Why I Supported The Women's March

     There's no denying the fact that I'm pretty open and honest about the fact that I have some VERY unpopular opinions when it comes to politics and current events.  I realize, whole heartedly that it makes it very hard for some people to be friends with me, and thats ok.  I realize it challenges a lot of people and leads to defensive conversations where people feel that they have to defend their side of things, or tell me that I'm wrong, or that they think that my opinion is so absurd.  I know that, and I accept it, and I'm confidently OK with it.  I haven't always been so "liberal" as Jay has suddenly coined my new outlook on life.  At the ripe age of 18, I was a gun toting, planned parenthood condemning, intolerant, Tomi style kind of gal.  I would argue politics with two of my best friends (yeah we were super cool at 18, let me tell you) until the death because they LOVED to push my buttons about my conservative views.  I, in complete honesty, was SO ignorant.  I refused to see the world from outside of my own bubble.  I figured because I had overcome some adversity in my life and was able to be successful, that EVERYONE was capable of it.  I felt like that if people were stereotyped, it was because of their own behavior.  I refused to believe that prejudice existed in the United States- except for in the rare case of racist ignorance.

     I had no idea that women were often underpaid in the workforce.  That before the ACA women were often charged more for healthcare than men.  That women were not protected in the workforce when it came to pumping breastmilk for their children. I had no idea that Rape Culture was even a thing.  I was brought up in a world that you often blamed women for being too drunk, too promiscuous or being embarrassed about their sexual partners and blaming it on someone else.  I was taught that America was the greatest country in the world, that we had no flaws, and that everyone wanted to be us.  I had no idea that women don't have paid maternity leave, that the workforce is honest to God set against women going back into the workforce when they have kids through the increasing costs of childcare, and the lack of support from employers. I had no idea that women were often forced to go back to work before the recommended bonding time was up from the WHO because their jobs weren't protected.  I didn't know that Mommy wars were a thing.  Or that abortions are sometimes medically necessary (despite what the average person thinks) and that even though I absolutely despise the thought of a sweet baby not being given a life, that Quality of life is really an important thing to discuss.  I didn't realize that I wouldn't want to teach my daughter that if a boy likes her, then he'll pick on her- because I'm not ok telling my daughter to tolerate disrespect at any age from the opposite sex just because its the way I was taught. I refuse to let my children think that because they grow up in America, and white middle class privileged children, that there aren't people out there that have to fight for their rights and privileges.  If I taught my children to be complacent about their rights, I'd be doing an injustice to them.  If I were to tell my daughter- as a mother, its not your right to heal with paid time off after childbirth.  You shouldn't demand that your insurance coverage allow you affordable options of birth control to regulate your cycles and prevent an unwanted pregnancy.  Because if, God forbid my daughter were to find out in 25 years that this precious baby she prayed for would not survive a single second outside the womb and could potentially kill her, I would want her to have a choice, after having an educated discussion with her health care provider about her options.  Because I want to change the acceptable locker room conversation from talk of the unwanted grabbing of a married woman's p*ssy to that of respect for their future coworkers, wives, girlfriends, or daughters.   Because being called a "slut" and a "whore" is not something any young girl deserves to hear from any man.  Because women are shamed for not leaving abusive relationships, while people seem to forget that their abuse is at the hands of a man not being held accountable for his actions.  Because we live in a nation that only 34 states have laws against men that rape women that lead to the conception of a child from having parental rights to the child.  Because spousal rape was not illegal until 1993.

There are a lot of things people don't see inside their own bubble, and that saddens me. If you don't want to stand with your fellow sisters in solidarity for the challenges they face, you're not at all required, but remember who will stand with you when you realize that you want maternity leave paid for, or you are faced with the fact that if the ACA is repealed your pumping breaks at work are no longer mandatory and you may lose your job, or be forced to formula feed your kid against your wishes.  Nothing in this life is worth taking for granted.