Sandra Fluke’s Op-Ed: Name Calling Won’t Silence Us

Sandra Fluke is quickly becoming a household name. The Georgetown Law student was recently called a “slut” and a “prostitute” by conservative radio shock-jock Rush Limbaugh for her stance on women’s health and contraception, in what has become a media phenomenon, causing Limbaugh’s career to become crippled (if only temporarily) and Fluke to become something of a flag-bearer for women’s rights. Fluke contributed an op-ed to CNN today defending her stances and founding something of an ideological rallying point for the cause.

Though she never once mentions Rush by name, she does refer to the incident and makes it clear that she won’t be coerced into silence by name-calling. “Opponents of reproductive health access demonized and smeared me and others on the public airwaves,” she writes. “These smears are obvious attempts to distract from meaningful policy discussions and to silence women’s voices regarding their own health care,” but adds that they have “clearly failed” because people all over the country have sent her messages of support, including President Obama, who called her personally.

Supporters include women who suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome who need birth control to prevent cysts, sexual assault victims, Catholic women on the side of family planning, and the men who support these women. “Restricting access to such a basic health care service, which 99% of sexually experienced American women have used and 62% of American women are using right now, is out of touch with public sentiment. … Attacking me and women who use contraception by calling us prostitutes and worse cannot silence us.”

What do you think the future holds for Sandra Fluke? For her cause?