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.

women's history month

March is National Women's History Month and the theme is Women's Education - Women's Empowerment. What better time to knit a cervix?

cervix mail

 

A cervix arrived in the mail from Dorie made using Shepherd's Wool.

cervix catch up

I'll be heading down to Stitches West today, where I guarantee to increase the cervix talk a hundred-fold. I have photos of contributed cervices to post very soon, blogger isn't cooperating.

public displays of cervix knitting

 

The scene at A Verb for Keeping Warm last Sunday. And yes, those are cervix cookies.

birth control

From the Washington Post

Komen-Planned Parenthood fracas

Mother Jones has done some very smart reporting on the strange events surrounding Susan G. Komen Foundation defunding Planned Parenthood grants and the subsequent reversal. It is a tragedy that women's health become political capital. All women in the United States should have access to education, screening and detection of breast and other cancers.