Archive for reproductive rights

abortion bans increased fertility rates and infant deaths (through a Bayesian analysis)

Posted in Books, Kids, Statistics with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 26, 2025 by xi'an

“fertility rates in states with abortion bans were higher than would have been expected in the absence of these policies, with the largest estimated differences among subpopulations experiencing the greatest structural disadvantages and in states with among the worst maternal and child health and well-being outcomes” Bell, Frank & al., JAMA, 13 Feb 2025

“The groups that are most likely to have children as a result of abortion bans are also individuals who are most likely, for a number of different reasons, to have higher rates of infant mortality,” THYT, 13 Feb 2025

“Infant mortality in Texas was 9.4 percent higher after abortion bans were implemented than would have been expected” THYT, 13 Feb 2025

“Evidence suggests that increases in the fertility rate due to abortion bans were especially large among people who experienced structural disadvantage, including racially minoritized individuals, those without a college degree, and individuals using public health insurance3—all groups with higher infant mortality rates.” Gemmil, Frank & al., JAMA, 13 Feb 2025

Jorge’s questionable lecture on secularism [reposted]

Posted in Kids, pictures, Travel with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on January 10, 2025 by xi'an

and it only gets better [?!]

Posted in Books, Kids, pictures, Travel, University life with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 21, 2024 by xi'an

“Those cities are gone, they’re gone, and we continue to give billions of dollars to a man [President Zelensky] who refused to make a deal” – DT, 25 Sept

“What do we do to protect our kids? I unfortunately think that we have to increase security in our schools. We have to make the doors lock better. We have to make the door stronger. We’ve got to make the windows stronger,” – JD Vance, 01 Oct

“One of the things that I’ve noticed some of our Democratic friends talking a lot about is a concern about carbon emissions, this idea that carbon emissions drives all the climate change … let’s just say that’s true, just for the sake of argument.” – JD Vance, 01 Oct

“I’m the father of IVF (…) I got a call from Katie Britt, a young, just a fantastically attractive person from Alabama (…) I said, explain IVF, very IVF, very quickly. And within about two minutes, I understood it” – DT, 17 Oct

And, then, most unexpectedly…

“It is imperative to guarantee that women have autonomy in deciding their preference of having children, based on their own convictions, free from any intervention or pressure from the government. Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the power to determine what she does with her own body? A woman’s fundamental right of individual liberty, to her own life, grants her the authority to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes. Restricting a woman’s right to choose whether to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is the same as denying her control over her own body. I have carried this belief with me throughout my entire adult life.” – Melanija Knavs, 03 Oct

“I am sympathetic to all who wish to find a better life in this country. As an immigrant myself, I intimately understand the necessary if arduous process of legally becoming an American. As a mother myself, I stressed: ‘The government should not be taking children away from their parents.’” – Melanija Knavs, 03 Oct

francescoverdose [update]

Posted in Books, Kids, pictures with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 12, 2024 by xi'an

“Peace requires before all else the defense of life, a good that today is jeopardized…through the promotion of an alleged ‘right to abortion’. No one, however, can claim rights over the life of another human being, especially one who is powerless and thus completely defenceless.” 09 Jan.

“I would like to emphasize one thing: It is very important that we have this meeting, this meeting between men and women, because today the worst danger is gender ideology, which erases differences.” 01 March

“A woman within the People of God is a daughter, a sister, a mother. Womanhood speaks to us of fruitful welcome, nurturing and life-giving dedication”. 28 Sept.

“On my return to Rome, I will open the process for the beatification of King Baudouin. His example as a man of faith may enlighten those in power. [I praise] the courage of this man who chose to leave his position as king in order not to sign [the 1990 abortion] law.” 28 Sept. (International Safe Abortion Day)

a most promising choice for higher education minister

Posted in Kids, pictures, University life with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 4, 2024 by xi'an


The newly installed (and presumably short lived) French government led by Michel Barnier only includes centre-right and right-right ministers, several of whom voted against reproductive rights and inclusion advances like same-sex marriage in the past. This is in particular the case for Patrick Hetzel, the Ministry of Higher Education (in charge of the French universities!), a former professor of marketing, a current member of Parliament, & an arch-conservative attacking the French Planned Parenthood for its “ideology”, who also took anti-scientific and conspiracy positions during the COVID pandemic, as a Raoult supporter and anti-vax. As illustrated by this quote:

«Très souvent, au moment où elles émergent, les ruptures de paradigme permises par les avancées scientifiques sont le fait d’individus qui, au sein de la communauté scientifique, sont minoritaires. Nous devons donc être très attentifs à éviter le développement d’un dogme qui serait celui d’une science officielle : ce serait tout à fait dangereux.»¹ Patrick Hetzel, November 2023


¹Very often, when they emerge, paradigm breaks made possible by scientific advances are the work of individuals who, within the scientific community, are the minority. We must therefore be very careful to avoid endorsing a dogma that would correspond to official science: this would be most dangerous.