Defining women, defining freedom
What does it mean to be a woman? For some, being a woman means fitting into a mold to meet the impossible expectations of society. For others, it’s defying gender norms in order to prove that women are stronger than most realize. When its definition is so different from woman to woman, how can there be unity among females as a whole?
This is the question that currently plagues those in the U.S. as the election approaches and women’s rights are at stake. From the overturning of Roe versus Wade in 2022, to current politicians debating women’s bodily autonomy, this election could be the difference between liberation and oppression, something that has been up for debate.
The two presidential candidates have opposing views when it comes to abortion rights. While former president Donald Trump claims he won’t support a national abortion ban, he previously stated that the rush of state bans following the overturning of Roe was “a beautiful thing to watch.” Vice President Kamala Harris, on the other hand, says that she and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, “trust[s] women to make decisions about their own bodies, and not have the government tell them what to do.”
Since the beginning of time, women have been told what to do with their bodies, and this hot debate brings them back to their oppressed roots. Not having access to abortion only reverses the strides that have been made when it comes to women’s rights. It’s unimaginable that people are still confused on where they should stand on this topic.
Additionally, Trump has an extensive history of sexual misconduct with more than 18 accusations, 16 of which were disclosed prior to or during his bid for presidency. One of these women was Bridget Sullivan, crowned Miss New Hampshire 2000, who claimed Trump walked through the dressing room where contestants were naked. Trump went on to be interviewed by radio host Howard Stern, where he disclosed that he did in fact go backstage at pageants when contestants were naked. "No men are anywhere, and I’m allowed to go in, because I’m the owner of the pageant and therefore I’m inspecting it. ... ‘Is everyone OK’? You know, they’re standing there with no clothes. ‘Is everybody OK?’ And you see these incredible looking women, and so I sort of get away with things like that," said Trump in the recording.
This gross misconduct is so often overlooked and it shouldn’t be. Such influential figures should not be able to degrade women in the manner that they so frequently do. While significant progress has been made in women’s freedoms, it’s behavior such as this that knocks us down.
Figuring out your place in the world is difficult enough, but it’s even harder when it feels like the world is against you. Dystopian media such as The Handmaid’s Tale should seem more far-fetched than it does. Struggles such as those of Jo March from Little Women trying to establish herself should not be as relatable as they are in our modern age.
Perhaps if we as a society stopped trying to control women, and treated them as humans rather than pawns, their true potential could be unleashed.
by Emma Toney
Published November 4th, 2024
Oshkosh West Index Volume 121 Issue II