I struggle to remain positive while the world burns, literally and figuratively. However, I am not Pollyanna. Sometimes things overwhelm me, and a rant becomes a necessity. Today is a rant day! We are witnessing the literal destruction of a civilization, ours. Human rights violations are staggering. Women and other marginalized people are being deprived of basic human decency and rights.
I am a woman and speak from my heart, experience, and outrage. I see that the rights we fought long and hard for are being stripped away one by one. Society once again relegates women to third-class standing. Mysogyny is a word that is derived from two Greek words meaning “to hate” and “woman.” It applies and functions to nurture the deep-seated bias and maintains a male-dominated social structure. Any respect for women that existed is being obliterated.
Project 25 is not just a distant memory; it is now 53% percent complete according to a recent analysis by the Center for Progressive Reform. In a recent release by the Heritage Foundation this popped up: “The current Title IX regime as applied to sports is part of a sustained social engineering effort that produces a new sot of woman – one that is more aggressive, more competitive, more male, less relational, and less oriented toward the goods of family and motherhood.”
This part of the plan limits or eliminates women from competitive sports and targets Title IX as something that was never necessary in the first place. It asserts that women need to encourage their “natural preferences,” describing women as having “gentle, graceful, cooperative tendencies” and that they are “oriented toward motherhood and traditional feminine graces.” It says that we must promote activities that encourage “health, good habits, grace, vigor, confidence, and beauty.” Finally, the goal for women’s sports must be, “virtue and health grounded in reality and freedom, not the imposition of a male-oriented competitive ideal.”
This spewing of hatred comes from Boise State University professor Scott Yenor, PhD, who describes goal-oriented women as “medicated, meddlesome, and quarrelsome.” Yegor has received the highest praise from the Heritage Foundation as “…a student of the hostile forces of feminism and liberals that rip the family apart or prevent families from forming.” This venom is applied to women but also to anyone who doesn’t fit the norms they have set, the white, “Christian mold.” All of these things work toward the marginalization, dehumanization, and control of women in sports. Of course, this is only one aspect of the issue. The RIGHT to regulate our own bodies and the increase in domestic violence are other huge issues.
How can this be happening? Well, we’ve elected a lot of it! These are documented statements that apply to only one facet of our dehumanization: respect and control over our own bodies. Other facets point to objectification, assault, and more control.
“Rape is kinda like the weather, if it’s inevitable, relax and enjoy it.” Clayton Williams, Republican, Texas.
“If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to shut that thing down.” Todd Aiken, Republican, Missouri.
“Even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that is something god intended to happen.” Richard Murdock, Republican, Indiana.
“Rape victims should make the best of a bad situation.” Rick Santorum, Republican, Pennsylvania.
“In the emergency room, they have what’s called rape kits, and a woman can get cleaned out.” Jody Ladenburg, Republican, Texas.
“If a woman has a right to an abortion, why shouldn’t a man be free to use his superior strength to force himself on a woman? At lease the rapists pursuit of sexual freedom doesn’t, in most cases, result in anyone’s death.” Lawrence Lockman, Republican, Maine.
It has been documented that in the dark corners of the internet, men were posting videos of their wives, partners, girlfriends being drugged and raped. Other dark corners found men goading each other to masturbate in public, on female shoppers, video it, and post it.
When I first heard “grab ‘em by the pussy,” the shock and revulsion I felt triggered a physical reaction. It has gotten so much worse since then. With all of that said, what can we do with our rage? First, we can educate ourselves, know the facts, and VOTE!!
The word patriarchy originates from the Greek, meaning “rule of the father” or “chief of a family.” It has stolen opportunities for women but has really not done any favors for men, despite what we might think, but that’s another topic. As women, it has taught us well: apologize, shrink, don’t be too anything, don’t speak up, stay in your prescribed role. We’ve been taught to be “ladies,” to “perform” and be someone we are not. If we shed these roles, what possibilities emerge? What if we use our performative energies just being our authentic selves? What if we permitted boys sensitivity and tears, and permitted girls to lead with shame and labeled them as bossy? What if relationships were built on respect and not rigid roles, and they were not about who has the power but what is possible when everyone has more freedom? This is my dream. Women are strong, insightful, intuitive, intelligent, and the creators of all youth! Think about it. We are wisdom and instinct fueled by intuition. We can make it happen. This, my friends, is my vision of the “new” woman.
Sources: Mother Jones, Shannon Kincaid, Jess Piper, CNN, NPR, Donna Ashworth, and The Heritage Foundation.
Stand by what you believe in,
Even if it means standing alone,
Be true to your own beliefs,
Not intimidated by words or tone.
Don’t stand by and say nothing,
We need to make a choice,
To lift our hearts and souls,
to step forward and use our voice.
In life we will often witness,
Things that seem so unfair,
It’s important that we stand together,
And show how much we care.
Solidarity is a strength,
That can be achieved together,
If our voices can be heard in chorus,
We might change the world forever.
C.E. Coombes
