I have already posted on the Partial Birth Abortion ruling, but what I find the most disturbing is Justice Roberts' opinion. He seems to feel that women shouldn't be trusted enough to make their own deicisions about abortion. That decision should be made for them.

“While we find no reliable data to measure the phenomenon, it seems unexceptionable to conclude some women come to regret their choice to abort the infant life they once created and sustained,” Justice Kennedy wrote, alluding to the brief. “Severe depression and loss of esteem can follow.”

Given those stakes, the justice argued, “The state has an interest in ensuring so grave a choice is well informed.”

Great! Now, whenever a woman isn't sure whether to have an abortion, give the child up for adoption or to keep it, she doesn't have to decide! However, regardless of any depression or 'loss of esteem' resulting from an abortion, it should always be a woman's choice. Having an abortion or having a child are life changing events. Some women cope better than others. This depression felt by women who have had an abortion could be the equivalent of Postpartum depression. Should the government then be able to stop women from getting pregnant altogether?

Why not give appropriate and accurate information to women before having an abortion? And while you're at that, make some pamphlets about safe sex too because abstinence only education is obviously not working.

Via Feministe

Posted by Jessica Englund at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm furious. I have felt like throwing my beautiful macpro against a wall all day, and this thing is my baby. My first stop of the day is always checking up with the girls over at Feministing to see whats been going on. Since the 18th, I have been bombarded by information on the most recent Supreme Court abortion decision. To tell you the truth, I was really reluctant and nervous to read about it for fear of becoming an angry woman on a mission to be annoyingly persistent.

I have allowed myself to read the information. I must admit that although the news was shocking and infuriating, Ruth Bader Ginsberg wrote a kick ass dissent. You can find the entire case here as well as argument for the case here.

The opinion of the court, offered by Chief Justice Roberts is quite extensive, and should only be attempted by devoted and serious readers. Cuncurring, we have Justice Thomas and Justice Scalia saying that

the Court's abortion jurisprudence, including Casey and Roe v. Wade...has no basis in the Constitution.

They are right in one respect, that there is no mention of women let alone women's health issues in the constitution. I'm sure that their point was not to reaffirm the need for an ERA, but I see the need for one, so that maybe, we WILL be included in the constitution. I think it is far past due to become legally and constitutionally equal.

I will not discuss this topic further because it only makes me more angry. Although, from the arguments, we have Clement beginning the procedure with:

Congress held six hearings over four different Congreses and heard from dozens of witnesses in determining that partial-birth abortions are never medically necessary, pose health risks, and should be banned.

I am surprised and fairly upset at the usage of 'never'. I do not believe that such a statement is accurate, or furthermore, necessary. Although, I did say I was done talking about this.

What kills me, is that this is a COMPLETE turnaround from all decisions since Roe v. Wade. I can guarantee you, however, that we need a democratic president so that we can get more humanitarians in there!

Posted by Jessica Englund at 01:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

COOL!!

According to The Independent, there is a very amazing potential breakthrough in science! No dicks necessary! According to recent research, male bone marrow can be used to create artificial sperm. Some scientists believe that the creation of sperm through female bone marrow is just as possible. Although an OK is needed from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Ethics Board, how amazing is this?! It is believed that this kind of technology can be used to allow lesbian couples to have children that are biologically their own. However, the sperm produced by women will not allow for the reproduction of males; only female children could potentially be born, which I don't see as a bad thing, but I do believe that the men of this world will panic thinking that lesbians will take over the world and the male half of the species will disappear! hehe :) Check it out:

But the results also raise the prospect of being able to take bone-marrow tissue from women and coaxing the stem cells within the female tissue to develop into sperm cells, said Professor Karim Nayernia of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Creating sperm from women would mean they would only be able to produce daughters because the Y chromosome of male sperm would still be needed to produce sons. The latest research brings the prospect of female-only conception a step closer.

"Theoretically is it possible," Professor Nayernia said. "The problem is whether the sperm cells are functional or not. I don't think there is an ethical barrier, so long as it's safe. We are in the process of applying for ethical approval. We are preparing now to apply to use the existing bone marrow stem cell bank here in Newcastle. We need permission from the patient who supplied the bone marrow, the ethics committee and the hospital itself."

Via Feministing.

Posted by Jessica Englund at 01:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Can we talk about this a bit? I'm of two minds about states like Texas trying to pass or passing legislation to make the HPV vaccine required for enrollment in public schools. On the one hand, I LOVE that we have a vaccine and that we are finally making some signifigant strides in cervical cancer prevention. Plus, it is great to see HPV become as preventable as the mumps or measles with these shots. On the other hand, it seems a bit soon to rush into requiring these shots, and it does seem like the choice to get them or not should be with the individual girl and her parents. Why do I feel this way? Am I being sucked into the "reproductive-safety-is-different-from-all-other-medical-safety-issues"? Any thoughts?

Posted by Hala Furst at 05:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)