We've been hearing a lot about the attacks on women's reproductive rights lately, which in itself is bad enough. As I suspected that appears to be just the tippy top of the iceberg from which is a slippery slope descending right back into another, earlier, more puritanical century. You know back in the days when women and children were considered property, when women didn't have the right to own property of their own or vote or, heaven forbid, run for office. When the "rule of thumb" meant that it was okay to beat your wife with a stick so long as the diameter of the stick did not exceed that of your thumb (I suppose this was, at the time, considered a safety measure of some sorts)
I'm enclosing links to two articles, each from my home state of Wisconsin.
Here's a quote by Rep. Don Pridemore revealing his beliefs about domestic violence:
"Instead of leaving an abusive situation, women should try to remember the things they love about their husbands, Representative Don Pridemore said. "If they can re-find those reasons and get back to why they got married in the first place it might help," retrieved from http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2012/03/23/wisconsin-lawmaker-you-are-being-beaten-just-remember-things-you-love-about-your
And earlier this month we were treated to parenting advice from Senator Glenn Grothmann, “In promoting those campaigns and materials, the [Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board] shall emphasize nonmarital parenthood as a contributing factor to child abuse and neglect.” retrieved from: http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2012/03/01/wisconsin-republican-senator-proposes-bill-that-labels-single-parenthood-as-chi-0
Ok now I'm just plain flabbergasted! Where do they find these bozos?????? It's so insane it's difficult to take it seriously, but take it seriously we must, otherwise we are headed for a downward spiral in which our hard won rights are sucked down the drain!
These verbal and Legislative attacks on Women are difficult enough to stomach for any woman, but let's think for a moment of the impact this trend may have on Survivors, Victims and Economically disenfranchised women. Let's think for a moment of, say, a women who is in an abusive relationship with a controlling husband who allows little social contact or economic freedom. Let's picture her alone at home isolated and unhappy wrestling with the question of whether or not to remain in her domestic prison knowing full well that her children are living in fear for their mothers safety. Now imagine as she picks up a newspaper or turns on the television and hears comments like these. Inside her head the door to her cell slams shut with a cold metallic thud. How can she expect to find the help she needs in a world that reinforces all the lies her husband has used to keep her captive all these years?
Now let's picture another scenario; the same woman turns on the television to see women marching in the streets, supporting one another, and with men alongside them in solidarity, demanding equal rights. Or maybe she tunes into an open hearing where other Survivors are telling their success stories, of how they managed to escape oppression and go on to raise happy healthy children with the help of communities and services that have been in place to lead them down the path to success.
The voices of these Women and their supporters, both male and female must speak openly with conviction and intelligence to drown out the nonsense that is being spewed by these misongynists who would dare to try to take away our power.
Will you be one of those voices?
Here are some opportunities to add your story or to find more information about the growing movement that is going to put a stop to this inhumane and backward trend in social policy and legislation.
http://www.unitewomenwi.org/home.htm
https://www.facebook.com/womenrevolt
http://now.org/issues/legislat/ (for legislative updates on issues concerning women's rights)
http://www.feminist.com/
http://www.centerwomenpolicy.org/
Together we can do this!
Peace,
Jenny Nanakoosa
© 2010-2012 Nanakoosa’s Place, authored by Jennifer Hazard
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