Google "binders full of women" and you'll get nearly 16 million hits already. The facebook group with this title had over 120,000 likes in just over an hour. There are celebrity photos (like Patrick Swayze from Dirty Dancing) with binder-related remarks strewn all over the internet. This phrase, taken out of context, is another silly attempt at slandering the Romney ticket.
When asked about the equal pay issue facing women in our workforce today, Romney thought he was tackling the question quite solidly with his anecdote about hiring women on his state cabinet. Unfortunately, he phrased his request for female applicants poorly and the public went viral with his "binders full of women" comment in a matter of minutes. Not to mention the rest of his anecdote was condescending and patronizing.
I am not here to defend Romney or ignorantly continue the slander. What I want to point out is that this election is CRUCIAL for so many women, for so many families, for the future of our country and our global presence... and WE'RE CONCERNING OURSELVES WITH A BINDER COMMENT.
Women, please pay attention. Your vote matters. This comment will forever remain symbolic of Romney's overall response to women's rights and issues that were finally brought to light during this presidential debate. He had an opportunity to shine, and he biffed it. Majorly. We need to take this debate seriously and look into the facts. Whose voting record supports women and their health (financial health, physical health, reproductive health, etc.)?
If you are one of those people who says you don't like politics, or you don't care about politics, PLEASE WAKE UP and attend to your civil duty of voting. No, it's not fun. No, most of us don't like it, but it was a hard-earned right for many of us to even have the ability to vote, and the direction of our country is suffering because of apathetic, uninvolved citizens.
Showing posts with label women's rights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label women's rights. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Friday, September 7, 2012
I choose not to accept it
If you've been online, watched television, or listened to the radio in the past month, you've probably heard about the rape discussions by politicians, the infidelity of Kristen Stewart, the breastfeeding photo on Time Magazine's cover, and the healthcare reform debates over women's reproductive choices. What do these issues all have in common? Women's sexual health.
From a recent article on Huffingtonpost.com regarding Kristen and Robert's split, I want to echo this: "For any girl growing up who pays attention to the media, it's a terrifying time to understand what it means to be a girl in society." Terrifying.
The article is written by a man, Nico Lang, and paraphrases quotes from famous male personas in the media who have all contributed their two cents regarding women's sexual health, and it got me wondering: Where are the women? The author dubs this year of filthy media as a "war on women" and I found myself asking how I was going to fight it, then asking... ARE women even going to fight? Are we going to DO anything about it? Why aren't we speaking up for ourselves? Many women in the public sphere are not doing much to lend momentum to the women's movement started decades ago. In fact, some of them are downright taking us backwards! We've got famous females like Rihanna returning to their abuser and conservative Sarah Palin running for political offices to represent us. Where are the culturally intelligent, well-respected, and confident women with integrity? Where are society's women that represent me, my sisters, my cousin who started her own law firm, my co-captain from college ultimate who has worked on carbon reducing projects, and so many other incredible women in my life?
We're working hard in the communities we live in. We're right here, and here, and here. We just need to stand up and represent ourselves. How?
By choosing to not care about the trivial relationship status of two young actors which will likely change several times as they explore their early 20's. By not embracing a culture of sexualizing women. By breastfeeding normally, and maybe even in public, so people understand that boobs serve a purpose and it's not a sexual one. By challenging the balance in media attention - when men are caught cheating or sleeping around, they're applauded, but women are bullied and harassed to the point where their careers may be over. (If you haven't read the article I mentioned above about Kristen Stewart, please do so.)
We can choose to raise our daughters with healthier perspectives. Rather than focusing on how cute, how pretty, our little girls are, we could focus on how good they are at writing or drawing or playing soccer. We can encourage our young women to treat others with respect, to treat themselves with respect, and to demand that others treat them with respect. We can encourage sexual health education so women understand their bodies and their choices. The biggest thing we can all do, I think, is to simply choose not to accept that this is the way our culture is.
From a recent article on Huffingtonpost.com regarding Kristen and Robert's split, I want to echo this: "For any girl growing up who pays attention to the media, it's a terrifying time to understand what it means to be a girl in society." Terrifying.
The article is written by a man, Nico Lang, and paraphrases quotes from famous male personas in the media who have all contributed their two cents regarding women's sexual health, and it got me wondering: Where are the women? The author dubs this year of filthy media as a "war on women" and I found myself asking how I was going to fight it, then asking... ARE women even going to fight? Are we going to DO anything about it? Why aren't we speaking up for ourselves? Many women in the public sphere are not doing much to lend momentum to the women's movement started decades ago. In fact, some of them are downright taking us backwards! We've got famous females like Rihanna returning to their abuser and conservative Sarah Palin running for political offices to represent us. Where are the culturally intelligent, well-respected, and confident women with integrity? Where are society's women that represent me, my sisters, my cousin who started her own law firm, my co-captain from college ultimate who has worked on carbon reducing projects, and so many other incredible women in my life?
We're working hard in the communities we live in. We're right here, and here, and here. We just need to stand up and represent ourselves. How?
By choosing to not care about the trivial relationship status of two young actors which will likely change several times as they explore their early 20's. By not embracing a culture of sexualizing women. By breastfeeding normally, and maybe even in public, so people understand that boobs serve a purpose and it's not a sexual one. By challenging the balance in media attention - when men are caught cheating or sleeping around, they're applauded, but women are bullied and harassed to the point where their careers may be over. (If you haven't read the article I mentioned above about Kristen Stewart, please do so.)
We can choose to raise our daughters with healthier perspectives. Rather than focusing on how cute, how pretty, our little girls are, we could focus on how good they are at writing or drawing or playing soccer. We can encourage our young women to treat others with respect, to treat themselves with respect, and to demand that others treat them with respect. We can encourage sexual health education so women understand their bodies and their choices. The biggest thing we can all do, I think, is to simply choose not to accept that this is the way our culture is.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Here's my picketing sign: "Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby"
I haven't written in a while... because I'm really freaking busy with all my cookie jars!
I just got back from my Doula Workshop down in the cities. I was in an intro class from 8am-5pm on Friday, a breastfeeding class from 5-9pm that night, then in class from 7:30am-5:30pm on Saturday with reading homework that night, and class again from 7:30-4:30pm today. I am so incredibly overwhelmed with information and emotional stories and a deep passion for this work that I'm wide awake and exhausted simultaneously.
I've only told this to two people in my life: I'm pretty sure I was born to be an activist of sorts - to really step up and fight for something. You know, a REAL activist. Not like the hippies in the 70's with the posterboard signs stabled to wooden stakes, marching around in protest of something or other, and camping out with picnic lunches on the lawn in front of some important landmark. (Not to say that wasn't helpful, but not what I'm going for.)
I was meant to be an activist for empowering women, particularly those in labor. I truly believe that the experience of pregnancy and birth have a profound, lifelong effect on not only the mother but also on the baby. A mother's self-esteem, confidence, feminism, intuition, and primal instincts are all worn on her sleeve during this phase of her life. A baby's initial experience affects his/her temperament, sense of security and trust, and view of the world.
I intend to get a doula program implemented in the St. Cloud Hospital. I want women in the community to know what their options are for labor and to have a voice in getting the birth experience they want. I hope to shift the paradigm of birth being seen as a medical operation to a beautiful, natural process. Women's bodies were designed to reproduce and no technology can replace that. (disclaimer: obviously in the event of high-risk pregnancies, medical advancements are wonderful for saving the lives of mothers and babies.)
At the very least, I want to get a community doula program started - to lead educational programs, volunteer with low-income and single women, and advocate for a shift in the birthing world. At the very most, I want to design and build a birthing center, separate from the hospital, to offer natural birthing options (water births, movement/postures, etc.) with midwives, doulas, and nurses. I am not sure how I can achieve this yet, but I am going to figure it out. I have to.
I remember being voted "Most Likely to Change the World" in high school and I graduated thinking, "Well, great, thanks for THAT burden..." When it hits you in the deepest place of your soul, though, it sure doesn't feel like a burden.
I just got back from my Doula Workshop down in the cities. I was in an intro class from 8am-5pm on Friday, a breastfeeding class from 5-9pm that night, then in class from 7:30am-5:30pm on Saturday with reading homework that night, and class again from 7:30-4:30pm today. I am so incredibly overwhelmed with information and emotional stories and a deep passion for this work that I'm wide awake and exhausted simultaneously.
I've only told this to two people in my life: I'm pretty sure I was born to be an activist of sorts - to really step up and fight for something. You know, a REAL activist. Not like the hippies in the 70's with the posterboard signs stabled to wooden stakes, marching around in protest of something or other, and camping out with picnic lunches on the lawn in front of some important landmark. (Not to say that wasn't helpful, but not what I'm going for.)
I was meant to be an activist for empowering women, particularly those in labor. I truly believe that the experience of pregnancy and birth have a profound, lifelong effect on not only the mother but also on the baby. A mother's self-esteem, confidence, feminism, intuition, and primal instincts are all worn on her sleeve during this phase of her life. A baby's initial experience affects his/her temperament, sense of security and trust, and view of the world.
I intend to get a doula program implemented in the St. Cloud Hospital. I want women in the community to know what their options are for labor and to have a voice in getting the birth experience they want. I hope to shift the paradigm of birth being seen as a medical operation to a beautiful, natural process. Women's bodies were designed to reproduce and no technology can replace that. (disclaimer: obviously in the event of high-risk pregnancies, medical advancements are wonderful for saving the lives of mothers and babies.)
At the very least, I want to get a community doula program started - to lead educational programs, volunteer with low-income and single women, and advocate for a shift in the birthing world. At the very most, I want to design and build a birthing center, separate from the hospital, to offer natural birthing options (water births, movement/postures, etc.) with midwives, doulas, and nurses. I am not sure how I can achieve this yet, but I am going to figure it out. I have to.
I remember being voted "Most Likely to Change the World" in high school and I graduated thinking, "Well, great, thanks for THAT burden..." When it hits you in the deepest place of your soul, though, it sure doesn't feel like a burden.
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