State-Sanctioned Sex Discrimination
Normally I write about anti-Black discrimination, however today I am writing about sex discrimination because I am astounded that no one has broadly discussed or legally challenged all these new state anti-women, anti-choice legislation that is blatant sex discrimination.
In my opinion, the women’s rights movement/feminist movement is laden with copious amounts of anti-Black discrimination, however, that does not mean we should turn our backs on other types of discrimination, particularly as Black women. Sure we have all bandied back and forth, where are the laws that impact male reproductive freedom and we have even seen a few legislators propose a bill that would require men to obtain a vasectomy, but it was done in satire. But this is not a joke.
Women’s reproductive rights are constantly up for discussion by a Congress that is approximately 80% male. How is this a thing?
What is sex discrimination?
According to the EEOC, sex discrimination “involves treating someone (an applicant or employee) unfavorably because of that person’s sex, including the person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy.” In other words, an individual is being discriminated against when they are treated inequitably due to their sex. An example of this is having the entire government discuss and make decisions about a women’s reproductive rights because she is a woman.
Yup, that is correct Virginia. You are being discriminated against by the entirety of the United States government, including the Supreme Court of the United States.
No, this fight is not about protecting the unborn. If we look back in political history the entire Right-to-Life movement originated in response to Whites not being able to rally around segregation due to the Civil Rights Act. The narrative that they are protecting the unborn, is nothing more than deflection. Now we are here, with Roe v. Wade at risk because of racism. By the way, if these Right-to-Lifers really wanted to protect the unborn and children, we would see an increase in funding to support and expand women’s healthcare. I am sure you have heard that Black women are dying in childbirth. We would also see an increase in spending for children’s healthcare and education, but we have not seen that. Why? Because this is about discriminating against women.
Why are women’s bodies constantly up for discussion?
Everything from how we dress to our reproductive health is constantly up for discussion. Yet, I do not hear an equally assertive discussion about men’s reproductive lives. Let’s talk about men’s role in women’s reproductive health for a minute.
Other than condoms and vasectomies what other forms of reliable birth control exist for men. I’ll wait. Meanwhile, there is a tomb of research and decades of pharmaceutical production around women's birth control. It continues to be the primary responsibility of women to control birth, yet government must legislate our reproduction. The hypocrisy. Even though both parents often work, women are often the primary care-giver, the school transport person, and the caretaker of sick children. Then there are the men, who get women pregnant. The men who don’t change diapers, don’t make breakfast, don’t take the children to school, and are expected to be treated like a child when they get sick. Yes, it is these titans of the universe that are making unilateral decisions about women and their right to make choices about their own bodies. To sum up, men, who take little to no responsibility in birth control and take on little to no responsibility in child-rearing sat back and said yes, it is up to us to control women’s bodies for the good of women.
Let’s not forget child support. Women also bear the brunt of the financial burden for children. Men in Georgia are working hard to decrease their responsibility for child support with the proposed bill HB96 sponsored by Ga Democrat State Legislator Jasmine Clark to reduce men’s responsibility for payment of child support. I wonder if there is a bill that makes men actually pay child support. Women are attacked from all sides, even by women.
Let’s not forget the women that support men’s discrimination of women through the control of their reproductive choices. Well, let me introduce you to Righteous Rebecca. Righteous Rebecca, much like the Mystical Magical Negro, finds joy in enforcing male superiority because that is what G-d wants. Righteous Rebecca is not easy to spot. She often blends in with other women, until she speaks and shares her ideology on a women’s place in the world. She can also be spotted as the only woman, standing with a crowd of white men mansplaining women’s reproduction to a woman. I steer clear of these women. They are dangerous.
Anti-abortion laws are just the latest in sex discrimination against women and we need to begin having public discussions as to why in 2021 we are still witnessing state-sanctioned sex discrimination.
I am waiting for the day when a Black Woman lawyer sues the State for sex discrimination and proposes a meaningful bill that addresses male reproductive rights.
