So instead of the usual living, coping, cursing out stupid doctors and ignorant people, I just can't pass up what I went through today. Thousands of men and women, more than that over the past few centuries, have fought for our freedom. Yet we're sitting by letting these soldiers die for nothing because most people not only elect, but choose not to fight for all of the rights that are being taken away from us by our government. Our freedom of religion, freedom of expression, press, all of it is slowly being taken away. But this is a bit more personal. As a woman, we are being attacked. Again. Instead of moving forward, we're moving backward.
For centuries, we were a step above slaves, if even that. We weren't allowed to learn because it was thought that we weren't smart enough or healthy enough to gain an even basic level of education. Our jobs were to obey our husbands, raise their children, and take care of the house. Step out of line and get smacked around and that was okay. Don't want to perform our "wifely duties?" Well, that was okay too... the husband simply took what he wanted from us anyway. Finally, in 1920, we were allowed to vote (something most men still thought we were too stupid to do, but the impacts of the women's sufferage movement forced their hands.) Even if it was only to keep us quiet. Then during WWII while the men went off to fight, someone had to fill in the vacant jobs left behind. And you guessed it--women did the work. In most cases the SAME work the men did. Yet when the war was over and our soldiers came home, we were just expected to return to the house. Yeah... because that worked well. Skip ahead another few years to 1973... the famous Roe v Wade decision that made abortion legal and gave women rights over their own reproductive health.
If a woman is strong, hard working, and unafraid to stand up for herself, she's a bitch. If a man was the same way, he becomes the poster boy for success. I'll leave my opinion of that bs to myself, but I'm sure it's pretty easy to figure out.
And once again, our reproductive rights are under attack. It's no secret that I've used planned parenthood for well over a decade. And it has nothing to do with my sex life, nothing to do with abortion, but like many women, it was for health reasons. Why I chose it? Well, I was 17 and could go by myself. While my mother knew about my decision and it was covered under my father's health care plan, it saved the awkward talk with my father about the whole birth control/period thing. (Like most fathers, he prefers to be left in the dark and pretend that his daughter isn't old enough to have a period and possibly a child). It also would have been a bit awkward to have my mother with me. Talking is one thing, but being there through the whole examination process, pills, etc. is another story. So, I made the appointment, paid the deductible myself, and continued on with life. Too many people are under the assumption that Planned Parenthood is a free clinic that mostly provides abortions on the government's dime. It couldn't be farther from the truth. While yes, many PP do provide abortion, it accounts for 2-3% of all services rendered. And it's far from free, whether it be for an abortion, an annual exam, or birth control. But yes, the government used to fund in part each clinic. In part. The costs for their services are based on a number of factors--age, insurance, and income are just 3. And it's not and never has been free. When I was employed on my own, with my own insurance, I had to pay my deductible. When my body decided it hated me and I could no longer work, what I pay for my exams and birth control are based on my income. To find another doctor and get my birth control (not covered by my current insurance) costs 5x more at least per year.
I was due for my quarterly weight/bp and injection this week. I was far from prepared to see and go through what happened. Their office hours have been slashed by more than half, most of their staff is gone, and you have to go through a security process just to enter the office now. They're underfunded, overwhelmed, and now have to deal with extra security measures on top of it. Shock is one way to put how I felt, before I got angry. As I left the office, some elderly man walking up the street saw me and exercised his 1st Amendment right. Big surprise... I was called a slut. After a few exchanges, I threw an apple at him I had in my purse. But it was still pretty upsetting. Apparently, using birth control for a medical reason (and right now, one less medical problem I have to deal with) makes me a slut. And a whore. Riiiggghhhhhtttt.
While our government (mostly men) are attacking women's reproductive rights and trying to shut down clinics that give us access to affordable care, there isn't a word to stop men from being allowed to go to a doctor, ask for a vasectomy (preventing them from becoming fathers) and get one. If they can't get an erection? There's prescription for that, too! Several, in fact. And yet, insurance (including Medicare) covers all of it. Now where the hell is the fairness in that? And what's next? Are they going to repeal our right to vote?
I've always been a fighter. I've been through more than a lot of people have and come out on top. I've worked in a very male dominated world, ten times as hard just to get the slightest bit of respect, and won. And there is no way in hell some stuffed shirt, overweight, MALE politician is going to take away my basic human rights. And if any of the very few female politicians stand back and allow this to happen should be exactly where their male counterparts want them--barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen until enough of them grow a set and stand up for this injustice.
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