Inspired and encouraged by Kathy Powers and Janise Hurtig
Julie Dermansky, Len and the Calif. Nurses Assoc.
Oppression is our middle name and we do not accept that, do we? NO! Women have been fighting for equality on so many levels. How long has it been since women’s lib first opened doors to Women’s Rights? It seems eons since I learned that a Black man could vote before any female could, and that the Suffragettes fought for that right. The door to politics opened.
The sexual revolution took us through a revolving door where we could celebrate our sexuality without being called whores. But who got pregnant? Hormones and science gave us birth control, that is if your church allowed you that option. Hormones out of control, the testosterone and estrogen fed to animals, effects both men and women. Breast cancer is asexual. History’s pendulum has swung again, where sexual promiscuousness is frowned upon, with HIV and HPV as well as unplanned pregnancy to worry about. There is a rumor that there are heavy duty condoms available.
Regardless that the choice to have sex or not is ours, a marriage license does not trump the word no, although we still fight for control of our own bodies. The idiots (forgive my name calling, but I am not taking it back) in Texas limiting Roe versus Wade haven’t realized the implications of government control over our body choices, be you male or female. They can mandate anything regarding human bodies. Next, we will all be chipped, with predictive programming.
It is not all gloom and doom, women can own property, they are not property. We must remain vigilant though; human trafficking exists. Young women and children are plucked off the streets, women of color often victims; because felons know those that protect don’t pay the same attention to them as they do to others. Women do not need to trade their bodies to make a living, the glass ceiling has risen, although still not level. Education is opportunity and the trades have opened doors. We have a choice as women, but we often need to prove ourselves by being better.
I speak to you of how much has changed, so I ask, is a woman’s lot fair? Not by a long shot. How do we make a difference, first vote! Write our politicians, write the newspapers, share your voice in protest, talk to your friends over coffee, educate yourself and question what’s what.
Critical discourse to figure out what’s right. The issue is our right to vote is in danger too. Do you want to give the government total control over your body? Next stop “soylent green.” The old people will become fodder. Oh, oh don’t get me started on ageism. The current political ideology in some states makes it harder for anyone to have a say, and this is the United States. If one doesn’t have a vote, we are not united. Next it will be your vote, your head on the chopping block. Put up your dukes/duchesses!
