You know how smart people can be totally dumb?
That’s pretty much what I’m thinking in regard to the recent ridiculous, wasteful, bogus (in my opinion) study on Birth Control pills and how they might affect women’s choice of mate.
Author Suzanne Reisman has a wicked smart post over at Blogher, and while I’d love to weigh in with my two cents, I don’t need to because she is right on the money.
Most of what you may have read on this subject was written by morons — except Breakup Girl and her amazing power of BS detection, “Feh. I know there’s science in here somewhere. But “lead researchers” should leave the headline-friendly love stuff to superheroes. Especially (but not only) when it’s got the faint whiff of “Women and their krazy hormones! Sheesh!” Ah, thank you Breakup Girl!
Most of the articles I’ve read sound like they were written by people who probably copied off others in biology class. And weren’t copying off the smartest kid in class…
From Reisman’s article:
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More important, what is the point of studies like these? The Feminist Peace Network pointedly notes, “How sad that research like this even gets funding–imagine if those funds were used to come up with explanations for wife-beating or dowry killings. Just saying.” But, people love scientific studies that prove some sort of preconceived notion about how women and men interact, and thus we are likely to continue to be bombarded with bogus science and the breathless news reports that follow for eternity. (Sorry to be so cynical.) In the meantime, no attention is paid to the fact that the pharmaceutical industry abandoned efforts to create more birth control options for men and the latest anti-reproductive rights ploy by the Bush administration, which is currently re-writing Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) guidelines to re-classify many forms of birth control as “abortions." (You can take action against this insanity at Progressive Future and/or MoveOn.)
So how can we deal with these bogus science reports? Bitch magazine has an excellent article with tips on how to deconstruct “bunk reporting in five easy steps.” Read it, study the lessons, and become as expert as PJ in debunking crackpot studies.
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For reals, don’t even get me started on the topic of birth control, stupid conservative bogus science, and how shitty or not shitty it can be to be on hormonal birth control. And what ever happened to the birth control pills big pharma was working on for men? They gave it up. It’s better for them to give men Viagra (money money money moooonay monay!) instead of figuring out what nutrional, health, and mental problems are preventing them from being able to function. You’d think something provided by the health care industry would have some sort of relation to your actual health, but you’d be deluding yourself.
Don’t get me started. That path leads only to despair.
Oh, I am so glad that you liked the post. I was just telling my husband that whenever I write something that I really like, it seems that no one else does, and vice versa. BlogHer has some great stuff going on there. If you aren’t on the feminism & gender blogroll, you (and Break Up Girl) should add yourself pronto!
You know, I’ve never really been sure what the BlogHer network was all about. I signed up while I checked out your your book and the (then) upcoming conference but haven’t done anything since.
Hmm… I DO have my custom triple creme band shirt that says “Special thanks to my vagina” perhaps you’re right! I’ll look into these networks you speak of.
I think I know what you mean about what you vs what others really like. Always the polars. Foo.
Double commenting on my own blog. I’m such the pro. heh
You also just inspired me add a link to something (see above re shitty birth control) I wrote here years ago where I talked about (i admit nothing!) the depression and internal storm rage I was having while on the Nuva Ring (man it was so awesome before it made me want to die). Wasn’t the first or last time The Pill or something like it made life hellish.
The lone comment on that post was not from me - just somebody using my name (anon is fine). I also got a really serious email from another girl going through the same thing, who felt better after reading and emailing to me.
I have no idea what I’m doing, but if my BS helps someone else feel less alone in their banana pants, that’s wonderful.
Sometimes I’m not sure what the networks thing is all about either, and then I read your second comment and it reminds me that that is exactly what the whole BlogHer thing is supposed to be about. It doesn’t always work, and you don’t necessarily need a BlogHer or whatever to get the type of connections you mention, but I think it can facilitate it. Honestly, I’m just lucky that birth control has never really effected me the ways it has really impacted other women. However, it has been effective at times at reducing my risk for pregnancy by eliminating my desire to engage in acts that could lead to pregnancy.
A few things:
Bogus science makes me so mad! I agree with pretty much everything you wrote/quoted. I also liked that Bitch article about debunking bunk. Just the other day, my boyfriend showed me an article which had a headline that proclaimed runners to live longer, healthier lives. Only at the end of the article did they say that actually, any vigorous exercise would have the same effect. Duh! And there I was, feeling bad for hating running for no good reason. Not the same as BC, of course, but same line of thinking.
And I have been confused by BlogHer as well. I also signed up, poked around, and never returned. It seems like there is quality stuff being written on the network, but I don’t know how to break in to it. This is a really long comment. I will end it now! :)
Chrissy, just hearing someone talk about a piece of fruit as “sugar” makes me want to give up on the human race entirely. What people tend to absorb from headline-science might just lead to our doom. haha
oh it’s grim.
Thanks really though. You both made me feel less dim with regard to the BlogHer network. I was like “what am i not getting?”
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