Women’s March Washington

Women’s Rights are Human Rights

For me, and many, the cornerstone of this movement is the treatment and rights of women, our roles, and our bodies in our society as well as our reproductive rights.

On Jan 20th, Inauguration Day, Donald Trump, will be sworn in as our next president. On Jan 21st is when the Women’s March on Washington will take place.

It is both a protest against his election and a stand for who we are.

For those interested in attending the Women’s March Washington on Saturday, Jan 21, 2017, the Women’s March official site has a helpful page for How To Get There!

MARCH on Washington, D.C.
Time: Saturday, Jan 21, 2017 @ 10AM
Location: Independence Ave. and Third Street SW, near the U.S. Capitol
Full Event Details can be found here.

MARCH IN YOUR AREA if you cannot travel to Washington D.C. Check for Sister Marches near you.

THIS MOVEMENT began when a recording of Donald Trump came to light during his presidential campaign that outraged the nation. He was heard profanely recounting how he treats women ending with advice like “grabbing ’em by the pussy“. Seen in the news referring to his daughter, as well as physically grabbing her, in an unacceptable way. Who then went on to call his female opponent, Hillary Clinton, a “nasty woman“ during their final presidential debate on national television. Who then, soon after, won the presidential election. And then vowed to de-fund organizations like Planned Parenthood who provide essential medical services specifically related to female reproductive health including abortions. They do not just offer abortions but options, so that women everywhere can have the knowledge and power to choose what’s right for their health. They are devoted to providing education and information to those in areas that may not offer women that basic yet critical right.

The MARCH came about when, the final straw, the de-funding of Planned Parenthood and ban on abortion was proposed. Many states have already begun taking steps towards making abortion illegal.

Between the final election results in November, the electoral college vote on Dec 19, to today less than a week from swearing in a terrifyingly unfit new president, it has materialized almost overnight from civil unrest into the well-formed, well-organized, well-done organization you see today. With its first major event coming up.

There are many other tenets of this movement that include gender, sexual orientation, immigrant, and disability rights. and can be found at Women’s March Washington Principles.

WHY IT MATTERS
Not only do glass ceilings still exist but so do misogyny, chauvinism, bigotry and unfair civil rights.

More damaging than the above, is a more subtle low-grade type of behavior directed at women in all aspects of daily life from even well-meaning people. Virtually indistinguishable, yet profoundly diminishing. It, without consent, becomes how we’ve been trained to behave, conditioned to accept, destined to fulfill. The lowest form of control that exists. So imperceptible that it is not always readily acknowledged. So pervasive, it’s in the fabric of our societies.

It is a chance to voice our opinions, share our stories, show where we stand. Make it a mainstream topic of discussion acceptable in all forms on all levels. A chance to get informed. And a chance for us to find out what it really means to us in our lives. To know the difference between the Michelle Obamas and Elizabeth Warrens vs. the Kim Kardashians and the Beyonces. And to truly understand gender roles in human society and what it means to be female and a feminist today.

Beautiful Ted Talks by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on how We Should All Be Feminists. A novelist and MacArthur Genius Grant recipient most well known for authoring Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah, and We Should All Be Feminists.

Women’s March Flyer design by Nicole La Rue