I grew up as an only child in a single parent family. It wasn't easy.
But one thing I remember clearly--very clearly--is learning there were no restrictions on what I could do. What I could achieve. Who I could become.
I did yard work and housework. Cleaned the garage and changed the bed sheets. Fixed things broken and put things together from pieces.
In baseball, I was always a first pick. Same with football. I was better at most sports than the male kids around me. But I had to settle for being a "bat girl" since I couldn't play in the boys' league. I was a Jr. Olympic swimmer and studied ballet for 11 years being offered a shot as child dancer on television. I attended college in the sciences for almost eight years.
I had NO gender related role given to or demanded of me. I wasn't raised by a feminist, but ended up being one merely by the lack of gender boxing. I was lucky.
As the right's political discussion becomes more painfully and unequivocally anti-woman every day, simultaneous with the notion that someone somewhere may be waging a war on religion, I wanted to change course and provide the proof that at least one religion is waging a war against women and has been for 150+ years. This is a religion I am most familiar with, but there are plenty more doing likewise. And it happens to be the religion of the unliked sometimes front runner, Mitt Romney, which makes it even more pertinent as this is the lens through which this man views girls, young women and women.
And it may help to explain why he is dangerous to women of any age.
This material is being taught today. Right now. Not just 150+ years ago.
Because of the debate tonight and the attention to cultural and religious doctrine espoused by candidates for the last several weeks, I wanted to put this out there to keep in mind should some journalist have the idea to question whether theology should be a factor in a secular office and perhaps to actually brave the theological muck which has risen to the top as of late.
And as a woman watching this disgusting display of patriarchal rivalry over my reproductive system, I am reminded that now more than ever, we women and the men and boys that respect and love us need to battle this with a full-throated response.


