along with victim blaming and slut-shaming:
http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2012/01/03/did-abstinence-only-ideology-create-bully-generation
I'm just venting. I've emailed to my MP for all the good I think it will do, but that's not something I would have done a year or so ago. I'm just angry that so many people seem determined to turn back to the clock.
