If you think about it, it’s sad that we even need a party called “the Women’s Equality Party.” But the state of women’s rights in our country requires it.
Little girls and women are taught a lot of things:
That if you study and work hard, you’d accomplish something. Sadly, people left out the part that if you do work hard, you will only earn 77% of what men make.
That your body is yours, that you should protect it, nurture it. That others don’t have the right to violate you or tell you what to do. sadly, that’s not true… We’re seeing it all over the country: more and more legislation popping up that limits a woman’s right to do with her body what she pleases. Women being denied access to birth control and safe abortions, women whose lives are valued less than a fetus, women who are blamed when they are raped of when they are victims of abuse. Women forced to go to school with their rapists because schools don’t report these cases.
That you can be a mother and have a career… but they forget to tell you how hard it is going to be with discrimination, no paid leave and other obstacles that mothers face.
That the law will protect you against abuse, trafficking and discrimination… but they don’t tell you that the laws in place aren’t as strong as they should be.
I’ve always believed with every atom of my being that women and men are equal… That we should be equal. So, when I heard that someone had the brilliant idea of creating the Women’s Equality Party. I smiled, I cheered and I said yes!
Maybe you think this is just a political move by Andrew Cuomo, but let me tell you, Cuomo is a father of three daughters. As a parent, I know we want the best for our children; so I believe when he says women’s equality is something he believes in because I know his wants his daughters to have the best opportunities in life.
The is Women’s Equality 10 point plan:
1. Establish Pay Equity for Women
2. Stop Sexual Harassment in Every Workplace
3. Stop Businesses from Discriminating against Pregnant Women
4. Strengthen Human Trafficking Laws
5. End Hiring and Salary Discrimination Against Parents
6. Stop Landlord Discrimination Against Women Who Depend on Housing Assistance
7. Stop Housing Discrimination for Victims of Domestic Violence
8. Allow for the Recovery of Attorneys’ Fees in Employment and Credit and Lending Cases
9. Protect Victims of Domestic Violence by Strengthening Order-of-Protection Laws
10. Apply the full standards of Roe v. Wade in New York
If you believe women should be treated fairly and not be discriminated against for the simple fact that we are women, then I urge you to get out and vote on November 4th.
This is not only a women’s issue! If you’re a man, you have a mother, daughter, sister, wife… you should care. Men and women, we should all care, because women’s rights are human rights.
Vote WEP. Support women’s rights, so that our daughters can grow up in a world where they will not be judged simply by the kinds of reproductive organs they have, but rather by the talent, intelligence and ambition they have to succeed.
photo credit: Women’s Equality Party.
Note: This is not a sponsored post.
