MS. BLUE

Unless you live under a rock or don’t give a flying fuck about women’s reproductive rights, it’s likely you’ve already heard about Congressman Todd Akin’s recent comments on the subject of “legitimate rape” (for all four of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, no that wasn’t a typo).

When I first caught wind of his ridiculous statement I was floored, partly because I couldn’t believe that anyone – particularly someone currently running for office in his state – would say something like that publicly. But more importantly, because I immediately thought about all the women I know personally who have been victims of a sexual assault.

Women (some of them girls at the time) who were sexually assaulted by over eager and entitled boyfriends; by trusted work supervisors or professors; by neighbours who came over to borrow sugar, a DVD or something else that would give them an excuse to be invited in; and even by their closest childhood friends. If people like Akin had their way virtually all of the women I know (and in fact most female rape victims, as it’s estimated that 66-90%* of sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows) who have suffered through a sexual assault would have to consider their experience illegitimate – as in invalid, phony, FAKE!

Thankfully, many others were quick to speak out, and within days (if not hours) articles like this and videos like this…

.

.

appeared everywhere. And now we’re lending our voices and thoughts – however unartfully – to this discussion.

Much of the following podcast is a discussion of Mr. Akin’s comments and the ensuing controversy, with a splash of politricks thrown in. But, ever true to form, we switch things up and hit you with a bit of funny at the end.

Happy listening,

SB

*For the general public the estimates range anywhere from 66-70%. On college campuses these numbers spike to 85-90%.

.
More Than Pillow Talk, Ep. 13