Why Is Sandra Silenced?
Sandra Fluke is the perfect example for the War on Women and Liberal Feminism. As she fights for women’s rights and contraception, the “hot reds” were attacking her left and right (Feminist Wire). As a third year Georgetown Law student, Republicans denied Sandra’s ability to testify at the House Committee hearing on religious contraception coverage and women’s health. Why was Sandra silenced? She wasn’t a healthcare professional, not a member of a clergy, and according to records; her name was not submitted in time, which causes her ineligibility. Ironically, it was a panel of all males making decisions about women’s reproductive rights (Aklilu). Fluke makes a comment during her DNC speech stating how men who don’t even use or need this contraception
…show more content…
Limbaugh attacked Fluke on his radio show calling her profanity such as “slut”, as well as nasty remarks such as “She must be paid to have sex! What does that make her? A slut, a prostitute, she wants to be paid to have sex” (Limbaugh). As a woman, wanting contraception does not make you a slut. Fluke’s point was to protect women’s rights, not just her own. “She’s having too much sex. She can’t afford her to have contraception”. He then goes forward to compare tax payers as the pimps who are essentially paying for her to have sex, so in that case he believes that they deserve something in return. “If we are paying for this, we want something in return. Videos posted online of all the sex you’ve been having” (Limbaugh). With Limbaugh painting this false image of Fluke being a slut and having way too much sex, this is a public example of what many women face today. The War on Women is not a fancy title to just the issue of contraception. It is also about how the patriarchy silences women and what they are standing for. Fluke rebuttals on ABC saying “Historically, this is the language used to silence women.” This is not a new concept or idea. Women have been treated this way for ages. For these terrible names and words said by Rush Limbaugh, the Republicans shutting Fluke out of the Reform committee, they unwillingly brought a spotlight of attention to the issue she was fighting. Republicans
Limbaugh attacked Fluke on his radio show calling her profanity such as “slut”, as well as nasty remarks such as “She must be paid to have sex! What does that make her? A slut, a prostitute, she wants to be paid to have sex” (Limbaugh). As a woman, wanting contraception does not make you a slut. Fluke’s point was to protect women’s rights, not just her own. “She’s having too much sex. She can’t afford her to have contraception”. He then goes forward to compare tax payers as the pimps who are essentially paying for her to have sex, so in that case he believes that they deserve something in return. “If we are paying for this, we want something in return. Videos posted online of all the sex you’ve been having” (Limbaugh). With Limbaugh painting this false image of Fluke being a slut and having way too much sex, this is a public example of what many women face today. The War on Women is not a fancy title to just the issue of contraception. It is also about how the patriarchy silences women and what they are standing for. Fluke rebuttals on ABC saying “Historically, this is the language used to silence women.” This is not a new concept or idea. Women have been treated this way for ages. For these terrible names and words said by Rush Limbaugh, the Republicans shutting Fluke out of the Reform committee, they unwillingly brought a spotlight of attention to the issue she was fighting. Republicans