Okay, look ... let's face it: women under the age of 55 need to wake up and see what's happening to them!
So, to women under 55 years of age:
- You are losing your reproductive rights. It's happening NOW as Republican-controlled legislatures all over this country have approved laws that prevent YOU from making decisions about YOUR life, very personal decisions that can change your life.
- Republican-controlled legislatures are also attempting to restrict your right to vote. They simply cannot understand why their orange man lost the 2020 election and they are trying to find ways to make sure they can't lose again.
- Republican-controlled legislatures aren't adequately funding public education so YOUR children, YOUR grandchildren will be affected.
- Teachers are being told they cannot say "gay" in the classroom.
Ah, I can see you rolling your eyes. You really don't get it, do you? Once someone or some government entity takes rights away from you, it's pretty darn difficult to get them back.
Maybe you really don't know what it was like being a woman - even 55 years ago. Well, here's a bit of education (and it's only the tip of the iceberg):
- Women in Phoenix, AZ couldn't get public library cards in their own names! A man - father, brother, husband - had to get the card for you. In his name.
- Women in many states couldn't own a home or car outright. Had to have a man's name on the title.
- Women in many states couldn't get a personal loan on her own.
- Women were not permitted to take certain courses in college, courses that were deemed to be for men only.
- Women couldn't make decisions regarding their own pregnancies, no matter what the circumstances, even health/life of the woman.
- Women in some states were still trying to get birth control pills even though a Supreme Court decision decided otherwise in the mid 1960s.
- Many careers (firefighting, for example) were not open to women.
- Same sex marriage? Wasn't allowed.
- Bi-racial marriages were still not allowed in some states.
Many women my age worked very hard to make sure YOU have the rights and opportunities that you now have. We fought like hell for these rights and opportunities, but you aren't paying attention as they are being taken away from you! I'm wondering why I should have to fight this battle all over again when you aren't willing to join me! You and your daughters ARE being affected right now. And it will only get worse unless we stop the current rash of crap that is taking us back to the 1950s and before.
Gotta join the fight, Ladies! It only takes a few minutes to call a lawmaker's office or send a postcard. Certainly you can fit that in your schedule, right?
I'm willing to keep fighting and women my age will continue to do so. Why? Because we remember the past. We know women's history - and we learned from it. We don't want to lose what we have.
