Patricia M Gil is the National Finance Director for UniteWomen.org
She lived the daily existence of a single working mother taking what was thrown at her as life. One day life became a monster in a ski mask with a taste for her daughter. A warrior was born that day. Armed with unleashed anger and a vocabulary that did not contain fear a war was waged and still rages today.
The following is taken verbatim from UniteWomen.org because I could not improve on a single word. Read up women…this is important.
Women have not been treated as full citizens of these United States from the inception of this country, and our Declaration of Independence and Constitution through the amendment process, did not remedy these deficiencies, our lives have been restricted unduly because of false information and invalid ideas which depicted women as inferior human beings in mind and body incapable of self-determination.
While strides have been made since the Declaration of Rights and Sentiments signed in 1848 at the Seneca Falls Convention we are left wanting for rights that were automatically bestowed, without restriction, upon free white men.
Women are being submitted to current restrictions and intrusions into their lives and new ones are on the horizon to be inflicted on our persons bringing us back in time where the mindset prevailed that women are not mentally qualified to determine their fates.
The following words are taken directly from the 1848 document and still hold true today. I will let them stand as the opening remark for a new set of usurpations.
“The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.”
That only after 100 years of protest by our fore-sisters who suffered humiliation, beatings, forced feeding and death were we granted suffrage.
That as a woman we should restrict our dress, behavior or attitude to “prevent” the vile crime of rape instead of putting the blame where it belongs. Our dress neither entices nor rejects a rapist. Instead teach males that there is no acceptable intercourse unless the woman is fully capable in all respects to make a clear and concise decision free of alcohol, drugs, coercion or force. The legal remedy should not be less than fitting the crime if it were committed upon another man.
That certain individuals in power have tried and are still trying to redefine and classify rape into categories like “forcible” and “legitimate”, for the purpose of removing the remedy of abortion should the woman become pregnant from the crime. This debate is demeaning and harmful to women who survived a crime so personal that it can change their life forever.
That as a woman we are still in extreme jeopardy of violence and death at the hands of a spouse or partner and the abuse is viewed by a society and legal system that either blames the woman for the violence inflicted on her or deems the offense somehow less in scope as she is still perceived as property of the abuser.
That the Violence Against Women Act is held up by some in our government who want to omit certain classifications of women from protection. There is no other classification necessary, a woman is a woman regardless of race, sexual preference or legal status and therefore worthy of protection from violence. There can be no logical argument against this act and if held up for political ploy or power is shameful.
That woman’s equal work is less valuable monetarily because of our gender. That some patriarchal ideology that men should be paid more as some outdated mentality regarding only males as “head of household” and thereby worth more and a threat of repeal by those who do not value a woman’s rights of equality.
That by apportioning the majority of money from employment to “man” gives him the ability to send a rejected family or spouse into poverty or take custody of offspring unfairly because of his ability through financial status to hire superior representation in the courts which gives him preferred access to the legal system.
That because a woman loves another woman, as some in society thinks she should only love a man, the civil liberty of marriage is denied them along with all other rights regarded as normal for even partners of the same-sex. This denial of equality is not due to any valid reasoning but is imposed due to other individual personal and or religious beliefs that have no bearing on the life of the individual in question.
That contraception, which is the single most determining factor beyond personal performance, in allowing a female to thrive in the workplace, and determine her reproductive timing and her future is not covered by insurance companies as a general practice and legislation (The Blunt Amendment) was introduced which would allow any “employer” the right to refuse contraceptive coverage in the company insurance plan for his female employees because of the “employers” moral or religious beliefs. Further, pertinent evidence that some forms of contraception are also used, and are required, as medication for various ailments has not been discussed in making this determination. Further, there is the beginning of discussions by some who want to outlaw contraception altogether which would yet again make women slaves to their reproductive systems.
That we were finally granted autonomy over our bodies and control over our reproduction, within medical parameters, the availability of abortion services by the highest court in the land under our right of privacy. Now that right is under siege in every state across this country for reasons not pertaining to any personal issue of the individual but by those wishing to restrict our freedoms because of THEIR personal and/or religious beliefs. Legislation has been introduced in some states that would force unnecessary medical procedures and time requirements as a hindrance on a woman seeking a legal abortion. There is even debate of wanting to end the option for the widely accepted exceptions of rape, incest and life of the mother.
That some further want to amend the Constitution to grant personhood to a fertilized egg granting it full citizenship with all rights and no restrictions giving a non sentient group of cells, that are only a potential not a surety, unrestricted rights that women still do not have and thereby leaving the door open to the fertilized egg taking legal precedent over the female who carries it. This would make women brood mares and hold women captive to their reproductive systems. Women could be prosecuted for miscarriages if the circumstances were questioned. The legislation would in fact legalize FORCED REPRODUCTION.
That we live in a country, that since introduced into congress for the first time in 1972, the Equal Rights Amendment which passed both houses has failed to receive the requisite number of ratifications by the states thereby maintaining the legal inequality of women and giving further evidence that women’s rights are not to be set by the state in which she resides.
That some legislators want to give control over a woman’s rights and equality to the State where they are more easily restricted by a preponderance of party affiliation or religion, both of which may not be of the woman’s personal beliefs or political leanings and therefore should have no bearing on her rights.
Because life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness have different definitions by different individuals, restrictions should only be based on laws common to all and the tenet that one man’s/woman’s freedoms stop at the freedom of another born individual.
The false beliefs of the past to the present have held women in captivity for far too long and thereby allowing the disenfranchisement of one-half of the people of this country thereby allowing the government to deny women full rights and equality.
I now stand, not asking but demanding; renouncement of future infringement and repeal of past laws, limitations and restrictions based on gender and reproduction, and claim my rights as an equal citizen of these United States of America.
Related articles
- Mitt’s six biggest lies to women (salon.com)
- Rape, Abortion, Contraception and Reproductive Rights (theleftcoaster.com)
- Straight Talk: Why Women in “Blue” States Should Vote “Red” (forbes.com)
- [link] Unhappy Birthday to the Amendment That Started the War on Women (slendermeans.wordpress.com)
- Richard Mourdock, Mitt Romney and the GOP Defense of Coerced Mating (theatlantic.com)
While you were sleeping 
Having been born shortly after world war 2 I find it interesting that when our males went off to war the women were left to man the factories and supporting businesses that were needed to maintain this country. They not only did so admirably but set production records unheard of for those same factories. Without their outstanding work and determination who knows what the outcome of the war would have been? The many women that served in our military at that time were subject to the same conditions and dangers as the men and performed their duties as expected.
What makes me wonder is why as soon as the war was over these same women were immediately deemed,by a male dominated society, to be of lesser value in the workplace than their male counterparts. How and why did this mindset evolve? And more interesting, why did women allow it to happen? I am most worried that one of our political parties are running headstrong into the past and if elected will plunge women even deeper into the abyss of inequality! If you are leaning towards voting for Republican candidates please consider what you are about to do to your fellow women. If you are content to live YOUR life dictated by men and their sexist whims please don’t vote. I would never advocate that a citizen refrain from doing their civic duty….but this is an exceptional year with an exceptional need to not continue this idea of a male dominated society. If you cannot make yourself desire equal rights in all aspects of your life and stand with your fellow women –at least do not stand in our way!
Whatever your religious views keep them separate from our countries laws, this is the essence of the fight this year…never have such radical views and intentions been put forth as a political agenda than the ones this year. It is a real time fight for the total control and domination of a womans life and body. Please I beg you..don’t mindlessly vote for a political party simply because you always have..wake up and think..consider women as a political party in and of itself. It is THAT IMPORTANT for your future as well as your mothers, daughters or any female in your life.
Patricia,
Thank you for you thoughful and meaningful comments. I am a baby boomer as well. You make a very valid point about the “Rosie the Riveters” that so bravely stepped in and assumed the male’s role in the workplace – many women flew cargo planes and performed other male dominated roles because the country NEEDED them…they afterwards, they were basically thrown away, back to subservient roles in business and as housewives. We proved ourselves, and deserve the same rights as our male counterparts. How many times must we fight this battle?? You are spot on about the importance of this election for women. Thanks for responding!
I was blessed with a wonderful mother who worked hard and made all the major purchases from her earnings – our home, our cars, our first TV, etc… but the deed, the title, etc. had to be in my father’s name! Even her bank account had to list him as a co-signer. He was a good man but was disabled…that’s just the way things were back then. If we aren’t careful, the right wing will take us back to those days. Already our ability to make our own decisions about our own bodies have been challenged! Thank you for your response.
Women have proved themselves time and again throughout the history of this country only to be “sent home” at the end of the trial. Whether the woman’s release was to make room for men returning from or or were just no longer needed in whatever capacity, it is only in recent history that this practice was questioned. Possibly this practice brought a feeling of normalcy back to men and the country. What they did not consider is that some women were forever changed by the experience itself and the ability to earn a living, expanding their world beyond the traditional role of married home maker.
I feel the patriarchal mentality added to the intrusion of religion into the political realm is the greatest hurdle for not only women’s rights but equal rights for all. I don’t know what it will take to counter this but I know the fight must continue.
Once again, I would not change a word. Women will overcome because women will never stop. No. Matter. What.
So sorry for the delay in replying (I missed your comment!). I agree. A strong man would not be threatened by a strong woman…nor would they blame women for their own weaknss. We’ve come a long way – but still have a long way to go.