War on Women

Ga. women going backwards

Langford

Unfair and Unbalanced

BY MARILYN LANGFORD

Published:

Wednesday, October 8, 2014 7:42 PM CDT

There’s a lot of talk about the “War on Women” but that may be a mischaracterization. “War” suggests that two factions are fighting against each other. I see no evidence that women are fighting back. Women have surrendered. Women have quit fighting. Therefore there is no war.

REMEMBER THE saying, “You’ve come a long way baby?” Women were united in the 60’s and 70’s against social injustice. Much was accomplished for female equality.  The bawdy saying was, “Women went from the bedroom to the Board Room.” After all the years of being seen and not heard, women found their voice. Now in 2014, women have no voice and we are still fighting the same battles.

THE GENDER wage gap still exists with women making 81 percent of what their male counterpart makes for performing the same job. Come on! The Equal Pay Act was enacted fifty years ago! Raising the minimum wage would benefit women the most. However, the idea of raising the minimum wage is spurned by lawmakers. What gender represents the majority of the elected body on the national level? Men!

IN GEORGIA, women are going backwards for sure. White men are telling women what they can do with their bodies. Yes, I said white men! Further they are mostly old white men who are Republicans. If they have their way in Georgia (and they may), women will not have access to insurance covered contraception. This battle should have ended when the Supreme Court upheld Roe v. Wade some 42 years ago. Yet, here it is 2014, and women face most of the same obstacles as then.

NOW BEFORE you accuse me of unfairness in singling out white men, show me one female Constitutional Officer in Georgia. You can’t. In the State Senate only 20% are women. In the State House, only 22% are women. We have two white male U. S. Senators and not a single Congresswoman from Georgia. Of Governor Deal’s 51 appointments to the top three most powerful State Boards, 43 of them are white men. Further, I think it’s important to note that those 43 white men have contributed more than 1.3 million dollars to Gov. Deal’s campaign. He claims, “but they are all qualified!” That’s just great! Not only do you have to be a white man to get appointed to these high decision-making positions, you also have to be rich.

IN FAIRNESS to women, they didn’t intentionally lay down the fight. I shake my head in disbelief at how my daughter-in-law juggles her demanding full-time job, her long commute to work, the car-pooling of three school-age children to various sports and activities, and running the household. She never seems to have a discretionary moment. So it is completely understandable that women are exhausted, distracted, and somewhat oblivious to what is going on in our State.

LADIES, FIND your voice again! You have the power on Election Day, Nov. 4! Women registered voters represent from 51 percent to 57 percent in all counties in Georgia. You are going to be very popular. Your phone will ring off the hook. White male Republicans will be courting your vote to maintain their status quo. Just remember, when they are courting you, they will tell you anything they think you want to hear to get what they want. Don’t be an easy mark. Study the candidates and decide which one will do the right thing for you and your family. If all things are equal, then vote for a woman!

Marilyn Langford of High Falls writes a regular op-ed column in the Reporter sharing the liberal perspective on events.