The Unexpected Education in Human Nature
“I don’t think women should have the right to vote.” Those words, recently uttered by a man who had known me for a decade, struck me like a lightning bolt. At that moment, the fog lifted, and I finally saw clearly what had eluded me for the past three years.
Let me take you back to 2017 when I entered federal prison for a four-year sentence. During my time away, I was cut off from society, the internet, and social media, relying solely on the nightly news to keep me informed. When I re-entered the world, I was shocked by the transformation in human behavior.
In just four years, humans had become remarkably ugly creatures. People were quick to judge, unapologetically voicing their opinions and spewing the vilest thoughts imaginable. Filters and common decency had evaporated, replaced by a stunning indifference to the impact of their words on others.
Today, this ugliness is woven into the fabric of everyday life. Living in a red state, I had long suspected certain people held certain beliefs, but I chose to let it slide and keep moving forward. However, when someone nonchalantly stated, “I don’t think women should have the right to vote,” it was a wake-up call. The true nature of people in this country seems to be rising to the surface, and they are oblivious to their own repugnance.
Hearing that statement directed at me, as if it were perfectly acceptable, made me realize that this battle has been waged all along. We, as women, didn’t always know who our enemies were. But now, these adversaries have grown comfortable enough in their own filth of beliefs to reveal themselves openly.
When I hear women say, “Look how far we have come,” I reflect on the past century of progress: the right to wear pants, to vote, to keep our jobs while pregnant, to access birth control, to have our own credit cards and bank accounts, and to obtain a divorce. I think of the countless protests, the quiet and loud battles, and the women who endured abusive relationships — relationships that some nostalgically remember as grandpa and grandma being so in love. I relish ruining those romanticized memories by pointing out that Grandma couldn’t leave; she didn’t have the rights to her life, her well-being, or her liberty.
While I am disgusted by the resurfacing of these archaic beliefs, I see value in recognizing our true enemies. Now that they are comfortable enough to identify themselves, we must draw our battle lines. Previously, these foes moved silently among us, but now they are loud and clear. Take note, ladies: if a man is not with us, he is against us.
This is not about dividing stay-at-home moms from working moms, or career-oriented women from those who choose not to have a family. We must not let these differences divide us. Instead, we need to stand together, united against those who wish to strip us of our rights and our dignity. The battle is far from over, but now, at least, we know who we are fighting.
