I read the news today, oh slut

When I conceived The Felt Cervix Project, it was with the notion of highlighting issues surrounding women's health. From the continued Republican congressional attacks on funding for Planned Parenthood and the upcoming election, it was sure to be a hot button topic.  But nothing prepared me for the events of the past weeks - the all male congressional panel, Sandra Fluke, the Blunt Amendment, the odious Rush Limbaugh - what a turn of events. Krystal Ball wrote a  fantastic piece in the Huffington Post, with the strong message of shame as a tool to effectively silence women. Derogatory words like bitch, whore, slut, feminazi, or ball-breaker, are all methods of insulting women and putting them down, women who are seeking parity, who want independence, want control of their bodies. It is absolutely mind boggling that in 2012 we are having to discuss birth control. But we must speak, and shout, and demand that our voices are heard.