“Vagina” Politics: Perpetuating the War on Women Myth

State   |   Andrew Bair   |   Jun 19, 2012   |   3:33PM   |   Lansing, MI

In a display of sheer desperation, abortion advocates are attempting to divert attention away from the actual content of Michigan’s pro-life omnibus bill.

The bill contains consensus provisions like tougher abortion center regulations, a ban on coerced abortions, a ban on webcam abortions and a ban on late abortions after 20 weeks when the unborn child is capable of experiencing pain.

While speaking on the House floor, pro-abortion Rep. Lisa Brown (D) compared the legislation to rape. The following day, Brown was denied speaking privileges on the floor after Republican leadership alleged her comparison violated House decorum. Brown purports that she was silenced because of her use of the word “vagina.”

“Her comments compared the support of legislation protecting women and life to rape, and I fully support Majority Floor Leader Jim Stamas’ decision to maintain professionalism and order on the House floor,” said Rep. Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R).

In protest, abortion advocates staged an event entitled “Vaginas Take Back the Capitol,” in which activists along with 10 lawmakers welcomed the author of “The Vagina Monologues” to Michigan for a performance of the controversial play.

Eve Ensler, the author of “The Vagina Monologues” told the Associated Press, “If we ever knew deep in our hearts that the issue about abortion … was not really about fetuses and babies, but really men’s terror of women’s sexuality and power, I think it’s fully evidenced here.”

Ensler added, “We’re talking about the silencing of women, we’re talking about censoring people for saying a body part,” she said. “Half of these people who are trying to regulate vaginas, they can’t even say the word.”

“I’m not interested in talking about the vagina controversy,” said Rebecca Mastee, policy advocate for the Michigan Catholic Conference. “I don’t see how that affects the issue, which is the protection of women’s health.”

Abortion advocates have hardly touched on the content of the bill, which contains provisions supported by the majority of Michiganders and the majority of Americans. Support for late abortions after 20 weeks when the child is capable of feeling pain exists only among the most hardened of abortion activists. Recent polling has even shown that majority of Americans oppose abortion in most or all circumstances and are identifying more and more as pro-life rather than pro-choice.

Abortion advocates took to social media to further their campaign to change the subject. On Twitter, they instituted a hashtag (a popular way of categorizing posts) called “#SayVagina.” Planned Parenthood affiliates also took part in the Twitter campaign. Planned Parenthood of Southern New England tweeted, “We’re proud to stand with @eveensler as she performs the #VaginaMonologues on the MI Capitol steps! #sayvagina” However, despite pro-abortion efforts, the hashtag was successfully taken over by pro-life advocates. https://twitchy.com/2012/06/18/sayvagina-hijacked/

Some notable pro-life tweets included:

@rairojasii: “you can #SayVagina, just don’t say unborn baby girls feel pain.”

@TheGrudgeReport: “Tell me, pro-choicers, how many baby girls will be aborted this year & never get the chance to #SayVagina?”

@blackiswhiteic: “I don’t always #sayvagina , but when I do, I don’t scream about a War on Women while defending the murder of unborn baby girls.”

@TeriChristoph: “Feminism” summed up in two words: #sayvagina. Actually, #irrelevant is a good definition, too.”

@celticselky: “#SayVagina but don’t say #gendercide”

@ProLifePolitics: “Not one woman benefits by liberals pushing #SayVagina and at same time supporting gender discrimination via sex selection abortion.”

The common sense pro-life omnibus bill passed the Michigan House by a 70-39 margin and heads to the Senate in the fall.