Legislate the vagina, but don't dare say the word 'vagina'

[Spang]

Vagina, Vagina, Vagina

Jessica Valenti on June 15, 2012 - 12:44 PM ET
Yesterday, Michigan Representative Lisa Brown was banned from speaking after having the audacity to use the word ‘vagina’ in a debate over an anti-abortion bill. Apparently, it’s not enough that Republicans have made it a political priority to roll back women’s reproductive rights—they also want to ensure that we remain silent as they do it.

Rep. Mike Callton, for example, was absolutely scandalized by Brown’s comments: “What she said was offensive…It was so offensive, I don’t even want to say it in front of women. I would not say that in mixed company.” (He does realize that this mixed company likely has vaginas, yes?)

I wished this latest GOP gaffe surprised me, but Republicans feeling squirmy about women’s “down-theres” while desperately trying to keep said “hoo hoos” in check is pretty standard these days. We live in a country where it’s fine to legislate vaginas but saying the actual word is forbidden.

Is it run of the mill misogynist disgust of female bodies? Puritanical pearl-clutching? Or simply sexist legislators who would rather not be reminded that the vaginas they’re attempting to control have pesky women with opinions attached to them?

[...]

Click on a vagina to read more.

Also:

Here’s what you should know about these far-reaching anti-abortion bills:

1) Bans Abortions After 20 Weeks, Even For Rape And Incest Victims: A woman would not be able to have an abortion after 20 weeks of gestation based on the widely disputed idea that a fetus can feel pain after that point. The only exception would be if a woman’s life was in danger.​

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2) Transforms Doctors Into Detectives: The Republican-backed legislation would make it a crime for anyone to coerce a woman into having an abortion. Doctors will have to give their patients a questionnaire to inform them of the illegality of coercion and determine if the woman had been coerced or is the victim of domestic abuse before the abortion procedure.​

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3) Limits Access For Rural Women: Under the omnibus bill, doctors would have to be physically present to perform a medication abortion, thus preventing a doctor from administering abortion-inducing medication by consulting via telephone or internet. This would especially hurt rural women, who may have to travel hours to meet in-person with a specialist.​

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4) Requires Doctors To Purchase Costly Malpractice Insurance: If HB 5711 goes into effect, then doctors would be required to carry $1 million in liability insurance if they perform five or more abortions each month or have been subject to two more more civil suits in the past seven years, among other requirements. But the qualifications are so vague that almost all doctors who perform abortions could be required to carry the additional liability insurance at a potential cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars.​

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5) Regulates Clinics Out Of Existence: HB 5711 would create new regulations so that any clinic that provides six or more abortions in a month or one which advertises abortion services would have to be licensed as a “freestanding surgical outpatient facility.” That means that even if a clinic does not offer surgical abortions, it would be required to have a full surgical suite.​

 

[Pickle Juice]

Geez, what do they want us to call it? Cootchie? Vagina is just about the only word I do use to refer to it. I am not fond of all those dumb nicknames. They always make me think of little kids who can't call things what they are without giggling.

 

[Forster]

WTH is wrong with people, idiots act like their in second grade... oh no not the "V" word, what a bunch of "C" words.

 

[Spang]

Added info on the bill they were debating.

 

[Werewolf Girl]

That is SO ridiculous.

 

[cornsail]

Geez, what do they want us to call it? Cootchie? Vagina is just about the only word I do use to refer to it. I am not fond of all those dumb nicknames. They always make me think of little kids who can't call things what they are without giggling.

I recommend you use the term "no-no spot" in polite company.

Seriously though, I thought "vagina" was the most formal word you could use for it. That's ridiculously petty.

 

[IamJen]

I've been following this story on Michigan Radio...it's quite funny if it weren't so sad. Michigan is a real special place wrt abortion activism.

 

[Freesia]

I completely agree with the Republican bill. People should use the word "bajingo". This should be enforced by law. They should appoint special Bajingo Police to make sure no other words are used.

 

[mlp]

Geez, what do they want us to call it? Cootchie? Vagina is just about the only word I do use to refer to it. I am not fond of all those dumb nicknames. They always make me think of little kids who can't call things what they are without giggling.

Exactly.

I wonder whether it is also not permissible to use the word "*****"? When, apart from the Victorian era, has is been impermissible to refer to a body part by its correct anatomical name?!

 

[das_nut]

Supposedly, it was the "context" she used it in that was offensive.

The actual quote is: "Finally, Mr. Speaker, I'm flattered that you're all so interested my vagina, but 'no' means 'no.'"

Maybe I need more context, since I don't see how it was offensive.

 

[Freesia]

“What she said was offensive…It was so offensive, I don’t even want to say it in front of women. I would not say that in mixed company.”

So what he is saying is that it is ok for him to mention it to other men but he would not mention it in mixed company.

I bet right now he is at a Vag Discussion Party with his male friends.......

 

[Forster]

The actual quote is: "Finally, Mr. Speaker, I'm flattered that you're all so interested my vagina, but 'no' means 'no.'"

lol, he was probably ****** cause he got burned by a good double entendre.

 

[Spang]

So what he is saying is that it is ok for him to mention it to other men but he would not mention it in mixed company.

I bet right now he is at a Vag Discussion Party with his male friends.......

He's one of those men who think women have feeble minds and shouldn't hear such language. In other words, he's a misogynist.

 

[mlp]

 

[Josh James xVx]

I think vaginas are pretty neat.

 

[Freesia]

that is awesome.

 

[Alice-Bee]

Im failing to understand why he was 'offended' by the medical word for a womans special area.
Its not like she said C**t, t**t or some other slang term.

Seriously some people just need something to be outraged about. Whats next...being outraged at the word 'Breasts'

 

[Josh James xVx]

 

[Moll Flanders]

What word does he use instead of vagina?

 

[cornsail]

What word does he use instead of vagina?

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