Posts Written by

By akwhit • 15 years ago

Statute of limitations on sex crimes

Dear Feministing community,

I need your help, advice, hints, anything.

I live in California, and have been reading a lot lately about the heartbreakingly large backlog of untested rape kits sitting in the state’s police departments. As the economy here gets worse, and more and more cuts are made (several departments in my area have put down their cold case departments), I fear many victims will never get justice. A big reason their cases will never be heard is that there is a statute of limitations on rape cases.

California’s is 10 years, which seems like a long time, but when you figure in bureaucracy and budgets, it can take at least that long for something to happen. I would like to try to get a proposition on next year’s ballot eliminating the statute in cases where there is a usable DNA profile. As I understand it, the statute was put in place to prevent unfair convictions based on faulty eyewitness identification. But an accurate DNA profile changes everything.

I know this will do no good for most rape victims, who get raped by people they know. But any dent in the sadly large number of rapes that go unpunished is good. Moreover, this particular proposition would hopefully not mess with our economy further; it would just give cops and prosecutors more time in a budget crunch.

I have a few contacts in local law, but I am looking for local groups who might back me on this. ...
By akwhit • 15 years ago

Mom impressions

In the preview for Margaret Cho’s new "Cho Show," you get to see her mother, and hear her speak, and I was struck by how dead on Margaret’s impressions of her are. Sure, she’s exaggerating for effect, but the accent and cadence were uncannily similar.

And that’s when I realized that most of the women I know (myself included) have a similar ability to mimic Mom perfectly. My mom isn’t thrilled when I do it (I don’t sound like that!!), but she, in turn, did a great imitation of my Grandma.

So, Feministers — how about you? Do you ever mimic your moms? And guys, do you do Dad impressions?

In the preview for Margaret Cho’s new "Cho Show," you get to see her mother, and hear her speak, and I was struck by how dead on Margaret’s impressions of her are. Sure, she’s exaggerating for effect, ...
By akwhit • 15 years ago

What does “sex positive” mean to you?

I have seen the term “sex positive” pop up a lot in the blog world lately, but I am still not entirely sure what it means.
I think I have a better grasp on what it is to be “sex negative.”
To me, that would be someone who considers sex and sexuality to be shameful and dirty and wrong, especially for women, who should consider it their distasteful duty to their husbands. I also think those who only want sex to be reserved for reproduction — no contraceptives for you!  — are sex negative, since it’s pretty clear that sexuality is about a lot more than just baby-making.

I have seen the term “sex positive” pop up a lot in the blog world lately, but I am still not entirely sure what it means.
I think I have a better grasp on what it ...
By akwhit • 15 years ago

Hatred and sexual desire

“I hate women — but I still want to have sex with them.”
I’ve encountered that attitude many times from men in real life and on the Internet. More so, certainly, on the Internet, where hating women while still wanting to screw them seems to be a badge of honor for many anonymous men.

“I hate women — but I still want to have sex with them.”
I’ve encountered that attitude many times from men in real life and on the Internet. More so, certainly, on the Internet, where hating women ...
By akwhit • 15 years ago

Want women to get pregnant? How about some health insurance?

Anti-contraception people like to talk about how pregnancy is this miracle of nature that women are designed for. Women have babies every day, and it’s no big deal, so therefore, not letting nature take its course is wrong. All women should carry each pregnancy to term. That is God’s way.

That’s why they insist insurance companies shouldn’t be covering contraceptives, and pharmacists and doctors shouldn’t be forced to dispense or prescribe them. It’s against God and nature to interfere, after all.

However, being in that wonderful natural state is, according to most insurance companies, a medical condition, and if you happen to be uninsured and pregnant,  good luck getting insurance any time soon!

My best friend left her well-paid job to go freelance. ...

Anti-contraception people like to talk about how pregnancy is this miracle of nature that women are designed for. Women have babies every day, and it’s no big deal, so therefore, not letting nature take its course is ...