This weekend was one for the books. People around the country had all the feels for a number of reasons. Whether you were excited about Friday’s Presidential Inauguration (I was not), or pumped for Saturday’s women’s’ marches (I was), or doing a happy dance for the big football games on Sunday (my husband), it was a huge weekend. The events resulted in quite a lot of thought about how I want to raise my daughters to be strong and fearless.
My Mom attended the Women’s March on Washington Saturday and I could not be more proud of her for going. To be honest, I initially begged her not to go. Large crowds make me nervous ever since we were at the Boston Marathon, but the March was eventless in any negative way. Part of me wishes I was there too – to show my support for the cause – but I know my Mom marched for me. She marched for my daughters. She marched for any woman who wanted to be there and could not.
I know there are a lot of people out there who think the Women’s’ Marches were pointless. You all have a right to think that… a few of my friends are part of that group who laughed at the marches. They say they don’t need or want change. I’m not one of those people. I believe the millions of women, men, and children who gathered, in countless places worldwide, in peaceful protest, is incredible. To come together without violence in a united front proves that there is more love in this hateful world than we know. My Mom said you could feel it in the air – the energy – the positivity and passion – flooding the veins of everyone – in unison.
What do all those people want? Well, we all want something – I can’t speak for all the people there, but I can tell you what I want. I want my daughters to grow up in a place where she can decide what to do with her body. I want my daughters to be paid on the same level as a man for doing the same work. I want my daughters to feel empowered, strong, and unafraid of standing up for what they believe in.
Sexism is real.
If you’re a woman, you can’t lie and say you’ve never felt it – where a male thinks he is better than you. I’ve experienced it firsthand more times than I can count. In school, in the workplace, in a freakin’ grocery store. Do I think the government can change the existence of sexism in this country? Maybe… maybe if the people in charge acknowledged that it’s real. Maybe if they passed laws that would allow women paid maternity leave because having a baby is hard and we shouldn’t be punished financially for bringing the future of our country into this world. Maybe if they didn’t try to pass a law that would not give women the right to choose to do what they want with their body. Maybe if they passed a law that forced companies to give both men and women equal pay.
I also think it should be noted that the other purpose of the march was to save the rights we have NOW and to NOT go backward, which is what some of the administration wants to do. So many people think women are saying we have no rights and that is not true. Women (and men and children) are asking to keep the rights we already have first and to hopefully gain even more rights.
Moving forward, I don’t know what will happen next. I just know that there is a unified feeling of empowerment stronger than anything I’ve felt or witnessed in my life. Saturday’s events were just the beginning… the people in our country want to be heard. They want women’s rights and civil rights to be on the forefront of our country’s mind. If 500,000 people could march on Washington without a single arrest, then they deserve to be listened to. If more than 1 million people could march around the world, without exhibiting violence, then they deserve to be listened to.
It took me awhile to write this post. I worried about what my readers might think. I still do – I fear a little bit of backlash. I am not someone who stands on a soapbox because I’m always frightened someone will shoot me down. But the truth is – no one should be scared to speak up. I want my daughters to know their Mom isn’t afraid anymore. We can’t ask for change if we don’t open our mouths.
Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.
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Thanks for sharing! I marched in Seattle!
Well said! It was an amazing day!
Yes, yes, yes!!!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!! Expresses what I have been feeling (and not sharing publicly on social media) all weekend. I’m glad you Mom could march…. I didn’t go and was sad to have missed out on such a great opportunity but I had many friends who marched and said the same things. 🙂
I was there, and it was amazing. I agree with your mom – we could feel it in the air. We’re going to have to fight for what we want, but if this weekend is any indication, we’re ready to do it!
I’m with you!!!!!!!
Awesome post!
So glad you posted this! Keep spreading knowledge. There is so much ignorance out there!
so agree with you!!
Amen! Thanks for sharing.
I’ve never commented before but as a fellow mother of 2 little girls who also wanted to march I wanted to make sure to keep as much positivety and support on this post as possible to drown out all of the negativety that’s been so prevalent these past days (months). Love this post and love that quote!
Hi,
I followed you blog for a while now. I have two kids near the same age as yours and feel like I can relate to most of your blogs or social media posts. However, I do not completely agree with this blog post. I watched some of the news on the marches where women (mostly celebrities) preaching about equal rights, equal opportunity, about loving one another and equality for all, yet they spew nothing but filth out of their tongues. ! They are marching the streets to protest a man as a result of his supposed hatred towards others, to protest his rhetoric towards women and demeaning of others, to protest their rights…..Did anyone else see the filth spewed from the mouths of these women? Everything is F this and F that, talks of blowing up the White House, referencing Ivanka Trump as a sex symbol for her dad!!! There were foolish women wearing outfits made to look like their own genitals, and, being generally distasteful, gross, and foul-mouthed. Masked by the false narrative that women ought to be able to do what they wish with their own bodies, they are blind to the fact that the body growing within a woman’s womb is a completely different body, given life from God above at the moment of conception. The child has a different circulatory system, different blood, and different DNA. Saline abortions in which the child can be viewed on an ultrasound thrashing in immense pain as her skin burns causes no sympathy from them. Nor do suction aspiration abortions induce a heartfelt tear, where the baby can be viewed (again, via ultrasound) trying to move away from the powerful vacuum that rips off her legs and arms before her body and head is crushed. I also recognize that there are circumstances when an abortion might seem like it should be necessary and would never judge a woman who makes that choice. However being in the medical field as a sonographer I know first hand that women abuse abortions as a way of birth control over and over. I will teach my daughter that life is precious and that women play the most important role of anyone. They must emphasize that the role of responsibility motherhood involves genuine love and care. But she will also know not to be sick, twisted, deceitful, and hateful towards those who do not agree with her beliefs. She will be taught to love and pray for them.
: Millions of voices screaming to be heard so that millions of voices never will be heard.
This is something I am unapologetic in not understanding.
Wonderful post!! My daughter marched in Madison, WI ~ my niece in Minneapolis, and my other niece and her sons in San Fran. The march was FOR so much more than what it was AGAINST. We must keep moving forward, and not slip backwards in time. I grew up and of age in the 1960’s and 70’s, so I know first hand how far we have come ~ as well as how far there is yet to go. These women who choose to talk badly about the march amaze me…. and not in a good way. But they DO tell me that the double standard certainly exists and, in fact, thrives. But when women condone it, I am at a loss for words.
I am so proud that we did, indeed, bring a bright, intelligent, caring baby girl into this world 43 years ago, and she is brave and full of fire to this day. I wish that for your 2 lovely sweet babes, as well!! And, to all those little and not so little girls who are ready to change our world…..Huzzah!!!!!