31 Comments

Great article! Horrifying but we need to know.

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Thank you for another great article and for standing up for women. Under the guise of “Pro-Life”, Republicans have a dangerous life—threatening agenda for women; dehumanizing women, reducing us to breeders, with especially dangerous consequences for women of color, as I see that Black women are disproportionately more likely to die from a forced pregnancy. Clearly, the Republicans want women out of the workforce, have really twisted ideas about how to increase population, and think violence is a means to justify their agenda. They have no respect nor regard for women’s lives, especially for women of color. They have shown they will do anything, no matter the means to promote this “Pro-Life” agenda. They must be voted out on Nov. 5th!

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I've been SA twice in my 54 years. Never reported either of them. I knew because of being at a party with alcohol involved I would never be believed. I live in TX. I remember the SA comments that led to Ann Richards being our governor. Now we have move 180 degrees. I get told all the time to just move. Leaving will not help fix the problem. And I am seeing a shift to more blue in my county. I just wish more men could see that eventually the idea of manhood is going to be so restricted that even they can't meet it.

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I think legislators should be held accountable for their bills/voting. When the men here in TN voted to take away a woman's ability to control her own body, then they should have been held accountable by not being allowed to control their own. That means, cut off their you-know-what and it is a win-win because then they cannot rape anyone anymore. Sorry if I offended anyone with this viewpoint.

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This is all horrific. But why, for the love of God, are there so many rapes? Why do men/males believe it is their right to do this to fellow human beings?

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As I said elsewhere, I blame men exclusively. Those men in power who pass such barbaric laws, the men who commit rape, and the men who excuse rape culture. We as men must do better. This is on us.

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Thank you Qasim.

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Certainly appreciate male accountability. And I’ll add to the accountability as a white woman: White women need to stop voting for Trump and Republicans down the ballot. And white women who are running on the Republican ticket need to stop capitalizing on Republican “Pro-Life” agenda and speak out against this agenda and violence against women.

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Perhaps an archaic view, but when I was a child, my mother told me men like to spread their seed. With the this toxic masculinity mindset, it seems to be true. It’s also as we know a form of dominance.

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Yep.

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I got rated at 16! At that time women would get crucified in court, so I never went to the police!😬😬😬😬😬😬😬

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I'm so sorry, Edie, and I hope you've had a support system since to heal and recover.

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I'm so sorry that happened to you! ♥️💔♥️

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I had to take my first pregnancy and STD/HIV-AIDS tests when I was in high school because I was raped. This was during a time when it would take months of retesting for HIV-AIDS to know if you were for sure negative, and even then, they suggested getting tested yearly (even if you weren't sexually active) just to make sure. Luckily, for me, all tests ended up being negative, but it wouldn't be the only time I would know this fear. Shame on anyone who believes women deserve this kind of torture! Shame on anyone not willing to stand up for the lives and safety of all women and children!

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My God that's terrifying. I am so sorry. I'm hopeful you are in a better and safe place.

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I cannot add anything. You provide good supporting documentation. No, the issue of women and their physicians determining what is best should not be left to the states.

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Thank you. And exactly. Local roads are a states issue. Local taxes are a states issue. Human rights are NOT a states issue.

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GOP has declared war on women, esp minority women. This is deliberate, barbaric and written by old white men once again

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You're right. This is absolutely deliberate and needs to be loudly condemned as such.

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👿👿👿👿👿💯💯💯💯💯💯💙

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All the figures in that chart are most probably woefully under estimates since we know that rape itself is very under reported because women have no confidence that the "justice system" will pursue or meaningfully convict their rapists. Also many rape victims do not survive their assault and we rarely have any knowledge of their pregnancy status.

Some of the ironic context around this systematic erosion of womens' health, and well being, is the total hypocrisy of politicians who piously worry about our falling birth rate and the sarcasm of political candidates who self righteously castigate "childless cat ladies", preference for canine and feline companions who are generally incapable of "gaslighting". It suddenly appears that male homo sapiens is fearful of losing all access to the sexual organs of females? There is no more elevated sentiment involved I suspect.

Rape may be so deeply embedded in males' brains as THE evolutionary imperative that nothing short of chemical or physical castration can end the plague. Historically, controlling rape may have been one of the driving forces for organized religion and governance. Neither adaptation seems to have worked, although they may have reduced the incidence rate.

When society and civilization is overwhelmed by war; rape, following murder, is the among the first evils to erupt. In societies and civilizations always in simmering states of aggression, rape, reported and unreported is probably one of the commonest criminal activities of predators..

It appears, that only the evolution of physically powerful females, or the evolution of physically and hormonally degenerate males will solve the imbalance of power.

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We all need to vote for Harris like the lives of all of us depend upon it, because it DOES. Project 2025 calls for a NATIONAL abortion registry, in which states are to report all abortions, the reason for them and address of the woman...

Project 2025 would be a terrible disaster. It is very painful for me to see that it is not being brought up in current political discourse. It is truly the most important issue, because it will affect EVERYTHING, including and beyond abortion women's rights. And once it starts, we will not be able to stop it...

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The entire Project 2025 appears to be an expansion of "1984" with detailed instructions, policies and dystopian nightmares heretofore unexpressed. The GOP's version of Big Brother indeed. It even includes existential threats to piratical capitalism, although they can't seem to see it! Talk about masturbatory dictator dreams.

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Exactly. This is just what is documented. The reality is likely far worse.

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What is wrong with people? You get what you vote for. Stop putting these people in office and vote for people who respect the people they represent and the policies that protect all people. It is up to us to vote them out! Why aren’t we? No one sees you filling out the ballot. Do the right thing!

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Red states are so gerrymandered that it is almost impossible to vote them out. And then a lot of times there is only one candidate running

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You make a good point......but those are the people I want to change their votes - - if there is no other choice then leave that line blank. If they get no votes they might get the message. It is in everyone's interest to vote these people out!

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I put the primary burden on men. The men committing these horrific acts for committing them, and the men in power for enabling them. Men must do infinitely better.

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WELL SAID!!! MAGA women, wake up!💙💙💙💙💙💙

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Thank you for this eye-opening article. Rape is horrific, maternal and infant mortality is tragic, and yet, somehow reading your words, looking at the statistics, thinking about our choices and motivation to act and to vote makes everything more urgent. Even for me, a life time advocate for personal choice, this was illuminating in a more intense and personal way.

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Thank you for reading and I'm glad it was helpful in growing insight.

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