Tammy Setzer Denton, Author
St. Charles, MO
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Blog
THESE Women
| Posted on January 21, 2017 at 11:38 PM |
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Today,
millions of women across the US marched against Donald Trump’s policies
concerning women and other marginalized citizens. I’m proud of those women, and
proud to be one. As I look at the photos flooding Facebook showing these women
in action, I’m also surprised to see posts from other women who do not support
these marches. Everyone has the right to champion what they choose, but when I
read the following words: "There is nothing stopping me to do anything in this world but MYSELF. I do not blame my circumstances or problems on
anything other than my own choices or even that sometimes in life, we don't
always get what we want. I take responsibility for myself. I am a mother, a daughter, a wife, a sister, a
friend. I am not held back in life but only by the walls I choose to not go
over which is a personal choice. Quit blaming. Take responsibility." I was both happy and sad. Why such a mixed
response? I’m happy that THESE women who have
expressed these thoughts feel empowered to do so. I’m happy that they’ve never
met with the discrimination of not being a man. I’m happy they don’t feel held
back by anyone but themselves. However, I am saddened that THESE women
don’t realize that they are standing on the shoulders of every woman who fought
and struggled for the rights that THESE women now enjoy and take for granted. Perhaps, THESE women have never had to
deal with being turned down for a job because of their gender, but I have. Perhaps, THESE women have never been
turned down for a $140 bank loan because “I might get pregnant and not pay it
off.” but I have. Perhaps, THESE women were never shunned at
their job because “I took a good-paying job from a man who needed it to support
his family when all I needed it for was shopping.”, but I have. Perhaps, THESE women have never been told
they couldn’t apply at a certain college because it only accepted men, but I
have. Perhaps, THESE women have never been
assaulted by a man who wouldn’t take no for an answer, but I have. Perhaps, THESE women have never had to
take a sick child from their bed in order to meet—in person—with a mortgage
loan officer to prove they weren’t “some kind of a slob” so they could continue
to pay the house payment, but I have. Perhaps, THESE women have never been
offered a raise or better position if they were willing to perform sexual
favors, but I have. Perhaps, THESE women have never been told
they could make a ticket go away if they were only a little friendlier, but I
have. Perhaps, THESE women have never had men
expose themselves to them because they must be wanting it, but I have. I stand on the shoulders of the women who
went before me. That’s why I can vote, drive a car, be a single mom if I
choose, practice birth control, get a good education, hold down a job that will
pay the bills, and walk with my head held high and not feel as a lesser human
being. I will continue to fight so that my daughter, granddaughters, and great
granddaughters will never have to experience the discrimination that I’ve had
to deal with for the majority of my life. I say “Thank you” to the women who went
before me. I say “Thank you” to the women who marched today to make certain
that we don’t go backwards in time and freedom. And I can only hope that THESE
women who don’t feel the need to support the marchers can, at least have the
courtesy to say “Thank you” to all the courageous women in the past who made it
possible for them to feel as empowered as they do today. |