On Saturday, I will be spending the day in Washington, DC. This isn’t unusual for me considering the fact that I grew up there but, this weekend I’ll be wandering the streets with purpose. I will be marching: marching for women’s rights and standing in solidarity with my fellow Americans to show our incoming president that we will not put up with his antics.
Why am I doing this? I am after all, a white, upper middle class stay-at-home mom. I won’t lose my healthcare, our taxes will probably go down, I don’t have to worry about birth control, I am not at risk of losing any family members to deportation. My family will hardly be directly affected by what happens in the White House over the next four years. So why am I doing it?
I’m doing it for every single person who WILL be affected by the dangerous agenda being set forward by the incoming administration. I’m doing it for my dear friends who live in fear that they will be put on some sort of “registry” because they’re Muslim. I’m doing it for my friends who are in danger of losing their healthcare and for those that can’t afford to keep their bodies healthy with preventative female medicine. I’m doing it because my conscience will simply not allow me NOT to do it.
I am pro-woman, pro-freedom, pro-unity, and pro-integrity. I have not been “poisoned” by liberal media. I am not trying to start a fight. I am trying to stand up for what I believe in. Women before me fought so that I could vote. They marched and protested so that my daughters and I will never know what it was like to not have a voice in our government. Because of the brave women who marched before me, I can have a voice. Now it’s my turn.
I believe that women should be paid the same as men for equal work. I believe in a woman’s right to choose what happens to her own body. I believe that little girls can be whatever they want to be and that no man can belittle them. I stand for justice, respect, support, and the inclusion of all people.
There were many issues that led me to vote the way I did but I have to say, the biggest issue was the blatant disdain for women. The fact that I’ve had to explain to my tiny children what it means to “grab someone by the pussy” is horrifying and I’m marching to show the world that it is not okay to say that. I’m taking a stand to show my girls that their mom won’t put up with the rhetoric that women are less than men or that their bodies are anyone’s but theirs.
This isn’t me being a sore loser. I accept democracy and hope with every hope I have that these next four years will be good. I am not “throwing a fit” because my candidate didn’t win. I’m throwing a fit because I won’t stand for this treatment to my fellow Americans.
My daughters will not be able to march with me but they asked if there were a way to show their support – this is the result. I’ve been very open with them about why I’m marching but they came up with this on their own. I am so proud. To quote my almost-8-year-old, “We can’t say how we feel without showing how we feel. I feel like I am strong and equal. I want all girls to feel that way.”
It is my hope that this march will show unity among a nation that is so deeply divided. I hope our children can look back and see that when our rights and dignity were in danger, we stood up. I have so often wished that I could be on the right side of history and this is my chance. Join me!
Xx,
Rach
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