44th Anniversary of Roe V. Wade and Why I Stand By The Women Marching

I wasn't going to write a post about the march, because I honestly didn't think it was needed given the amazing turn out for the Women's March. However, if I have to read  "Grow up.", "Get thicker skin.", "They're only words.", or the best on of them all "Don't be a sore loser." one more time today, I might flip my lid. What do these people think the march is about? Clearly, there is a much greater number of people who didn't pay attention during History class as I had originally thought. How can people actually think that the Women's March is solely about our new president Mr. Trump? As if the oppression of women didn't begin centuries ago and is something that continues today. Sure we can vote, have a job (though equal pay is a grey line), join the army, open a bank account, shit, we're even 'lucky' enough to be allowed access to birth control, but those are just things that we shouldn't have had to fight for in the first place. So, when people from my generation can't comprehend why there are women marching today, I understand, it's a privilege to be so naive --hats off to the many people who marched in previous years. 

Now, I'm not someone who identifies as a feminist nor would I ever want to ( no offense feminists friends), it's just not my thing. And no, I wasn't offended by Donald Trump's pussy talk, it is after all, Donald Trump. Plus, my texts hold much more vulgar content. To make it very clear, I have nothing too personal against our new president, in fact, I was relieved when it wasn't the other. Am I happy about the election, no. It was a complete disaster from the very beginning. I am however, hopeful. Why would I hope for the president of my country to fail? That's dumb. Though, I can't say he's off to a good start. The reason I'm telling you all of this, is because I want you to understand that my opinion isn't one sided or coming from a place of defeat. Through my twenty-two years of living, I've been through quite a lot, more than I wish, but it's given me a wider perspective, it's taught me to listen to others before jumping in with my own opinion, it's made me capable of understanding that just because something doesn't happen to you doesn't mean it's impossible of happening to someone else.

The first time I was touched inappropriately by someone I didn't know, I was 11 years old and it happened on my middle school campus by a boy who was later suspended just a few days for groping my vagina. When people argue that America is not a place where women are objectified, men aren't taught their behavior from an early age, and women aren't taught an early age to just deal with it, well, you can imagine my eyeballs rolling hard to the back of my head. If it can happen on a school lunch ground, it can happen at a grocery store, it can happen anywhere--and trust me, it does. That is why I stand by the women marching. 

Something that really lights my fire is hearing people say that the women marching need to "Grow thicker skin.", they're talking about women who have been raped, emotionally abused, battered. Women who have gone through abortions, miscarriages, cancer. And you're telling those women to grow thicker skin, please do yourself and everyone else a favor and shut the fuck up. Excuse the profanity folks, but like I said, it really lights my fire. Having thick skin is not something to be proud of and it's not something you should teach your children. Telling people to get thicker skin, is just the same as telling them that they shouldn't bother addressing their feelings because no one is going to listen. Thick skin is not a positive attribute, it's a burden. That is why I stand by the women marching.  

When people say to the marchers "Grow up, you're a bunch of sore losers, you're only mad because Trump won", I'm curious, do they mean sit on the couch and pretend that they're okay with the government threatening to take things away from The People? Or to keep going day by day accepting the fact that a system that was set up to serve you, will not even listen to you. I'm not sure what kind of reality other people are living in, but it's nearly impossible to get congress to turn their heads, let alone take the time to hear its' people's cries. What's marching going to accomplish anyway? ;)  That is why I stand by the women marching. 

It blows my mind how people are surprised that women are actually this pissed with Donald Trump. His first mistake, a part from just being Donald Trump (kidding), was threatening to take away women's rights during his campaign, promising to do away with Planned Parenthood and building a Supreme Court that would allow it to happen. And don't for a second think it's impossible, because stealthily congress has already been making the right to choice more and more difficult. That's why I stand with the women marching. 

So, sorry to burst your Trump bubble, but the march has very little do with with a bunch of "sore losers" who are "only mad because Trump won" and more to do with the fact that 44 years of progress are potentially going down the drain, today, on the 44th Anniversary of Roe V. Wade. And please spare me your anti-choice comments, because if you really cared about the well-being of others, the rise of DIY abortions should scare the living shit out of you. That's right, it's already that difficult for some women to gain access to abortion that they're turning to Google for a solution. Are you really ready to go back to a time of mangled abortions? I'm not. That is why I stand by the women marching.

Everyday I look at my daughter and I hope that she never has to go through as much as I did. I can love my daughter fiercely, I can teach her to survive, and for now, I can protect her with all my might, but in years to come, I know that protecting her won't always be within my reach. Knowing first-hand what could happen, is a scary reality to face as a parent. I don't want my daughter to excuse men's behavior as "men just being men", I don't want her to feel like no one will listen when she needs help, I don't want her to lose empathy towards others whose situations vary, and I most certainly do not want her to become a mother until she is ready to become a mother.  That is why I stand by the women marching.