We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
-Preamble to the Declaration of Independence
I do not frequently voice my opinion on politics, but certain issues crawl under my skin. Men are created equal, but women are of no consequence? Are we expected to fill our bellies with children, birthing more men to “run the world?” For centuries, women have ruled in the background, receiving little credit for their efforts. Men are stronger? Perhaps the male seahorse can attest to this, as he carries offspring, but it seems to me that it requires the greatest strength to labor, after months of agony.
In the earliest existence of humanity, men were the hunters and women were gatherers. This is true of many other creatures. Due to this arrangement, women became useful for cooking, cleaning, and bearing infants. Gradually, kitchens appeared and women disappeared inside them.
Life is full of frustration. Women should not be expected to work for “free.” Dirty diapers, muddy feet, sticky fingers. When does a mother receive her pay check?
Years creep slowly for women’s rights. Those freedoms can be yanked away at any moment. We have come a long way, but we are still climbing.
Many women battling severe mental illness, myself included, are not built to carry children. Carrying a child can have drastic and sometimes fatal consequences for those who try, and for those who are forced. Some women are content spending their mornings in quiet reflection, coffee in hand. Babies that never stop screaming affect a woman’s most valuable slumber. When a gallon-sized surprise falls in her lap while she is consuming psychiatric medications, that baby may never stop crying.
We have survived the kitchen. Some have managed to remain childless. Some have escaped the broom. We are not all cooks, moms, housekeepers. Women may not be declared equal on paper, but without us, men are lost.
–SJB