The women’s group that
instituted Women’s History Month declared this
year’s theme to be “Moving Forward Together!
Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.”
Many people don’t know the
origin of the Women’s History Month that we are celebrating. The National Women’s History
Month Alliance took a page from Black History by
first advocating for a Women’s History week in
1980. It used the week to amplify the stories of
women who helped shape history through their
struggles and sacrifices. By 1987, the group had
successfully lobbied Congress to expand the
recognition to the full month of March.
There are many glorious events,
people and accomplishments of women to lift up
and honor. The plight of women today, especially
women of color here in the U.S. and globally,
tell of a not-so-glorious picture. The rise of
white supremacy, coupled with centuries of
patriarchy, have hampered women’s development
and even ended their lives.
Around the world, it is women
who face the brunt of armed conflict and
represent the majority of refugees. More than
half of the world’s conflict-related refugee
population is made up of women and children. In
some countries, that number is higher. Females
face sexual violence, physical and verbal abuse,
as well as lack of access to basic human needs.
In the quest for power and land, their safety
and security is a low priority.
In the U.S., the conflict is on
a different level, but women still face sexual
violence, physical and verbal abuse. In this
developed country, many lack access to basic
human needs. Their overall development is
stunted by the conditions in which they live.
Black women are lifted up as
Super Sheroes - impervious to pain and
suffering. The reality is that the heavy load
that Black women have shouldered for generations
is taking its toll as the political climate
becomes more anti-Black, anti-women and
anti-trans. The stereotype of the strong,
resilient Black woman who can survive anything
is literally killing us.
When I think about the March
theme, I wonder where’s the “moving” and who is
the “together.” The traditional women’s movement
still struggles to fully understand the issues
of working-class women no matter their race.
That movement could be more robust and powerful
if it knew how to be truly inclusive.
Even around reproductive rights,
it took years for middle-class white women to
understand that it wasn’t just about the right
to a safe and accessible abortion, but it was
about reproductive justice. That’s why you can
see the High Court’s ruling being reversed on
the state levels.
The white Republican legislature
in Missouri was so sure the U.S. Supreme Court
would overturn Roe v. Wade that they voted in a
trigger legislature which simultaneously made
Missouri the first state in the union to ban
abortion. We saw a diverse movement built around
the successful ballot initiative that created a
constitutional right to “reproductive freedom.”
Of course, that same legislature is now trying
to beat the victory back.
Under the current administration
of a convicted felon and sexual predator, women
and their allies are going to have to fight like
hell to protect the rights and liberties of
women. We need a different kind of support
system and an aggressive strategy that affirms
all women as full citizens capable of the
highest development under nurturing conditions.
Moving together means
collectively turning our focus to the trump
oligarchy who is slashing and burning programs
that are essential to this affirmation. Moving
together means making sure the voices of the
marginalized and disenfranchised are included in
the fight for their own liberation as women.
Moving together looks like defeating the forces
of reaction that want to put women in their
place - voiceless and powerless. Let’s move like
it’s 2025, not 1925.
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