Women for Obama
I lost both of my front teeth at the same time when I was a little girl. One came out just a few days after the other and I was delighted that I’d be getting a double-whammy from the tooth fairy. My grandparents were charmed by my cuteness and Grandma told me that she’d match my tooth fairy contributions with a matching dollar of her own. Having just seen a credit card application on the table with bright, metallic money stickers, I asked her if the dollars had to be green.
Her face lit up and she decided at that moment to make me a deal. For every tooth I lost, instead of a boring ole dollar, she’d give me a real life Susan B. Anthony silver dollar to collect. I was six and had absolutely no idea who that was, but I liked the idea of shiny money.
Grandma sat me down and proceeded to give me my first lesson in feminist history that day over glazed donuts and milk. There are many, many things I wish I remembered better about conversations I’ve had with my grandmother, but I remember watching her get excited as she talked about the change in women’s rights and suffrage and the general progression of women from property to people. I look at the election today and I think of how delighted she would be to see how far America has come.
I know what you must be thinking. Some of you anyway. “I thought she couldn’t stand Palin. Is this some sort of pro-Palin posting just because she’s a woman?” Allow me to set those fears to rest with a loud and resounding “HELL NO.” I still do not care for Palin at all. She is not really what I have in mind when I think of progress for women.
The question remains. As a feminist, can I vote against a woman whose stride forward would mean progress for the rest of us? No. But I don’t see Palin as someone who would mean progress for the rest of us. Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks that. Several prominent women’s organizations have backed Barack Obama this week, showing their support for the candidate who best represents concern for issues that relate to most American women.
Among the groups officially offering support to the Obama-Biden ticket are the National Organization for Women (NOW), the Feminist Majority, the National Congress of Black Women, and Business and Professional Women (BPW). (Click here for an article with more details and quotes from NOW officials.)
I recently read an article that discussed Biden’s awkward role in this feminist issue. He has the Vice Presidential nomination, a position many felt should have gone to Hilary Clinton, yet he’s been an avid supporter of women’s rights from the beginning of his career.
Please take a look at the linked table. It lists several important issues for women and the stance of Obama-Biden versus McCain-Palin. On this table you’ll see A Woman’s Right to Choose, Equal Pay for Equal Work, Women’s Health, Domestic Violence, Child Care, and Paid Leave.
Right to Choose: This is not just about abortion. This issue also deals with access to birth control and the kind of insurance coverage available. This includes emergency contraception and takes into consideration issues of rape, incest, and health of the woman.
Equal Pay for Equal Work: Look at the bills Obama has supported and co-sponsored to help prevent discrimination based on gender. McCain, however, has opposed legislation that protects women from this kind of discrimination stating that it would open up employers to too many potential law suits.
Women’s Health: The issues of health care coverage are essential to this election. Look closely at the bills listed here. Obama has supported increased coverage for cancer screenings and national campaigns to increase awareness of gynecological cancers. McCain voted against transferring DOD money to breast cancer research.
Domestic Violence: This is an issue on which both Biden and Obama stand firm. Both men have voted in support of increased funding for the Office of Violence Against Women. Biden authored the Violence Against Women Act with the help of female aids. Biden called for harsher punishment against rape within marriage which has been seen as a “lesser” crime than other forms of the same atrocity.
Child Care: In Illinois, Obama has worked to increase the funding for day care and plans to offer a child care tax credit for working women, double the funding for afterschool programs, and provide “summer learning opportunities” for children. McCain has voted against child care services and has no plans to offer any such assistance under his presidency.
Sick Leave: Again, it is essential to look at the ultimate plans of each candidate for health care options. Obama encourages legislation to provide sick leave to working women while McCain does not.
(Information courtesy of Women for Barack Obama.)
So tell me, who has a better understanding of women’s issues? McCain and his female running mate who have yet to illustrate any real direction for women and our concerns, or Obama and Biden who have consistently voted in favor of our rights, health, and well-being?
Being a woman does not make Palin the right choice for women. Lipstick is not enough to convince me.
I think about my grandmother a lot these days. Upon her passing instead of flowers she wanted donations made to local schools and domestic violence shelters. She taught me about suffrage and equality and the struggles women had to be heard. I cannot know what she would say now, but I know that she often said that respect had to be earned, not just given. I look at the candidates in front of me and I see that Obama and Biden have earned my respect as an American woman. McCain and Palin have not. Not in this arena.
Don’t take me at word. Look it up. I’ve included the links to several articles and websites for Obama-Biden. Here is the link to Women for McCain taken directly from John McCain’s Web site. I would have cited them in this posting had I found anything to support the claim that McCain-Palin understand women’s issues, but I didn’t.
As always, I urge you to vote. Know for whom and what you’re voting, but vote.
Pro-bama ’08!
In an odd twist-Bebe called up to interview me for a gender studies class yesterday She wanted to know my definition of Feminism and who I learned women’s roles from. I talked to her about my maternal grandmother. Go , cool Grans!!
September 17th, 2008 at 10:34 pmThe real advocate for womens’ issues is not on any ballot….
September 29th, 2008 at 11:08 pmShoulda been Clinton in 08
Just because she’s a woman doesn’t actually mean that Clinton had any better voting history for women’s rights. In fact, she’s had a few nasty incidents in the past mocking cookie baking mothers. While I have a lot of respect for her, being a woman doesn’t make Clinton the woman’s candidate. Gender and race are just part of the package. The real issue is policy and reform.
September 29th, 2008 at 11:48 pm[...] Women for Obama … more details and quotes from NOW officials.) I recently read an article that discussed Biden’s awkward role in this feminist issue. He has the Vice Presidential nomination, a position many felt should have gone to Hilary Clinton, … [...]
November 5th, 2008 at 7:03 pm[...] Healthspanlife – the Official Life! Blog added an interesting post today on Women for ObamaHere’s a small readingWomen’s Health: The issues of health care coverage are essential to this election. … campaigns to increase awareness of gynecological cancers. [...]
March 24th, 2009 at 3:10 pm