I’ve seen an
ill-informed post circulating around Facebook disavowing the Women’s March on
Washington and its counterparts in other cities. It begins “I am not a disgrace
to women because I didn’t march. I don’t
feel like a second class citizen“ etc. I’m sure you’ve seen it. If you haven’t,
here is the link to read the full post.
As you can
imagine, I have a few thoughts for Chondra Pierce and the women in my life who’ve
shared it.
1. This “disgrace to women” remark originated in
a conservative blog. It certainly didn't come from us. This dichotomy was
one that was created internally. Never once was any woman put down from the
stage or otherwise for not marching. In fact, we had a conversation
with a lady on the Metro telling her that we (my sister and I) were the only
people in our family who were marching. You know what her response was?
"THAT'S OK." So the entire premise of this post is flawed. We aren't against
you, and never were.
2. Sure, yes. Historically, feminism has not been
inclusive of all women. This rally was exceptional in that it DID include all
women, and many women from all walks of life were represented there, both
marching and on stage. Pro-life women were there, too. This is an example of
modern feminism working to be more intersectional and accepting. Do you
honestly think that ALL 4 MILLION women at those marches yesterday shared the
same beliefs on EVERYTHING? Of course not, but we all had issues that were
important to us and felt the current administration did not share those values.
3. Literally
every single woman I’ve seen post this today is both white and middle class. In
other words, you have privilege. In true conservative fashion, by posting this
you’ve stated: “If it isn’t happening to me, it must not be happening to
anyone.” Empathy. Learn some.
4. I’m glad
you feel you have a voice. I do too (but again, I’m a white, middle-class
female, so of course I do). That’s why I marched. To make sure my voice was
heard. However, as someone who knows my experiences aren’t everyone’s
experiences, I listened to the voices of the marginalized and stood with them.
Have you asked a black woman whether she felt the current administration was
listening to her? How about a woman in poverty? How about a woman with
disabilities? How about an indigenous woman? The Native American page was removed from WhiteHouse.gov along with the LBGTQIA page soon as Trump took the oath of office. Do they “feel” heard like you so proudly do?
5. You VOTED
because almost EXACTLY a hundred years ago WOMEN MARCHED. Don’t EVER forget
that, and don’t minimize the power of marching. MARCHING WORKS.
6. It is also
clear that whoever wrote this has little to no understanding of the
complexities of historical and systemic oppression. I’ll include some good
sources at the end of this for you, if you care to read actual academic
evidence instead of becoming more entrenched in your own narrow beliefs…sorry, “alternative
facts”.
7. THIS WAS A
GLOBAL MARCH. Read the statements from the marches around the world and you
will see that this wasn’t a simple “protest against Trump”. Women across the
world used this as a platform to highlight abuses specific to their own
countries. Personally, I wore my Masai earrings in solidarity with the women I
knew were marching in Kenya. Also, this isn’t the oppression Olympics. Sex trafficking,
gangs, rape, and spousal abuse are here too. In fact, the domestic abuse rate
in the US is similar to that of Pakistan’s. Ironic that the same party that
promotes such isolationism all of the sudden wants to help out those in need
from other countries. People from those countries listed in this post could
apply for refugee status, but would the guy you put in the White House let them
in? If you really want to continue to help other countries in desperate need,
call your congressman NOW and tell him not to vote the US out of the United
Nations. Yes, that’s an actual bill on the House floor at this time.
8. We weren’t “yelling
profanities” and “hating on men”. Many thousands of men marched with us. They were
welcomed and appreciated. And not once were men as a whole degraded from any
signs I saw or from the stage. Specific acts of violence against women, like
rape? Yes. A specific orange- haired demagogue? Yes. Equality isn’t about
hating men. It’s 2017. You should understand that by now. Also, when Madonna’s
speech and song was being played, I assure you, as many women around me winced
as cheered.
9. Those hats
you think were so vulgar? I CALL HYPOCRISY. The man you voted for used a vulgar
term for the female anatomy. We wore cat hats. You used verbal gymnastics to excuse
your candidate’s use of the actual term, AND his openly admitting to sexual assault
(CLEARLY the worse offense), yet you are offended by a pink hat? I DON’T THINK
SO.
10. You’re
entitled your opinions? Sure. Let’s be clear though. Opinions are for things
like ice cream flavors or TV reviews. I’ll let you have those opinions. When
your opinions promote things like fascism, racism, misogyny, and oppression, I’m
not going to remain silent. Those opinions are not above scrutiny simply
because they are “your opinions”. You don’t think those things are worth
marching for? Fine. I do.
Call me a
snowflake if you want, but I’ve seen snowflakes shut down interstate systems.
Also- a little history lesson -snowflakes defeated the Nazi Army. One snowflake
may melt, but millions? WINTER. IS. COMING.
There’s another
post going around as well by a woman named Christy, who doesn’t need the Women’s
March, either. Here is a brilliant response that one.
Here are some peer-reviewed sources to help you understand poverty cycles, and why the phrase "just get a job like I did" is impossible for some.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X0300010X
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000187910191838X
And here are some less academic sources about systemic oppression:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/humera-lodhi/a-muslim-at-mizzou-does-s_b_8539080.html
http://www.vox.com/2016/8/1/12108126/gender-wage-gap-explained-real
