First they came for my abortions, then they came for my emergency contraception, then they came for my birth control, then they came for my Pap smears, then they came for me.
What the fuck year are we living in again?
So you know how I’ve been saying that the religious “pro-life” movement doesn’t give a shit about babies, abortion, or anything other than making life as miserable for women as humanly possible? Here’s your proof, buttholes.
Now we all know that doctors can refuse to do abortions (in fact, the majority of them do, mostly out of fear of being whacked by some backwoods Christian nutbag). And it’s pretty common knowledge that doctors and pharmacists are refusing to dispense EC to their patients (even though it’s NOT an abortifacient), and more recently have begun to refuse to dispense regular ol’ birth control pills. But this is an entirely different bag o’ bullshit.
Essentially, some doctors in Canada (land of “Universal Healthcare”) are refusing to perform Pap smears on unmarried women, citing religious objections. Um, yeah. It’s only a matter of time before this delicious idea spreads to our own US Woman Haters.
Though Pap tests are a critical part of a woman’s yearly exams, designed to maintain and protect our overall health, ostensibly these good ‘ol boys believe that unmarried women shouldn’t be having sex, and if you’re not having sex, you don’t need a Pap smear (wrong). If you are unmarried and having sex (or even just an unmarried virgin), however, you deserve to die of cervical cancer. Oh. Good to know.
Their logic, however, is completely flawed (shocking!). If they are perfectly willing to Pap married broads, this would mean that, under their own beliefs, doctors would have to assume that all women who are now married and receiving Pap smears were virgins until their wedding night (obviously a HUGE leap of faith), otherwise the doctors might be detecting and treating diseases acquired when the women were unmarried hussysluts. However, if these women (and the men they married) truly were good n’ pure and stayed chaste until marriage, under these batshit crazy doctors’ theory, they technically shouldn’t need Pap smears to begin with. And what about lesbians? In Canada, gay marriage is legal, but something tells me that these docs aren’t super down with our gay sisters. What about women who were raped? What about cervical cell changes not caused by HPV? What about non-sexually transmitted HPV?
WHAT THE FUCK ARE THESE PEOPLE SO FUCKING AFRAID OF?
Apparently the Canadian Medical Association is totally chillz with this, stating that doctors have a “conscience clause,” allowing them to refuse prescriptions for birth control, abortion, and now, apparently, pap smears. The conscious clause is put in place by the Canadian Medical Association so that physicians are not forced to act in any way that goes against their personal beliefs.
Legally, doctors who hide behind the “conscience clause” are required to give women a referral to a doctor who won’t deny them medical care based on patriarchal bullshit, but this rarely happens because these doctors feel that since they can’t, in good faith, refer a patient for a procedure that they object to. It’s worth mentioning that in many places doctors and pharmacists are few and far between, and that finding another doctor who ISN’T a misogynist ass may be easier said than done. Often women just give up and go home without their Pap out of humiliation and shame. Lovely.
I’m sorry, but this is why religious people shouldn’t be allowed to practice medicine. If your religion prevents you from DOING YOUR FUCKING JOB, then find another one. I was vegan and worked in a hamburger joint, and not once did I say “I’m sorry, I can’t serve you that cheeseburger because of my personal ethical beliefs. Can I suggest a salad instead, or perhaps refer you to another server who isn’t a self-righteous cuntbag?”
Oh, but right. It’s only women, and it’s only our lives.
I want to cry a little right now.
12 Comments
February 26. 2008 at 2:06 pm
You are a freaking Moron I hope that you get an STD and die you lesbo maybe today in a favor to the world you will get hit by a bus.
February 26. 2008 at 4:32 pm
kendallmck,
I agree that no one should refuse a woman a pap smear, no matter what her lifestyle. That’s just hypocritical. It irritates me when people who claim to be Christians make a point of sinner’s faults. We, as Christians were all there, as well. Good thing Jesus didn’t boycott us, eh?
I might as well add that , while I agree with you on this, you really need to respect yourself enough to not cuss so much!
It hurts my heart to see you so angry. If I can help answer any questions, let me know. I’m a happily married, imperfect Christian. But, I have received mercy from the One who loved us enough to give up His privileges and power long enough to come TO us and die FOR us.
God bless and help you see Him through all the fakeness that’s out there! Nothing is getting past God!
February 26. 2008 at 3:32 pm
Why did I approve that comment? Because it’s funny and telling. Now, if anybody would like to email Jan Hanson and a) instruct her on how to speak English and use punctuation like an educated adult or b) harass her for being a homophobic slag, here’s her email address:
blue.hose1977@bellsouth.net
February 26. 2008 at 10:04 pm
There’s a lot of things that aren’t “Christian” and shouldn’t be done in the name of Christianity – but they’re happening anyway, and I don’t see anybody doing anything about it.
How do you explain to someone that wrote you such a nice comment that “no, no, Jesus and I LOVE your sinning ways” is STILL OFFENSIVE, even though it’s framed in such flowery, saccharine language? I am not Christian. I do not necessarily believe in God. Framing a comment, no matter how complimentary or “accepting,” around a religion I do not subscribe to is pretty disrespectful. Saying “God bless and help you see Him through all the fakeness that’s out there!” to me is like me saying “One day you’ll see how stupid you are for subscribing to religion!” to you, which I would never, ever do. Ever. Seriously, how privileged do you have to be to think an Atheist would (or should) appreciate comments like that? Answer: very, which you are, because Christians are first class citizens in this country, and Atheists are not.
Now, about the swears and the apparent “anger.” Cuss words are just words. They’re just sounds out of mouths. The reason they have so much power is because people like you give them power. They convey a point. They say nothing about my state of happiness – swearing or not swearing isn’t a legitimate anger barometer. Stop trying to force your definition of appropriate on everyone – I don’t advocate that “God bless you” should be censored, though it is incredibly offensive to me. And let’s get one thing straight: I respect the hell out of myself, and the language I choose to use on my own blog is not indicative of that, in any way, shape, or form.
Am I an angry person? You betcha. Do I have a right to be? You betcha. Is it completely infuriating when a Christian criticizes your anger that’s a DIRECT RESULT of the religious discrimination you face at the hands of Christianity? YOU BETCHA. I’ve had this cyclical argument over and over with Christians who accuse you of being “angry” and don’t seem to get that they’re what’s pissing you off.
Am I also a happy person? Fuck yes. Am I grateful for the life that I have? Fuck yes. Do I have continuous sources of joy, love, and happiness in my life (despite the absence of Jesus)? FUCK YES.
Do not assume that a person is “angry” or miserable just because a person swears, lashes out at gross, inhumane oppression, or doesn’t believe in god.
Well, anyway. Thanks for visiting, I guess. I’ve been told that a bunch of you are going to be praying for me, so I’m going to go do a bunch of drugs, have premarital sex (with TWO forms of contraception!), and say “fuck,” a lot -it’s good to know you guys have me covered!
February 27. 2008 at 4:16 am
You’re right. You deserve respect, no matter what. Those who are oppressed must be cared for no matter who they are.
I read your latest post as well. You’re right. Thank you for your challenge to really do something about these things. I intend to take this knowledge and apply it.
February 27. 2008 at 7:31 pm
Hmmmm.
I’m just trying to let you know we’re not all fakes like those who wish evil on you. You’re certainly no worse than a lot of “church-goers” who call themselves Christian. I’m just asking you to not paint with so wide a brush.
The world is messed up and none of us can force people to do the right thing, so you might as well get past that!!
Just because some people are racist doesn’t mean we should all give up and stop trying to be kind to everyone does it? My point about your cussing is that it reflects badly on you, despite how you feel about it. People do make up their minds based on our actions. The words we use are included in how we perceive one another.
Actions vs words are definitely an issue for you, else you wouldn’t be so critical of people who say they are one thing then do something you think is inappropriate for them based on what they’ve said.
So, I think you must understand that what you expect of others, you should expect of yourself maybe?
Anyway, I’m sorry that you took anything I said as judgmental or negative. I was once like you and have found peace. I’m just trying to share the path that leads to that peace. I can’t force it on you and won’t try. So this is my last comment here.
BTW, other good people’s prayers don’t absolve you, they only ask God to not give up on you…or us.
February 28. 2008 at 12:37 am
I’m just asking you to not paint with so wide a brush.
Read this.
The world is messed up and none of us can force people to do the right thing, so you might as well get past that!!
Oh, ok. Silly me for fighting to end oppression. I’ll just go back to stuffing my lazy face with hamburgers, watching American Idol, and living in blissful ignorance. Hooray!
My point about your cussing is that it reflects badly on you, despite how you feel about it. People do make up their minds based on our actions. The words we use are included in how we perceive one another.
No, they reflect badly on me TO YOU. Contrary to what you may believe, your standards (and the FCC’s) aren’t everybody’s. The people I chose to surround myself with don’t give a shit what kind of language I use because they have more important things to worry about. We’re too busy being offended by rape and murder and war and genocide and environmental destruction and patriarchy and institutionalized racism and poverty and unplanned pregnancies and health care and homophobia and oppression and white privilege and the prison and military industrial system and population growth and fascism and slavery and disease and pollution and kidnapping and famine and mass consumption and gentrification and distribution of wealth and animal abuse and government corruption and capitalism and religious persecution and discrimination, to let a couple of “fuck”s get our panties in a twist. Let me ask you this: what is a “bad” word? What makes it bad? Who decides? Who SHOULD decide? What if I was in charge of the FCC and I declared that “Jesus,” “God,” “Christians,” and “church” were bad words that were to be censored? The concept of “swearing” is completely arbitrary and subjective. Penn and Teller’s Bullshit has a great episode on swearing:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IIjWrpnhUsE
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hXTDIeLX7U4&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-BI08RgwW-8&feature=related
I was once like you and have found peace.
In other words: “I was once a Godless, amoral, unhappy sinner just like you, and now that I’ve been properly indoctrinated, I’m free! Sucks about your crappy, hell-bound life though.”
BTW, other good people’s prayers don’t absolve you, they only ask God to not give up on you…or us.
I know. I was teasing. Sorry, it was a little insensitive. Again, I don’t believe there’s anything about me in need of absolving. I’m a good person, and I’m a good person, with or without God, and I know it. If having sex and using protection, doing drugs, and saying “fuck” is enough to keep me out of heaven, then I don’t want to go.
I understand that that was your last comment, which is fine. I’m honestly getting a little tired of playing the 1-against-1000 game with ya’ll, and the fewer comments I have to spend my spare time responding to, the better. But again, I thank you for stopping by and contributing. There’s nothing wrong with differing opinions.
February 28. 2008 at 1:10 am
Oh, and Matt: thank you. Noted and appreciated. Thanks for visiting, listening, and learning. That’s all anybody can ask.
March 21. 2008 at 7:03 pm
I’ve also heard the opposite – that some ob/gyns force pap smears on women. This is equally disgusting – similar to rape.
Doctors also insist on giving pap smears to pregnant women, and this can cause miscarriage. Many women have miscarried within 48 hours of a pap smear.
May 21. 2008 at 12:12 pm
[...] and anything that removes the potential and/or unwanted consequences of sex because they hate women being able to have it without getting AIDS or cancer or pregnant, which are God’s punishments [...]
March 17. 2009 at 8:55 pm
Hi I’m new here to your blog.
You have a right to be angry and swear as much as you want. I do the same things. But it doesn’t mean I’m unhappy, either!!
This is very infuriating. INFURIATING. And I agree too with Emily Stuart’s post above: I remember one of the former cast members of SNL going to a new obgyn and even though she wasn’t due for one and kept saying she didn’t want one or need one at that time, was coerced into a pap smear by this doctor when he kept saying, “No, let me show you what I can do.” DISGUSTING.
March 19. 2009 at 7:34 am
I am an American who has lived in Canada for a long time now. I’ve never heard of this at all. There are walk in clinics everywhere and even emergency will care for you if you present without a family doctor. There is something of a doctors shortage but, that is actually getting better. Three years ago it was more of a crisis. Not so much now. Doctors are legally required to refer you to another doctor who will perform any procedure you need if they are “uncomfortable”
I am a little shocked to hear this information since for the most part it is far more liberal here than in the states and I’ve never heard of or experienced anything close to this.
New Brunswick is a little more conservative than Ontario but, by American standards in many respects it is very liberal.
It is good this got some press. In Canada if this issue is raised it won’t be long before feet are held to fire over it. Despite this being a Catholic strong hold…religion usually has very little influence on the laws of Canada.
This is pretty shocking news to me.