conuly

More than two women die per day from what is reported as pregnancy-related causes. There could be a lot more dying, but their deaths aren't recorded as pregnancy-related, so they don't show up in the statistics.

Black women are more likely to be both poor and urban, which may be a big reason for the disparity. Being poor outside of the city isn't so difficult; even with little or no money a person can still obtain fresh, wholesome, real food (or grow some of their own), and can safely go walking out in the fresh air. But poor families in the inner city often have no access at all to anything but factory-packaged, chemical-laden crap made of refined carbs and hydrogenated oils, and may be taking their lives in their hands every time they step outside their apartments.

Not to mention that the 'Great Outdoors' in the inner city has almost no trees, flowers or wildlife (except pigeons and rats,) the parks are full of criminals, and the air is full of noise, fumes, and EMFs. So folk stay indoors, where there's even more allergens and EMFs.

Urban medical centers are usually crowded, impersonal, drastically out-dated and under-funded, and geared to shuffling The Poor through and out with the least cost and effort. Therefore the quality of care sucks out loud. In less populated areas, the funding and facilities may be just as bad, but at least there's some chance of getting personal attention, because the providers aren't up to their ears in patients every day.

I don't look to the government to do anything for any of us Poor these days. I think we're on our own, and had best find ways to take care of ourselves and each other without their 'help'. Pregnant women need safety, healthy food, fresh air and exercise, clean environments, and care providers who actually care about them - these seems little enough to ask, and it's a national disgrace that it even has to be asked for. But there has to be ways for the women of the inner cities to band together and get these basic requirements of good health met for themselves and their children, even if Those In Power don't give a damn.

I want to send that AI article to every asshole in this country who calls themselves "pro-life." This has been pissing me off for a long time-- how the hell can you consider life sacred and require a woman to put hers on the line?

The bride abduction article is indeed sickening-- it is the complete dehumanization of women that terrifies me the most, the idea that it might not even occur to men that stealing a raping a woman was any different from catching a wild animal and branding it as part of your herd. How can our species be so fucked up?