Sexual Abuse and Insufficient Labels

Listen to our eye opening discussion on the rhetoric and language around women who have experienced sexual abuse. We specifically discuss the dichotomy of the labels "victim" versus "survivor" and how these terms are insufficient to describe the experience of many women who have experienced sexual abuse. We also acknowledge the implicit values attached to these labels and what that means to the women as they process the experience and try to move on. In researcher Rebecca Murphy-Keith's research, she uncovered a third term which some women preferred to use: thriver. Listen to us discuss the idea of post-trauma growth and overcoming.

Crisis Pregnancy Centers and Misinformation

Crisis pregnancy centers, or CPCs, have been around for decades, but in the last decade or so they have become more strategic in their tactics. Many advertise that they provide services to pregnant women, but do not advertise what services they actually provide. They fervently oppose abortion, and tend to use deceitful tactics to engage women on the phone or through an appointment, sharing false medical information about the dangers of having an abortion, and the lack of effectiveness of birth control.

In a time when access to care, lack of health insurance, and the closing of family planning clinics is making for a perfect storm scenario putting up barriers to care for women seeking either contraception or help with a pregnancy, these CPCs are a public health risk for women.