I believe in equal pay for equal work. I don’t believe legislation is the answer. We need to teach our daughters that it is okay to ask. Girls don’t need to be boys, but we need them to have a sense of self worth. We need to not label them “bitches” when they speak up. If a behavior is celebrated in a man, why shouldn’t it be celebrated in a woman? And if it isn’t appropriate behavior for a woman, why is it appropriate for a man? The double standard is a societal construct and can’t be removed with legislation.
Archive for the ‘Discrimination’ Category
Being a Feminist (4)
10
Nov
To me, being a feminist mean believing in women, believing in their right and ability to make the choices that are best for them. I don’t believe that I, or anyone else, has the right to tell them what they can and can not do with their lives and bodies (within the realm of the law). I believe that as a society, it is our job to give women and men the information they need to make those choices.
And once those decisions are made, I believe in respecting them, even if they are not the choices I would make.
Being a Feminist (3)
08
Nov
I don’t consider abortion to be the line in the sand for feminism because I accept that some people honestly believe its murder. I don’t feel that way, but I can understand why they do. Government does not have the right to legislate morality, but this is one area where legality and morality form a gray area.
Like Hillary Clinton, I believe abortion should be safe, legal, and rare. I never want to tell a woman she has to maintain a pregnancy that might kill her or that she has to carry a non-viable fetus to term. That is immoral.
Being a Feminist (2)
07
Nov
I believe in choice and being given all the tools necessary to make the right choice for yourself. I know some absolutely brilliant women who have decided that their place in life is being a stay at home mother. For years, I thought that would be my place, too. It wasn’t for me, and I can’t say I don’t occasionally think “What could she have done, if only…” about these other women. But I keep those thoughts to myself, because I respect their right to make that choice. I respect “mother” as both a part and full time job title.
Due Process
06
Nov
Its not the story I want to write about here, but the comments. To the person who doesn’t get why our courts care about technicalities when this woman did X., I want to scream: We have due process for a reason! We are a country founded on innocent until proven guilty. When there is a case of prosecutorial misconduct, how can a person get a fair trial? And since her trial wasn’t fair, how can we be certain she actually did X? Sensational crime or not, everyone is entitled to due process. Our courts should always be worried about technicalities.
Being a Feminist (1)
05
Nov
I used to be one of those women who would say “I’m not a feminist, but…” At the time, I believed it, thought “feminist” was a dirty word.. But the truth is, I am a raging, flaming feminist. I am not one of those who believes the line is drawn at abortion (though I support legal abortion), but instead at access to birth control and giving all women the education they need to maintain control over their own bodies. I don’t believe women who want to limit those choices for other women care about women at all. Education is key.
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (3)
13
Oct
Add Judge Virginia Phillips to my list of judges of the year. Judge Phillips has ordered a global injunction against enforcing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. In her careful reading of the facts, she has determined that not only does discharging gay soldiers not aid the military’s goals, in fact, it hurts them.
The Justice Department still has time to appeal, and Obama is on record wanting Congress to overturn the law (they’ve already voted not to), but I hope they don’t. This is why we have the judiciary, to make the right decision even when its not the popular decision.
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (2)
26
Sep
Two years ago, a federal appeals court ruled that the military can’t discharge personnel under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell unless they can prove it furthers military goals. This week, Judge Ronald Leighton ruled that the Air Force did not prove that in the case of Major Margaret Witt, who was discharged under the policy, and ordered her reinstated.
I would claim that firing Witt actually hurt the military’s goals. She is a highly decorated flight nurse who rose to the rank of Major. That doesn’t happen if she’s not a good airman who’s an asset to her unit.
Congratulations, Major.
Florida’s Adoption Laws
25
Sep
In better news, the Miami appeals court has ruled that Florida’s restriction on allowing gay people to adopt children has no rational basis. In even better news, the governor of the state has announced that the state will stop enforcing the law. (Only the state Supreme Court could strike it down, though legislators could repeal it.)
Considering that Florida allowed gays to be foster parents, the law seems extra vindictive. Children need families, permanent families. While the state brought in experts to claim that the risks outweighed the benefits, the court found the testimony to have no grounding in fact.
Don’t Ask, Dont Tell
24
Sep
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was not repealed, even though the new rule would not have gone into effect until after the military had finished its investigation(?) on how best to do so. Apparently, Senators think that repealing DADT will hurt morale for troops on the ground in the Middle East.
I have never served, so correct me if I’m wrong, but how likely is a gay Marine, who has been serving in silence, in a combat zone, to turn around and say to everyone, “DADT’s been repealed. I’m GAY!”? And if he did, how surprised would his unit really be?