Modern Sexism

[izy2weird]

So I was reading this online article sent to me by someone else as I normally do when it came to my attention that in Wisconsin (A state which evidently punishes single mothers) has struck another blow against women. Basically Rep. Don Pridemore (according to this article) has stated that instead of a woman divorcing her abusive husband she should

Comments

Re: make having miscarriages a criminal offense

[tabular_rasa]

Right now miscarriage is being "criminalized" mostly by manipulating existing laws meant to protect pregnant women from third-party violence (eg: woman is punched in the stomach and loses baby; she can press charges) against the women themselves, though there are some "personhood amendments" suggested some states as well. A couple cases I've seen in which the mother has been charged with killing her own fetus include Bei Bei Shuai in Indiana (attempted suicide by poison while pregnant; she survived and the fetus did not) and Rennie Gibbs in Mississippi (she used cocaine during her pregnancy, which may or may not have caused the miscarriage).

At this point they seem to be going after women they can charge with other things (drug possession, etc) at the same time and I haven't heard of a woman randomly pulled in for questioning solely for having had a miscarriage, but it sets a dangerous precedent. Bei Bei Shaui's case in particular is disturbing as had she gotten a legal abortion and then attempted suicide, no law could touch her, as both abortion and attempted suicide is legal in Indiana . . . but as things currently stand, she is accused of a crime.

You're absolutely right the suggestion of criminalizing miscarriage is ridiculous in light of how common miscarriage is. As many as 20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. My mother had one miscarriage for each of her successful births (there were three of us). It's simply insane to imagine a world in which a full criminal investigation was conducted every single time.

Re: make having miscarriages a criminal offense

[izy2weird]

Yikes. Well at least in Georgia it was denied. That's nuts.

Re: make having miscarriages a criminal offense

[alina13]

>>It's simply insane to imagine a world in which a full criminal investigation was conducted every single time.

and what a waste of money...