The Women’s Revolution: The Struggle Continues

With the continued struggle of “lives matter” in the United States, it never ceases to amaze me that Americans have slowly forgotten that women, especially white women, have been and still remain one of the most contentiously disadvantaged groups along Native Americans, African Americans, Latinos and Muslims.

One can argue that women, especially white women in America, are a marginalized group. This was proven in the last presidential election; the country apparently feared a woman was not capable of holding the most male-dominated office of power in the country. Echoes of a patriarchal system reverberated from the mouths of women, asserting that a woman is too emotional, and we are just not ready for a woman yet.

Like most marginalized groups, white women have internalized the discriminatory practices used against them and echo the message of inferiority towards other white women.

In a country that was built on the backs of others through slavery, white women were also enslaved. Their voices were silenced, and they were forced to accept whatever they were exposed to which often was mental, physical, emotional and verbal abuse.

In this patriarchal society, it is no surprise that women, especially white women, have a valid concern and heightened fear about their voice in this male-dominated society in 2017.

Although Aug. 18, 1920, marked ratification of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote, it was up to the 1960s before women in the United States could get a credit card, serve on a jury, go on the birth control pill, get an Ivy League education or receive equality in the work place. Even on Capitol Hill, inequality existed as women were not even treated with equal restrooms until 2016.

Clearly, the women’s rights movement is a continuing fight.

The idea that women in 2017 continue to fear that the government will restrict or limit the rights women have worked so hard to obtain and maintain further underscores that women, especially white women in America, remain a marginalized minority.

Food for thought.

Keeping it real.