“Just because you have rights today does not mean that you will have rights tomorrow”. The context of this quote is tied to intersectional justice; it highlights the importance of civic engagement. It reminds individuals that rights should not be taken for granted. Yet there are still ongoing debates about women’s rights. I wonder. Why is that? As a rising freshman, I have realized that rights should never be taken for granted. Women’s rights, abortion, and the policies promoted by the MAGA movement have shown me why civic engagement is so important.
It frustrates me that such hard-earned rights are being questioned. I think about the people who fought hard for those rights; my blood boils. For years, people organized and protested for change and equality. When I hear history about women’s rights, it makes me realize that those rights need to be appreciated and fought for continuously.
What frustrates me the most is when someone decides abortion is an evil thing. Many people who support abortion restrictions will never personally face every circumstance surrounding an unwanted pregnancy or medically complicated pregnancy. All women who are capable of pregnancy are capable of getting an abortion. For example, I disagree with government policies that offer baby bonuses to encourage people to have children. In my opinion, encouraging people to have children through financial incentives does not address the challenges many women and families face, such as access to affordable healthcare, childcare, sex education, and the ability to decide whether or not to continue a pregnancy. The truth is an initial bonus won’t go very far, and the problems families face are more likely to get worse since other costs happen later,
The reason I believe MAGA is hurting women instead of protecting them is because of the history of MAGA supporters and the policies I believe limit women’s rights. Something that left me speechless was, according to Joel Webbon, “A woman is like a child”. Now, what could be the context for that? I am already offended. Multiple articles I read about women’s rights used this exact quote because it argues that men have a God-given responsibility to protect women, and because of that, women should rely on men, like a child relies on an elder. The quote also argues that since we don’t let children vote, then women should not vote as well. I find this reasoning unconvincing because women are adults capable of thinking. Reducing women to the status of children is outdated and infantilizing.
Also, not everyone has the same religious beliefs; because of that, it shouldn’t determine everyone else’s rights. The First Amendment protects religious freedom by preventing the government from establishing an official religion; because the United States is home to people of many different faiths and beliefs, laws should serve everyone equally. This indicates that you cannot judge someone’s actions based on your morals. The United States is home to many people of different faiths and cultures. In a diverse country, equality should be applied to everyone regardless of intersectionality.
While we still have rights, I highly encourage everybody to use civic engagement by voting, protesting peacefully, and staying informed. We can influence change in the policies promoted by the MAGA movement and change the direction the United States is heading towards a better future.
Making America Great Again, for me, I’m not sure if I agree with the “again” part because America hasn’t been great. In my view, making America great means ensuring equality and equal rights for everyone, and opposing policies that take rights away from others. People’s rights, the MAGA movement, and abortion shouldn’t affect everyone’s life. Gender shouldn’t change your thoughts about something, nor should it mean you can decide what someone else does. Fight for the rights we have today because there is no guarantee they will still exist tomorrow. Staying informed, voting, and speaking up are ways we can protect equality for ourselves and future generations.
Natania Santiago – Carmel Catholic High School – DMSF Class of 2030
Photo Credit: Marc Nozell – Flickr