Legitimate rape: The GOP just can't quit you

Early in a pregnancy, "normal" ultrasounds (the ones you see in TV shows where they put stuff on the belly and push the wand over it) aren't sufficient to see anything. The first ultrasound a woman gets around 6 weeks in is usually trans-vaginal for this reason.

Which isn't to say they aren't being evil. If a woman is seeking an abortion, the proper medical care is an abortion. It's not much more complicated than that.

The GOF CAN DIAF.

I think it's important to note that an ultra sound of any type is not at all necessary to have an abortion and, at the stage where you can have an abortion, all the doctor sees is a vague blob with a heart blob beat (which some states require they describe in detail to the mother)

I WISH I COULD QUIT YOU

Can't they just like, ask the woman when she was raped?

Women crave abortions so they'll just lie to get some sweet sweet abortion action. Or just to spite her rapist, depends on who you ask (that's presented in a jokey manner because it's absolutely serious and my mind can't handle such evil).

God, it's like you think we can trust women with anything having to do with their woman parts.

Honestly, I think the circumstances of her pregnancy are completely irrelevant. The fact of the matter is that women already have the option to get a transvaginal ultrasound if they want one or if it's deemed medically necessary. The law aims to force every woman to get one with disregard to the patient's will or the medical circumstances.

I really really really hope this bill goes the way of others and gets a butt-probe amendment for men seeking viagra prescriptions. It seems to be the only way the point gets across.

Let's just call a spade a spade. Transvaginal ultrasound when it is not medically necessary is rape. It is someone in power violating a powerless woman because it pleases him.

The GOP is pro-rape.

Is this too much or do you think it's just enough? I might need to tweak the fonts a bit. Any thoughts/feedback?

I like the scare-font for Vagina but I think it's a bit too distorted. Perhaps a blockier font?

Ooooh, even better!

I wish I was better at lettering design. Or design in general.

Were I doing it with virality in mind I'd probably go with a single un-formatted "high authority" font (Baskerville, per the recent NYT spiel on the subject of trustyworthy fonts). Depending on where you hope the image might be viral the "afraid to say vagina" thing might be lengthening the spiel/lightening the tone more than you want for an image that basically says "these laws mandate rape," with photo of the wand (I'd want the text to take a backseat to the image).

Ooh, that is quite the handsome font.

I would like more feedback folks, do you think mentioning the Michigan-centric "no saying vagina" thing distracts from the core message or adds to the absurdity of these assholes trying to legislate ladyparts?

I realize "design by committee" rarely works, but in this case I really could use help with the messaging and design.

I do like how you picked out the most penis-looking of the transvaginal ultrasound wands.

It was the highest-res one I could find of just the wand on a plain background. Everything else was being held by people and shit!

My second favorite one was probably this, which makes it look a bit like a gun:



Ugh my cervix hurts just looking at these.

Leaving aside the optimism of "planning for something to be viral" implicit in offering suggestions, I'd say it'd depend where you hoped it'd be viral. The hypocritical prudery juxtaposition would probably tickle some people - facebook virals often seem to hinge on a little nugget of shared sarcasm.

I think it might be graver in tone (and potentially more effective in startling someone's conservative aunt) without that part, and it'd reduce the amount of text (which, again, is more a question of my own meme-catchiness preferences than what I actually see floating around on facebook feeds.) To my mind that'd be concise and a tiny bit more "upmarket" meme-wise. Maybe the top definition, then a rephrase of the bottom part saying "Medically unnecessary . . . mandated by SB #### are mandatory rape," something to that effect. And, good idea.

Yes, a reference to the actual bill is probably wise, especially if you're wanting to center it around Michigan's constituents vs. the internet/nation at large.

The most effective idea I can see is do one of each version, post them where you think they'll be most viral and that way you're spreading the message as wide as you can.


... Though upon second thought that might not actually work. Nevermind. I think taking out the "fear of saying vagina" part may be best since less text = more chances people will likely read it. It does get rid of a good point, yes, but at this stage, it's a better idea to just make your point without the sarcasm.

At this point I don't really know what I want to do. I'm just pissed off and had this idea for a graphic that would express my rage better than just screaming would.

I don't think any information is needed in terms of ultrasound to perform an abortion. But I do know that it's hard to age a fetus in the first month or so without a transvaginal ultrasound because the fetus is so small.

So, it isn't an unnecessary procedure to determine the age of the fetus, but determining the age of the fetus is unnecessary unless the fetus is big enough that a regular ultrasound would work.

EDIT: Apparently I missed an entire page of responses. Sorry.

It's medically necessary to do a TVU in less than 5% of abortion cases, from what I've read.

Don't worry about it. As for why I asked, well I'm stupid you see. When I come across an opinion that is so completely opposed to what I believe I try to understand how a person could have gotten to a place where it seemed like a good idea. This never ends well for me. In this particular case I can almost wrap my head around extremist pro-lifers wanting women to have ultrasounds prior to an abortion in an attempt to guilt them into seeing the error of their ways. So yeah, a totally unnecessary procedure is mandated because they're dicks. I get that, what I don't get is the use of the wand is basically a punishment that they want to inflict on them wimmens because of what? I honestly don't know, but I'll keep thinking about it, hence the never ends well for me thing.

The crime of what they largely assume is an unwanted pregnancy due to sex outside of marriage. (I am oversimplifying, but that's the gist of it.)

This. On a more conscious/avowable level - obviously, less avowable than the transparent flimflam about the patient's health - is the idea of "deterring" women or "changing their minds at the last second when they see the beautiful fetus." One can put that on a spectrum with pro-life incrementalists' other attempts to impose statutory delays and obstacles, or to limit the availability of the procedure geographically, even if it's obvious to non-pro-lifers that this takes awful and wrong to a whole new level.

It's really just that petty isn't it? I don't know, I guess I was hoping for something more but it always seems to just drop back down to base dickheadery. My own fault though for expecting people to take the time and examine the motives for their actions, especially when those actions don't affect them.

The only way to listen to a really young fetus' heart is using a transvaginal ultrasound, AFAIK. I know a lot of anti-abortion folks think making a mother hear the heartbeat will sway them to not get an abortion, so I don't think this is simply an issue of "lets punish women via rape-wand." That rape part is just a barely unfortunate side-effect.

Besides, rape is only legit if it's a stranger forcing himself on a woman. In this case, no force, and the stranger isn't THAT strange.

Clearly the obvious solution is to start a kickstarter so we can make the Abortionplex a reality.

I don't think I even have a cervix and it's starting to hurt.

You don't think you have a cervix?

Do you think I have a cervix?

I think it's more that you should, at this point in your life, probably know whether you have a cervix or not.

I did a GIS for cervix, since I'd never seen one outside of an anatomical cut-away drawing.

It's one of those things I wish I could undo. Goddamnit. Why do I do these things to myself?

Ahhh, must be one of those gender differences. I have never had a desire to GIS any part of another man's reproductive system.

I like the way you phrased that. So you've never felt the urge to, say, GIS for Bill Dungsroman's prostate, for example.

His prostate is a magnificent specimen which is why it is featured in all relevant medical literature. Or so I'm told...