Sex Happens

by: Kayla Williams

Fri Dec 18, 2009 at 10:30:37 AM EST


Women in the military may not like to talk about it, since many of us are still fighting to prove that we belong in the military and do our jobs well. Quite frankly, I don't want to talk about sex in a war zone - I want to talk about how women are proving ourselves not only competent but indispensable in counterinsurgency.

But the reality is that humans do have sex. The Army even lets married soldiers live together in Iraq. Condoms are sold at the PX. And - tragically - nonconsensual sex happens too; the DoD reports that reports of sexual assaults are on the rise, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

When sex happens, so can pregnancy. Some cite this as a reason that women should not be allowed to go to combat. Absurdly, though, military women have been denied access to emergency contraception (EC).* Even though the DoD initially put EC on its Basic Care Formulary (medications that must be stocked at all MTFs), it was removed after pressure from the Bush administration.  

Now, there is a chance to right this wrong. Yesterday, Senator Al Franken introduced the Compassionate Care for Servicewomen Act in the Senate, supported by Senator Olympia Snowe. "This bipartisan bill would guarantee that servicewomen stationed overseas have timely access to emergency contraception (EC)." (Read more details in the NARAL Pro-Choice America press release.) A version has also been introduced in the House.

Contact your elected representatives today and urge them to support the Compassionate Care for Servicewomen Act. Military women deserve access to emergency contraception - especially those who have experienced sexual assault.  

*As NARAL explains, "EC is a concentrated dose of ordinary birth-control pills that can dramatically reduce a woman's chance of becoming pregnant if taken soon after sex. EC does not cause abortion; rather it is a safe and effective way to prevent pregnancy."

[Note: This post was updated to note that reports of sexual assault have risen; sexual assault is often unreported so actual rates are difficult to track.]

Kayla Williams :: Sex Happens
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Sex Happens | 4 comments
Great post (0.00 / 0)
Messages sent to my people in DC. Thanks for the heads up.

Pack Parachute.org (0.00 / 0)
There is a new organization to help those in the military who have experienced sexual trauma; it is calledhttp:/ www.Pack Parachute.org

I have to believe that something extraordinary is possible. (Mrs. John Nash)

Hate to nitpick, but the article you link about "sexual assualts are on (0.00 / 0)
the rise" is not about an increase in the number of sexual assaults, but about an 8% increase in reporting and court martial related to sexual assault.

As this article points out, the DoD finds this to be a positive.

I do have a question about Plan B. If you report being raped, do they use a rape kit that comes with Plan B and an antibiotic?


Sex Happens | 4 comments
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