When we talk about social justice, lots of times the stretch of the issues are downplayed. Slavery was hundreds of years ago- get over it! Feminism is a new wave issue, it has no basis in history. Sometimes, these issues aren’t even given the light of day to have a counterargument. They aren’t seen as issues, they aren’t seen as real, and at the end of the day a lot of time women are not considered human. Want to know how bad? Dr. J Marion Sims. He is the “father of modern gynecology”. He used enslaved women as cadavers without anesthesia or chloroform, because black women were not human and didn’t need it. Oh- and that’s only one example to get us started.
We can trace sexism all the way back to Ancient Greece if we really wanted to. Women were not considered citizens, and thus not allowed to vote. But here in America, it starts even before there are colonies. Men were the first to come and conquer the land. Young, unmarried, white men believed this was their chance to get rich quickly. Until they realized it wasn’t quick at all; it was a lifelong endeavor. Well what do you do when you’re stuck in a foreign land with nobody but other men? You buy indentured servants of course. Yes, the first women to sail to America were bought basically as cattle to breed. And the worst part- what choice did they have? They could stay at home, where they were most likely poor and/or facing religious persecution, or they could take a chance on the new colonies. So they did. Indentured servitude is even more complex too, because it feels like there is an end date. But for these women there is not. Punishment for getting pregnant was more years of servitude. Many died while still indentured servants, and the men got to carry on their lineage and reap the spoils.
When we talk about systematic oppressions, lots of times it’s swept under the rug. It just is not seen as a real thing. Well, hopefully I can change your mind. Once the colonies were set up and there was a loose sense of society, different tactics were employed in the Northern and Southern colonies. Southern colonies were mainly plantations and farm work- women were separated from each other physically and racially.
White women on the plantations were not allowed to step out, as their place was in the home. Any other female companions were black women, a.k.a. slaves. Despite the obvious factor (racism) there was a sense of resentment too. White women were supposed to be the pure, holy, woman- only a step below her husband. But that wasn’t the case. Slave owners forced themselves on slave women all the time- sexual abuse starting as young as 11 years old. And all white women could do was sit and watch as her husband had many mistresses, and light-skinned kids served in the home. Black women were not even seen as human beings. Not only were they women, but they weren’t white. They were steps below the rest.
In the North, Puritan culture ruled. And it was extremely sexist. You’ve read The Crucible in high school right? Rigid gender rules were in place, and the only way women were allowed to speak to each other was in the church. Can you imagine how maddening this existence was? Now we have smartphones, we can call or text within seconds. We can scroll through social media and see what we’re up to. Puritan culture, most certainly did not have Instagram.
This is only the beginning of our culture- this prevails to this day. Feminism is not a new concept that you can choose to be blind to. Sexism is not a new issue because someone got “mouthy”. The very foundation of the United States of America was built on societal and legal expectations of what a woman should and should not be.
In 2017 CBS News published an article titled “Are sleeveless dresses ‘appropriate attire’? Congress doesn’t think so.” Yeah, not kidding. Congressional reporter Haley Byrd was kicked out of the Speaker’s lobby for wearing a sleeveless dress.
In 7 U.S. states, a rapist can claim parental rights. North Dakota, Wyoming, New Mexico, Minnesota, Maryland, Mississippi, and Alabama have laws without protecting rape victims. Especially, if they decide (or are forced) or keep the subsequent baby.
The youngest average life expectancy in the U.S. goes to black trans women with 35 years of age. The CDC reports that the second biggest killer of black women ages 1-19 is homicide. Fourth place for black women ages 20-44.
Equality, justice, feminism, and history are not something you get to blindly ignore. Because while you might live in bliss, another woman is being killed. While you might choose to rebuke these sentiments, at the end of the day women are harmed physically, legally, politically, and socially.
The worst part about writing this whole article: I only focused on America.
