Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Facts by Anecdote

I try and keep politics out of my blog, my social media, and my family circle, beyond my own household. Every so often though, I weigh in, not to try and change someone's mind politically, or to tell them their wrong, but to share another perspective. I got sucked in  twice-back on November 9th in response to comments on my blog post, and yesterday, in response to views on the women's March. This will be my one and only post on the subject, and I will post all respectful comments, regardless of view. I get that millions of women voted for Mr. Trump, and because I am a citizen of the United States, I accept that he is president, and will be for four years, unless something, as is the case with any president, intervenes. What I struggled with yesterday was both on social media and in the blogger world, writers telling their story about their success in life, having never experienced oppression, that they as a woman have never experienced negativity towards their gender, as statements of absolute facts, true for everyone. 

I didn't negate anyone's anecdotal evidence, in fact, congratulated them that they work for forward thinking companies, or have never been denied an opportunity because of their gender, or other circumstance of life. I shared that I, and countless other women, women who chose to march on Saturday, did not and do not have the same experiences. Ridiculous over the top celebrities aside, (no Madonna, Katy Perry, and  Hannah Montana do not speak for me, and can get off my team, thank  you), I can tell my anecdotes, and retell others where men without knowledge have come into predominantly female occupations, and have dominated the agenda. women who have been put on trial for being the victim of a male perpetrated crime, and stories of sisters and daughters marginalized in the education and health care system. There are facts and statistics behind the experiences, that make these stories more than anecdotes.

I don't think the women's march, peaceful from all accounts, was just a "Hillary didn't win, so down with Trump" but a call to keep vigilant, keep watching.  A call that as much progress may have been done in the last 100 years of gender and civil rights, that progress can easily be eroded under the wrong leadership. While during the election, the rhetoric seemed to be about what candidate was worse; who committed the bigger craptastic acts, the election is done, and now America moves on. My belief, whether anyone agrees there was a point to the march or not, was that the people who participated on Saturday wanted to let their voices be heard. The message, that while the election is over, and America is moving on, must move on, that it needs to be done going forward, not backward.

 

4 comments:

  1. Your post is a nice and thoughtful expression. I am non-political on social media, mainly because I have friends and family with vastly different viewpoints, life experiences, cultures, and orientations. I have decided instead of looking at how someone voted I am going to look at their hearts and actions.
    I keep this quote by Niemöller in my laundry room so I will see it often. Though it is not about females it certainly applies to everyone.
    "First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
    Because I was not a Socialist.
    Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
    Because I was not a Trade Unionist
    Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
    Because I was not a Jew.
    Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

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  2. Hit the nail on the head!!!!

    I myself am lucky enough to work for a fairly large and decently progressive company who's policy is to treat women and LGBTQ+ as fairly as men. However, I will say that when it comes to setting up meetings, reserving conference rooms, making restaurant reservations, organizing work social events and celebrations - 9 times out of 10, a woman will be asked to do it - analysts, sr. analysts, managers - it doesn't matter. Petty as that sounds, it is noticeable. And being the mother of 2 almost adult daughters I will not sit idly by and watch as their rights may potentially be eroded before they even launch.

    The marches represented a shot across the bow.

    Yours - DeeCee

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  3. Thank you for your perspective. You nicely summarized the concerns of myself and many women that I know.

    Ann

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  4. I have learned not to be political on my blog :)
    Myself and both of my daughters have experienced negativity, so those women who say they have not are fortunate indeed.

    ReplyDelete

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