Utah actually considers criminalizing miscarriage, my brain explodes

[justira]

Hahaha, guys, I probably shouldn't write posts when I am furious but SERIOUSLY WORLD? SERIOUSLY?

Utah's House and Senate have passed a bill that would criminalize miscarriage.The bill doesn't affect legally obtained abortions (though good luck getting one of those, ladies!), but it does criminalize anything a woman does outside a doctor's care/

Comments

[irish_ais]

I am so glad I am in public or else I would be sitting here screaming at the computer screen in an attempt to make this go away.

What in the EFFING EFFITY EFF, Utah. Seriously. You are officially on my list of States that Suck.

[drakonlily]

When we become famous Cosplay Travelers? They are SO not invited.

[modern_love]

I question what would happen if a woman legitimately had a miscarriage. Like, if she'd wanted a baby, gotten pregnant, and legitimately lost it. Would the lawyers still be grilling the hell out of her, demanding to know what SHE DID to lose it?

I was trying to comprehend this...but then I realize it's Utah. Not to knock religions, but there are Mormons all over and they're one of the most conservative states in the country. Logic has no (or very little) place within those borders. Shitting all over women's rights is kind of par for the course there. So as infuriating, fucked up, and downright misogynistic as this is...it's not all that surprising.

[justira]

Well, the RH Reality Check article also linked to this case in Iowa, where a pregnant woman fell down the stairs. She expressed doubts to a nurse about wanting to carry the pregnancy to term, and was then arrested and questioned about the fall. In case she did it on purpose, to induce a miscarriage.

Also consider stuff like this bit about fetal alcohol syndrome (linked in my post): even when the cause is not well-understood, or when a woman's behaviour is clearly NOT the most important factor, it's still women who are blamed and women's behaviour that is scrutinized.

[owlmoose]

I heard about this bill, but not the case that promoted it. I don't think I can say it any better than the unfunnybusiness commenter you quoted.

This is So. Fucked. Up.

I don't know if I have words beyond that.

[a_white_rain]

This entire thing pisses me off >:

[drakonlily]

I read this... then I raged in the shower for about an HOUR and I couldn't even bring myself to POST about it. I'm super glad you did. Do you mind if I link this in my LJ

[justira]

Feel free to link any time =)

And uh, yes. This - not just what Utah is doing, but the entire mess it's part of - is infuriating in the extreme. My gut and memory say you're spot-on about the abortion statistic, too, about how most abortions are for people who already have kids. I'll try to look it up later; it's a good citation to have on hand.

I was thinking about a related issue, too - rape prevention? It's always women who are responsible and women whose choices are constrained. Best rape prevention tip I've ever heard? Don't rape people. It's ridiculous and infuriating that when the majority of rapes are perpetrated by men (note that I don't say "by men on women"; see: prison rape, among many others) it's women who get the stern talking-to. What the ever-flying fuck

[justira]

Sidenote: Man, the anti-vaccination crowd! BOY DO THEY PISS ME OFF. Only one of many reasons: thank you idiots for fucking over those people who can't (not won't, can't) get vaccinated and so have to rely on herd immunity. THANKS A TON. (Note, I am not such a person; it's just one of the reasons I get so angry.)

Let's be clear: I do think vaccine safety deserves more study and thinking. There might be a good case, for example, for not giving bundled vaccines and instead doing them individually. But that seems almost to be a separate goddamn issue, since the anti-vaccination crowd is too busy yelling about how vaccine-induced autism "kidnapped" their kid. I am glad that you guys have thought so carefully about how that kind of rhetoric makes real, living, feeling autistic people feel. Thanks guys!

[drakonlily]

OMG THEY MAKE ME FROTH AT THE MOUTH YOU HAVE NO IDEA