“War on women” is a phrase often used in U.S. politics. It describes Republican policies regarding access to reproductive health services, domestic violence against women, rape, and workplace discrimination against women. As a consequence, many Republican describe the idea as “phony” and “absurd:”
“I have been to war, and this is not a war.” —Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa)
The War On Women vs. The War On Terror
Most Americans are concerned about terrorism. Indeed, President Donald Trump has continually pledged to wage war on “radical Islamic terrorism.” However, the terrorist threat that troubles so many pales in comparison to the casualties American women suffer at the hands of American men.
To get some perspective, we can compare the War On Women with the War On Terror over the period of a single year. Here’s a handy infographic to help you visualize the vast difference between the two “wars.”
According to the U.S. Department of State, 17 U.S. citizens worldwide were killed and 14 were injured as a result of incidents of terrorism in 2011.
In comparison, the Violence Policy Center reports 1,509 women were killed by men they knew in 2011. Domestic violence data from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) shows 922,000 women were raped and 4,774,000 were victims of physical domestic violence in 2011. In addition, 2,883,000 were stalked and 17,091,000 were victims of psychological aggression.
This second graphic just lists women KILLED in domestic violence attacks:
Actually, you are right, Senator Ernst. This is not a war. It’s a massacre.
