VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan in front of The Michigan Senate.
I am woman; hear me roar. Girl power. Rosy The Riveter. Elizabeth Katy Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, Margaret Thatcher and Queen Elizabeth, Joan Didion and Dorothy Parker, Rosa Parks and Betsy Ross, Marie Curie and Maria Mitchell, and so on. There have been some really amazing women throughout history, but for every one I can name–politicians, philosophers, artists, writers, musicians, scientists, public perception influencers–I can name at least half a dozen men from the same field in the same era. It’s just the way it is.
I read a news story over the weekend about how two female legislators were banned from speaking on the Michigan House floor because they said the words vagina and vasectomy respectively. Specifically, one said, “I’m flattered that you’re all so interested in my vagina, but no means no.”
From that same article:
Just 20.9 percent of the lawmakers in the state Legislature are female, down from 24.3 percent in 2000. Michigan’s percentage of female state lawmakers is slightly lower than the national average of 23.6 percent for 2012, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
I find that data and the silencing of female House members distressing in a number of ways. First, Michigan is my home state. I like to think highly of it even though, deep down, I know it’s very schizophrenic. There are pockets of true blue amid swaths of red. As a female who was born, raised, educated and worked in Michigan for over 20 years, I can’t say that I noticed any sort of discrepancy as regards my gender, but perhaps I just wasn’t aware of it. Articles like this make me wonder if I really did get a fair shake in that state. It points a severe light on a double standard.
Second, the Michigan legislature is preventing elected officials from doing their jobs. Those women were elected fair and square. The voters in their districts gave them license to speak in their stead. Not only are two women being silenced, but all of their constituents are as well. They have a right to express their opinions, whatever “offensive” words their viewpoints might contain. I believe there is still a little thing called The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that allows us all to say whatever we want to say, regardless of whether or not you agree.
Third, when did the word “vagina” become offensive? It’s a medical term. It’s used in textbooks. Roughly half the population of the world has one. Children learn it as part of Health class (or at least, they used to). It is just about the least offensive term you could use to describe female sex organs besides maybe lady parts. Would the legislators’ delicate man-ears have been less or more offended had she referred to her vagina as a vajayjay, beaver, cha-cha, hoo-ha, poonany, quim or vagoo? The word vagina is no more vulgar than the word penis, which is also a medical term. Vagina is not an offensive word. If you find it to be, you’ve got problems.
Finally, is the Michigan legislature comprised of five-year-olds? It’s not like she was in an elementary school auditorium speaking about nutrition and randomly screamed VAGINA! at the top of her lungs at a bunch of children while pointing both index fingers at her crotch and gyrating like the lamest rock star ever or the creepiest clown. She was addressing a group of adults, her peers, and the word “vagina” (and “vasectomy” for that matter) was as germane to the conversation as it is ever likely to get outside of a gynecologist’s office. In or out of context, there is nothing in her statement that should be found offensive to any adult. Instead, the male-dominated Michigan legislators decided to ban both females from speaking. Go to your room and think about what you’ve done! You’re going to be in big trouble when your father gets home.
Michigan, I am so disappointed in you. You are my home state. You are where I am from, where I will always be from. You are where my family lives. My mother and father are there right now. Don’t you have bigger problems to deal with, like a crumbling economy, than vaginas? How dare you. Make it right. Don’t make me move back there and run for public office.
13 Responses to “VAGINA VAGINA VAGINA”
I’m sure if you run on the platform of “Vote V for Vagina” you can’t lose.
I should also point out that you’re not doing yourself any favors on google search terms. This is most likely to become your most popular post ever.
On the upside you will likely get some great material for “Dear Goldfish”.
Ha. I hadn’t thought of the search term thing. Sigh.
VAGINA!
And vasectomy? Really? Has anyone tried lobotomy?
It’s difficult to believe that this is the same state in which I was born.
On the list of things someone (Muniz, I believe?) should never have won an award for, lobotomy is top on my list. I know you’re joking, of course, but I don’t think I could wish the horror of living death on anyone. But yeah, VAGINA!
I’m shocked and disturbed that such things are happening in my country, in any state, right now. It’s as if some of our representatives are determined to destroy every bit of what I was told was progress in elementary school.
Child labor laws?
Eh, who cares?
The ability to pay off a politician?
Sounds good to me!
Should we harass citizens for peaceful protests because we don’t like what they’re protesting?
Let’s call them terrorists!
Should white, rich males make choices for every other shade of life experience and viewpoint?
It’s not as if those other people are people and entitled to an opinion, right?
I’m not saying that white, rich males don’t deserve a view point, or that people don’t have a right to disagree with protesters or break up rallies if they get out of hand. I’m not saying that kids should never be able to work, or that people shouldn’t have a right to support their candidates. I am saying that some checks and balances, and a little thought for the consequences and healthy debate would be nice. I’m saying that decisions that effect large groups of people should be based on facts and evidence and not gut feelings or party alignment.
I’m still reeling from the case you wrote about. It’s been days and I still can’t put my rage on the matter into coherent words. You expressed yourself very well.
I just wish that our representatives would stop fighting each other for power and media attention, stop reversing old laws that were (generally) passed for a reason, and focus on the important issues at hand. For another, they could stop pitting the American people against each other so that we’re not all so busy fighting each other in the comments under cute Youtube videos of puppies and throwing the cheap stereotypes of “liberal” and “conservative” at each other with considerable bias and no effort to even contemplate another’s viewpoint, instead of paying attention to what’s important. Then again, it’s easy to avoid blame from the populace when the populace is attacking each other. I suppose that’s the point.
Sorry this was so long, but hey, somebody had to prepare you for the barrage now that you’ve written what will be your most popular post ever.
Thanks for your thoughts. It is sickening what’s going on in this country. It seems we have regressed to the 1950s where women were silent, barefoot and pregnant, and nobody was ever gay unless it meant happy. I am disgusted by it all. I’m tired of the sane majority staying silent while the overly loud voice of an insane minority gets their way. This story in particular incensed me to the point where I could not ignore it.
Very nicely put, Goldfish – while I do not have a vagina (though I have been known to enjoy one every now and then), what’s happening in MI and across the country is wrong on many, many levels, and it’s been growing for at least 30 years.
Men, and particularly those men who become politicians that seek to restrict female reproductive and health rights, are an embarrassment to the human race. And when they ‘silence the little lady’ who dares speak power to truth, they prove my point all over again.
Thank you for speaking truth, GF.
Thank you, dear. I’m beginning to think maybe there is something to this media-hyped “war on women” after all.
At this point the GOP is just throwing shit against the wall hoping something sticks. Remember, saying vagina is vile…… or having a temper….. or…… [insert horseshit excuse]
*double face palm*
My dream job would be going around punching people and generally reminding them to stop being oversensitive ass hats, grow up, and get over things.
Had to double check my calender, it says 2012 but idk…..
I’d be happy if some of my tax dollars went towards your employment as a government sanctioned idiot puncher.
Sometimes I get the impression that 50 years ago some men got together and thought “Those women are moaning again, let’s give them a go for a bit, keep ‘em happy.”
Now they’ve decided it’s time for them to return to the kitchen.
Please, let me be wrong.
Sigh.