 in why the country I loved had not ever managed to pass this Amendment to protect my rights. I fundamentally wanted to believe what Ainsley said to be true. The sad reality though, is that it may not be, at least not in everyday practice.
We still have a very long way to go toward equality, yet we don’t seem to spend nearly as much time and energy fighting for it as women like Helen Milliken did.
In order for these inalienable rights to be upheld and extended to all members of our society, the people in power must not only believe in them, but have a clear grasp of circumstances that violate them, in order to fairly interpret the letter of the law. How can we be sure of that interpretation, when those in power have so little personal experience with the issues? Can men really be expected to fully understand the women’s perspective when it comes to working conditions, pay, medical issues, childcare, or violence?
It’s 2012 and women compose nearly 51% of the American population, but just 16.8% of the U.S. Congress. Only 18 of the Fortune 500 companies are headed up by women. A mere six states currently have female Governors, and we have yet to see a woman as President. These numbers need to change for the nation to equally care for all of its citizens.
I hope the passing of Mrs. Milliken will give us pause for reflection on the debt of gratitude we owe her generation, and those before her, as well as on the work yet to be done. Certainly our daughters deserve better examples of feminine success than the Kardashian empire built upon a sex tape, and can be better served than by the likes of Todd Akin or Richard Mourdack. Let's get to work.
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