I've read lengthy comments supporting the women's march and other lengthy comments refuting it. This is my opinion on the march itself as well as the issues that were included in the reasons behind it. I'm probably going to disagree with you at some point, both my liberal and conservative friends. This is merely my opinion. You can take it or leave it.
The March Itself
I was glad to see a few things and disappointed by others. I appreciate the fact that the marches were done legally. No roads were blocked without a permit. There were no violent outbursts. They were very organized. I was disappointed by the messes left in the streets such as the piles of signs lining the fence seen in one photo. The language used on some of the signs and in some of the speeches were very unbecoming. I've been a cab driver for 20+ years so you can just imagine what my vocabulary has consisted of, but when speaking or writing to make a point (especially when the point is demanding respect) I avoid the use of profanity. The language hurt the cause pretty badly. As if the language wasn't bad enough, I was appalled by the pussyhats. (Please save the "they aren't bad" rhetoric. We're all adults and we're not stupid. We know exactly what they mean. And if YOU don't, Google it. Here's a hint... it has to do with the derogatory comment President Trump made on the bus 11 years ago.) The full-bodied vagina suits were a complete embarrassment!!! If you want to be taken seriously, stop acting like children. Wearing a huge vagina suit is very childish and embarrassing. Everyone can tell you're a woman by looking at you. Now had everyone chosen to wear pink t-shirts as a sign of solidarity, it would have been tactful, respectful, and still powerful!
Women's Reproductive Rights
Let's be honest and call the topic abortion because that is what all the arguing is about--abortion. I believe abortion is murder. I also believe in forgiveness for those who've had an abortion. I believe overturning Roe v Wade would cause more women's deaths than we see now. I believe while it may result in more women dying it will not equate to the 1.3 million babies that are murdered every year. I believe that women who have abortions illegally will have to deal with the consequences of that action, just as we have to deal with the consequences for ALL of our actions--good and bad. I cannot advocate for the legality of abortion, period. (The argument for abortion in the case of the risk of death of the mother and the case of rape/incest, are moot points in this opinion piece as they account for less than 2% of abortions performed in this country combined.)
I have seen the argument from pro-choice people quite often that if we were truly pro-life then we would advocate for better programs to provide for the children after they are born. Many pro-life people have stood on the personal responsibility platform and use it to preach that she shouldn't have gotten pregnant in the first place. I believe we, as a society and as individuals, could do much better in this area and, if we are fighting to make abortion illegal we will need to step up the care provided for children who are born because abortion is illegal. I'm not sure exactly what programs I'm talking about here because I haven't put that much thought into it, but I completely agree with their concern. My family provided a foster home for over 50 kids when I was a child. My parents adopted my brother. Another brother of mine has adopted two daughters. If every pro-life person were to step up we could definitely provide for these kids. Many feel that "free" birth control is not the answer either. Why not? If we are advocating to make abortion illegal, we should also be advocating for alternative solutions. Teaching kids abstinence is great, but we can't be naive enough to think that just because we said don't do it, they won't. We have to have other plans in place as well.
Funding Planned Parenthood
This is where I'm probably going to disagree with 99% of my friends both liberal and conservative. I don't believe the federal government should fund any business--for profit or non-profit. I don't have a problem with a start up grant to get your business up and going (but I think all grants should be for equal amounts and for start up only). I believe that companies should be self-sufficient and if they aren't, maybe they shouldn't exist. There are people all over this country who are willing to donate to causes they believe in. (If the government stopped funding PP, I know there will be enough donations to keep it going.) I don't think my tax dollars should fund abortions because I believe they are murder. I don't believe atheists tax dollars should fund churches through tax breaks. I don't believe donations to non-profits should be tax deductible. Your donation should be made because you believe in the cause, not so you have something else to claim on your taxes. I'm getting off on a tangent here with this one sentence... If we stopped all these tax deductions/breaks, taxes would be more streamlined and we could do away with the IRS and save money there, too.
One argument I've seen when I discuss defunding PP is all the services that PP provides. Every health department (tax payer funded) and crisis pregnancy center (donations funded) across this country provides those same services. If PP were to go under, which again I seriously doubt it would, the services would still be available. And, just a side note, did you know Planned Parenthood, that company who professes to be ALL about women's reproductive health, doesn't offer prenatal care? Go ahead, call your local PP office and ask about their prenatal services. They'll tell you the only service they offer to pregnant women is termination services, aka abortion.
Equal Rights
For the most part American women already have equal rights thanks to the hard work and sacrifices made by generations of women who have gone before us.
One thing that many women are upset about, and rightfully so, is the lesser pay that many receive for the same work as their male counter-parts. This anti-Trump march is protesting the one President who has said he intends to change that! With daughter, Ivanka by his side, Trump is very aware of issues such as this.
Another thing many have complained about is paid maternity leave. While this is not really an equal rights issue because men don't have babies, nor do they get paternity leave, it is an issue. Again, Ivanka is on this and her father has already been working on it since inauguration day, just 8 days ago!
One of the points on one of the comments I read said that women shouldn't have to pay for feminine care products since women have no choice in whether or not they have a period. This is a silly point. Babies have no choice in whether they pee or not. Incontinent elderly people have the same problem, yet diapers and Depends aren't free. We all have to wipe, men and women, because we all have to poo, yet toilet paper isn't free. Shoot, if you want to push it, we all have to eat, so food should be free, too, huh?
Another equal rights issue is rape culture. This will be pretty in-depth so I will address it separately a little later.
Since we're talking about equal rights, we also have to point out rights that women have that men don't--namely, ladies' night. I can't say as I have ever seen a feminist in the bar demand to pay full price because she doesn't want special treatment.
All that being said, it is obvious to me that equal rights really had nothing to do with the women's march at all. The only two legitimate equal rights issues have been discussed and are being addressed by the Trump administration. Let's be honest. It was all about Trump's stance on abortion and and his comment about grabbing pussies.
Rape Culture in America
At one of the marches a man held a sign that said "I'm half naked and surrounded by members of the opposite sex...but I feel protected, not intimidated. I want the same for them." Most women would feel intimidated or even scared when surrounded by men even if fully clothed! Many women have, at some point in their lives, felt threatened, violated, or scared by the actions of men around them. Women have to take precautions that men don't even think about, like going jogging alone at 5 am. Women think about things that men don't, like if a guy is chasing me and I get to my car, the fact that all four doors open when I push the button, may not help keep me safe. (That's a conversation I just had with Donald when I bought my new car last month.)
So, what can be done about it? Rape is already illegal, although, as we saw with the Brock Turner case, the punishment is sometimes a slap on the wrist. So, then, obviously we need national minimum sentences that judges can't change (as we have in Tennessee).
Another step is education. We need to raise our boys to know what rape is and what consent is. Teach them to respect women. Stop excusing their actions by saying "boys will be boys". Maybe making this part of sex education is the answer. Maybe parents teaching their kids better. Maybe families being better role models. Maybe tv shows could assess and educate their viewers better. Maybe making an example out of the Brock Turners of this world. I don't know the answer, but it has to stop. We cannot teach our daughters NOT to take proper precautions until we teach our sons how to act.
Another change that can be made is that society must stop blaming women... for getting drunk, for wearing clothing that some might be tempted by, for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, for flirting, and the list goes on. None of the things I've listed are illegal. Raping women is!
So there you have it. I really hope that by posting lengthy opinion pieces such as this, dialogue can take place instead of insults being slung. Hopefully understanding other's opinions, hearing their concerns, not judging, but really listening, we can find some solutions.
