A panel of nothing but men. Talking about birth control. Really?
The NY Daily News reports that this picture went viral— more than 5,000 people shared it —within hours of it being posted by Think Progress (a progressive blog funded by the Center for American Progress).
I'm only surprised it didn't move faster. I'm actually even more surprised that while people posted it, liked it, tweeted about it, etc. they actually didn't seem really pissed off by it. More resigned to the fact that this picture represents our reality. We, women, are actually second class citizens. Or at least that is the message that image, that panel, sends. Right?
And I think we actually believe it. Where is the outrage? In 1991 the anger we felt over the treatment of Anita Hill galvanized a generation of young women. We fought and won the Year of the Woman. We helped elect the first solidly pro-choice President. Doors were opened in classrooms, boardrooms and, hell, even bedrooms. We found our voice. And we used it.
Now it seems we're struck mute again. I know there are plenty of us that are angry but what, really, are we going to do about it? Our choices are actually limited. There aren't enough strong women running for office. Most of my friends would rather not get involved in civic life. The politics are too dirty, the trade offs at home (or work) too great.
Or so it seems. I would argue that there is a lot we can do. It is time for us to find our voice again.
We should stand up in droves; refuse to vote for people who aren't real champions; refuse to donate to political organizations that work against us; rally in the streets. Hell, maybe we should even go on a sex strike. If abstinence is the only option, well then let's see how long we can hold out.
How long do they think they can hold out without us?
[Note: Other options include donating ridiculous sums of money to organizations such as Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice America and EMILYs List.]
