the state of biology education

We already knew that a bunch of white men in power have long believed that there are categories of rape that need to be distinguished, and that sympathy for the suffering of the women raped is relevant by category. Apparently lots of these men over time have claimed that women's bodies can tell in which category to place the rape, and in the correct ones can (choose one) secrete anti-sperm juices, reject the sperm due to adrenalin, etc. The recent Todd Akin nonsense has brought this to the news media, and while NPR carefully explained that they had checked with scientists and Planned Parenthood and there is no truth to the magical contraceptive processes, most of the discussion has been of Akin's turns of phrase about the rape categories. The only real comment about the science (lack of it) has been one blogger pointing out that Akin is on the congressional committee on Science, Space, and Technology. I checked, and it's a relief to know that at least he isn't on the subcommittee on Research and Science Education. Still, maybe it's time to go back and explain some biology to people.
Someone else pointed out that Rebecca Solnit's 2008 essay is relevant (with updated comments)
http://www.guernicamag.com/daily/rebecca-solnit-men-explain-things-to-me/