Rape on Private Practice

Tonight, Private Practice will be airing an important episode. It's an episode where the strongest female character (in my opinion) is raped.

I don't know how I feel about it.

I'm a sexual assault researcher. I know the rape statistics, I know the narratives. 

I know that we, as a society, shame rape victims/survivors and place almost 100% of the blame on them (e.g., her skirt was too short, she wasn't wearing panties, she was drunk, she was walking alone etc.), and those survivors/victims do the same to themselves (e.g., why didn't I walk with a friend, why did I drink so much etc.).

I also know that the most common rape is an acquaintance/date rape, and it's non-violent. {hello shame and blame}. And that's not what's going to depicted, which just reinforces stereotypes*.

I'm concerned about how all of her friends are going to be depicted. How is her fiancé going to react? Are they going to pity her? Or are they going to be the perfect support system?

Clearly, I have yet to see the episode, so it could be done beautifully. But currently, I'm afraid for what it will just reinforce. 

*By the way, I didn't even bring up the shame and blame that happens when a man {especially a straight man} is assaulted.

Midterm Elections Aftermath

As of 12:40 CDT

Yesterday was midterm elections. They went as I thought they would. I didn't vote; Chet did.

We are, though, incredibly blessed to live in a country where we will not end up in civil war or violence because of the elections. Rather we wait patiently, though not quietly, for the next time around. And we remain friends with our friends, even if we have separate beliefs.

I'm almost afraid to look at facebook today. My hope is that my democrat friends will be classier about the losses last night than people were with Obama's win. So far that's sort of been the case.

For now, I'm excited to see what these next two years have in store for us.  With every election we get some new people and it propels us to change in one way or another.  Here's to hoping for two years with some solid change*. 

As I heard someone say: I believe we've had red for too long and we never give "purple" a chance. The more people believe in the power of red vs. blue we are screwed. I don't believe in the red or the Tea Party agenda. Even though the blue is not doing things as fast as I want them to**, I'm not going to sit around and bitch about them and call them socialists (which they AREN'T). I'm not about fear tactics and propaganda to sway people for my votes.

What was good for LGBT/Progressive voters
Iowa
We're soooo Post-Racial (This source is linked because I cannot find one article about this madness)
GOP is humbled and ready to work!

*I realize this is my blog and I can be as political etc. as I want.  However, I'm attempting to remain positive mainly because I don't really have a party affiliation.  I would have voted for Rick Perry in Texas.  And, I would have voted against the personhood amendment in Colorado. I would not have voted down the Iowa judges.  I strongly believe that people took what they knew and applied it to the elections and now we need to work with what we've got. 

**Okay. Now, now. I think my generation has been a bit too hard on "the blue." I think we've forgotten some of the things which have been passed.  And we aren't all aware of how this whole government thing works. 

Being sick and Voting

My husband is so good. 

First he voted:

Which makes me super proud of him. We're both really civilly minded and so it makes me happy when he votes. Well, when anyone votes, no matter how you vote. It makes me happy. As our pastor put it on Sunday, "Some people risk their lives to stand in line and vote; you can stop at a polling place and do it without that risk. Why wouldn't you?"


Me? I'm not voting.

*gasp*

I know. I know. First, I'm not a Nebraskan citizen, so I can't vote here. And, I didn't feel right voting in Texas since I'm not there and those decisions are not going to immediately effect me. {yes, yes, I'm well aware that those decision can eventually effect me, don't make me feel worse} Also, I am not in the midst of the politics down there and being removed from it makes me too anxious to vote. So, I chose not to. And, I'm quite ashamed for it. That's how it rolls sometimes though.

But don't use me as an example. Go vote!

Next up --> my husband is good because this is what he said to me as we're leaving this morning:

I will come home and take care of you if you just call.

Seriously, how amazing is that? I woke up sick, and still feel awful. I rarely get sick, so it's icky when I do. I'm sitting at school currently because I had to come to a research meeting, but once this post goes live, I will be walking to my car and sitting on the couch for the rest of the day, being ill.

Have a fabulous day, dear internets!