I live in the great state of Missouri, which can be wonderful place to live, but also happens to be #1 in Methamphetamine lab busts as well as the home of the controversial Congressman Ted Akin who asserted that women’s bodies have the ability to prevent conception in cases of sexual assault, thus making laws to allow women to legally terminate a pregnancy in cases of sexual assault unnecessary (using the rather offensive phrase “legitimate rape” to indicate that there are cases that are not “legitimate”).
As a psychologist and an advocate for laws based on the best possible scientific evidence, I was very disturbed by these scientifically-unfounded claims & joined a host of like-minded students, staff and faculty on campus for a protest this week, and I brought my friend Ms.V, my hand-sewn, anatomically-correct vagina pillow in case Mr. Akin was interested in a lesson in female reproductive anatomy.
Ms. V. & Dr. V on the Columbia, MO Channel 8 news (background) (That’s me in the black/pink T shirt with my vulva/vagina pillow in the background at about 00:50). I was joking about pulling a “Say Anything” moment with the pillow if Mr. Akin walked by. Of course, I’m not interested in woo-ing him, but I thought it MIGHT catch his attention.
