I Am Woman...

Therapy Tuesday
Photo By: Horia Varlan

What makes a woman? This is a question that has been asked over time, and with each generation, the answer changes. Even within a generation. So what makes a woman unique these days?

Different people would have different answers. If we look at popular media, the answers range greatly. There is a great hailstorm of anti-woman sentiment. This is evidenced by recent legislation proposed in a variety of states that in effect, allow women to be second class citizens in the area of reproductive freedom. While these potential laws are spurned by the Religious Right, in essence, they put a potential person's life ahead of an existing person's life. These fights are around birth control (who should and should not provide it); what a physician can share with a patient (also dubbed as "wrongful birth"); and of course, abortion. Additionally, the TSA is selective in its training, as a recent agent made a nursing woman who wanted to bring her breast-pump with her on a flight, fill her empty breast-milk storage bottles prior to boarding. As if the baby with her wasn't sufficient proof. 

Across time, one thing that makes a woman special is the fact that she can carry a baby. In the 20th century in the United States, it was determined that she has the right to decide NOT to as well. What bothers me is how many female legislators are supporting these anti-women laws. Laws that might end up detrimental to their daughters, sisters, nieces, or granddaughters.

What do I do with my anger? I get active. I'll be marching with woman on April 28th in Washington to support a woman's right...to do what SHE wants to do, and not what some lawmaker deems OK. The right for her to choose based upon advice from her own medical professional, rather than a bureaucrat who has never seen the inside of a medical school or a human body.

Who's with me?

Comments

[Katherine]

You pose a fascinating question, Julie. What makes a woman unique? As our society becomes more egalitarian, child birth seems to be the only remaining sole female domain. Generally, I think this is a good thing, although I do think there are more differences between the genders and how we approach things, as compared with the mantra I learned growing up in the 70s and 80s. Being equal isn't being the same.