My trip started with some unexpected toilet hugging, and a morning spent in bed. I feel much better now, and thanks to the support of grandparents, have had time to rest properly. I was reading this week's Economist, and came across the US column, Lexington, which this week is on the US election and women.
I would love to hear some views on the following quotes, in particular from my US friends, but from elsewhere as well, of course:
"In recent months newspapers have carried startling reports about Republican-governed states pushing women who seek early abortions to have a probe inserted into their vaginas, in order to provide an image of the unborn child, in the hope that the picture will change their minds."
"Might the politics of women change if more women were in politics?...Women who stand for election do just as well as their male counterparts...The problem..is that so few choose to run...Reasons..range from the psychological (women are more risk-averse, less competitive and less likely than men to believe that they are qualified) to the economic: women in America still do most of the child care and household work."
"Two women who are not running for elected office will nonetheless play a big part in the forthcoming election: Ann Romney..and Michelle Obama... It is perhaps a pity, and certainly an irony, that in an election where women's issues have become so prominent the leading female roles will go to loyal wives who are not on the ballot themselves."
This is not an adequate response, and I will try to formulate some better thoughts and share them some other time, but for now, I just want to say that, aside from the ridiculousness happening with all-male congressional staff discussing women's health care, I don't feel as though women's issues are being singled out at all during this election. I think that over the next few months, Romney and Obama will have to articulate their stances on issues relating to women, but I don't feel as though much attention has been given to this topic just yet. Occasionally I hear reference of women being x% of the electorate, etc. but I must admit I haven't been very well tuned-in until now. The forced ultrasounds before abortion ruling was a big catalyst for action among many women I know, but even that has petered out somewhat at present. Again, this is an inadequate response, but thanks for the reminder that I should be thinking about these things.
ReplyDeleteHope Paris is making your tummy feel better!!!
Saw this in the news today, and thought of this post...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/04/12/national/w055943D11.DTL&tsp=1
I didn't think I could like Romney much, but that's a very powerful, important statement that he made. Thanks for sharing!
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