Today is a dark day for just about anyone who doesn’t look like Trump. Anyone who’s marginalized, a person of colour, an immigrant, LGBTQ+, disabled or female.
I can speak most about ableism and misogyny - especially reproductive health. So that’s what I’m going to do:
I no longer have my uterus - but I have nieces and friends with children and I fear for them. I fear for all uterus owners of reproductive age.
I know firsthand the misogyny, patriarchy and life threatening hoops I was made to jump through when I needed my uterus removed. I know just how many people see us as “incubators”.
I also know how many men view “barren” women as less than. It’s not just JD Vance and the childless cat lady comments.
I lost my uterus at 24. My long term relationship ended shortly thereafter. I dated for a decade as a “barren” young woman. Let me tell you - there were VERY few men who took the news well. Or even kindly. Or who offered any support for ME.
It went one of two ways:
1) they were angry with me for not telling them sooner (folks a hysterectomy is not a first date conversation) and stormed off
2) they did a hard and obvious pivot into glee because they saw an opportunity for sex without protection or consequences. I was no longer wife or girlfriend material but the “good time girl” and they didn’t hide it.
Needless to say it was one hell of a wake up call for a girl who was still fairly naive and thought she was going to find Prince Charming.
Thats why JD Vance’s comments have never surprised me. It’s why I worry about a national ban on abortion, birth control restrictions and period tracking. It’s why I worry about women of childbearing age AND women like me who still ARE of childbearing age but unable to bear children.
What will happen to people like us in this version of America? I don’t know - but the writing on the wall isn’t good.
Now is the time to unite, organize and fight back. Get loud, protect uterus owners in your life. Protect our trans friends. Marginalized people. Disabled people. Anyone who these people will “other” is someone who needs our love and support right now.
And maybe stop using period tracker apps. Just to be safe. Pen and paper it is!