So much for the economy, stupid: birth control is currently the hot button issue of the campaign season. Rush Limbaugh’s noxious remarks to Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke (whom he called a "slut" and "prostitute" for testifying in support of contraception coverage, then demanded that she make and post sex videos) led to a rare apology. Liberals, however, insist that his attack is part and parcel of a conservative “war on women” that includes restrictions on abortion, controversy over Planned Parenthood, and opposition to women in combat.
And voilà, the latest front in the culture war.
Rick Santorum attempted to downplay Limbaugh’s impact, telling CNN that the radio host was “being absurd, but you know, an entertainer can be absurd." Yet that can cut both ways, and much of the backlash has been fueled by female entertainers like Martha Plimpton and Amy Poehler.
Irin Carmon, a staff writer for Salon who has been covering the controversy, tells Kurt Andersen that they’re having a real effect on public opinion. “Not only do you have more women who are in a powerful position comedically, that they can say ‘I’m taking over [Saturday Night Live’s] “Weekend Update” to talk about these issues’; you also have a way of talking now that’s become much more irreverent. It is still really funny to hear a woman say ‘vagina’ on television,” Carmon thinks. “You have this perfect storm.”
Kurt wonders if Jon Stewart’s Daily Show and The Colbert Report — which not long ago were criticized (by Carmon among others) as boys’ clubs unreceptive to female writers — might be dwelling on the issue partly as an act of contrition. Carmon finds their new focus encouraging, but believes the entertainment industry remains deeply afraid of reproductive choice, despite its reputation for vanguard liberalism on social issues. “In the 1980s, we had Dirty Dancing and Fast Times at Ridgemont High, which represented abortion as either something that needed to be accessible in a healthy and legal way or as just a normal part of your life. Whereas right now if it’s talked about in movies like Juno or Knocked Up, people just turn around and start running.”
But where the official culture industry falls short, Carmon thinks DIY social media is picking up the slack. “Right after the all-male panel about denying people contraception coverage, there were a million comics, photo mash-ups, and comedy skits on YouTube,” she says, “so you actually had a lot of people making their own pop culture about this.”
→ What do you think about how pop culture is portraying women’s reproductive health? Tell us in a comment below.
Rhythm is Gonna Get You
Artist: Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound MachineAlbum: Greatest Hits





Comments [6]
The ONLY good thing about this vicious attack on women's rights, is it's apparently waking up women who are now 20-30-something who took the achievements of the "women's lib" movement for granted. Hey, guess what, job and educational opportunities were not always there, nor were reproductive rights. And now, all women are being threatened again.
Feminism is not for the history books. Sadly, we women have to stay alert, stay ready to protect the rights we have -- and should have -- which involves all of us, regardless of age. And that involves our bodies, our work, our education, our lives.
limbaugh, in effect, apologized to the sponsors,not the woman in question. so, this "rare" apology,may have been rare;but, it wasn't an apology.
To James MK:
Looking on the bright-side now, of course we are animals; but, not only that, we have created sports that will insure that our kind out-live every other species on the earth. Yes, I'm a mammal animal and that makes me feel grateful to still be alive.
Sad to say, but that paragraph did not even end on a happy note. Bear with me through this ammendment: "Don't worry, be happy."
The public suffers from an extraordinarily short memory. Did you all forget that Rush Limbaugh spent years on drugs while arguing against drugs and drug addicts on the air?
Rush Limbaugh is no more responsible for what comes out of his mouth than is any other drug addict in entertainment. He's not the first junkie with access to media and he won't be the last.
Class warfare is 360 is what is going on and why this term is one that so many deny is beyond me! We are so smart but we are animals!
You're absolutely right when you critique Hollywood for supporting a backward movement vis-a-vis women's roles and reproductive rights. Imagine another Fast Times At Ridegmont High in which Sean Penn's surfed-out stoner character knocks up an up & coming media star - and she gives it all up to have the result of a drunken one-nighter. That plot point would have had movie-goers running from the theatre in the 80's ... Whatever happened to mistakes, a little fun, and then going your own way? Institutionalized conservatism masquerading as low-brow buddy-movie, Knocked Up is an insult to the existence of a cerebral cortex in women. And Juno might as well have come with a seal of approval from the Catholic Church. This along with the obsession with Brides dresses and Brides Maids and all things weddings is enough to make you feel you wandered into a 50-60's time warp. Thank god Four Weddings & A Funeral at least had a iny touch of death, a promise not to get married, and plenty of romping along the way. The Brits know how to do it! (Love the Amy Poehler poster, by the way. There's a lady who can recruit.)
Leave a Comment
Register for your own account so you can vote on comments, save your favorites, and more. Learn more.
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting. By leaving a comment, you agree to New York Public Radio's Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.