Hi there! This is the final week of the project and we are continuing on spotlighting the members of Unite for The Uterus. My name is Katy Szendrey and I’ve been so excited to work with this group of women who are equally passionate about all aspects of Feminism. When we brainstormed ideas about what we wanted to do this project on we came to a quick consensus that we wanted to focus on Women’s equality, rights, issues, etc. The project began in January, close to the inauguration of Donald Trump, so it’s safe to say we had lots of ideas for content and were eager to educate and inform about all things women’s equality and issues. For now, i’m here to tell you a little bit about myself and why feminism is so important to me.

College definitely opened my mind to feminism and all of the different issues. I grew up in Grapevine, Texas, a suburb in the Dallas/ Ft. Worth area that overall is pretty conservative. That was what I knew my entire life until I moved to the liberal paradise of Texas, also known as Austin for college. I think the transition from a  very similar minded community to a very open and progressive one sparked the passion for feminism I have today. Now, I wasn’t not a feminist before I moved to Austin, I just wasn’t aware that I was, or what it meant. A lot of times people have a negative perception of what feminism is. To me, it’s simply the equality of the sexes, no matter what. Being in a progressive place like Austin really is a learning experience. You are able to gain so much from the people around you and learn from new backgrounds you may not have come across if you hadn’t taken that leap of faith into a new place. Being in Austin has really opened my mind and sense of awareness for issues around the world, especially women’s equality issues. This year alone I participated in my first ever political march and marched with thousands of other feminists in the Women’s March on Austin, met Wendy Davis and am currently writing my Senior Thesis over the gender wage gap.

Without a college education I don’t think I would be as well versed in social issues as I am. I don’t think I would have found the passion I have for women’s rights if it wasn’t for this liberal arts school in a liberal haven tucked away in the middle of a Red state. I hope that education can become the norm for others in the future, so that we may have more open minded individuals who share the same passion for equality. This turned into more of a reflection piece on how being at university has influenced me but I will leave you with this. While feminism is equality of the sexes, it is so much more than that. Feminism is co-exsisting, uplifting, supporting, educating  and empowering others. It’s so important that we learn to care for one another, learn to respect and how to treat others. My hope is that everyone,  (especially my ladies out there) will find something they’re passionate about and to advocate for it and never let that fiery passion burn out while making their voice heard.

The gender wage gap is problematic not only in how it affects women but how easy it is to understand/how women in the work force are affected. To find several articles from various sources on information pertinent to the wage gap, you can use this paper.li curated page! Many different regions and professions are mentioned within these articles, so get researching and learning!

The Susan G. Komen foundation, also known as simply “Komen”  is the most widely known Breast Cancer research organization worldwide. After it’s beginning in 1982, it has spent 1.5 billion on breast cancer research, educational programming, advocacy and health support services. The foundation is named after Susan Goodman, who later became Susan Goodman Komen, who passed away in 1980 from breast cancer. Her sister believed she could have survived if doctors had known more about the disease, thus putting in gear the making of an organization who is dedicated to ending breast cancer.

Throughout the years of advocacy and support for the breast cancer community, the Komen foundation has made a lasting impact in several ways.  One of the impressions they have left on the world is the iconic pink ribbon, as well as the color pink itself. The pink ribbon is the symbol of breast cancer awareness and was made known by the Susan G. Komen foundation. The color is strategically chosen to be pink and represent femininity. The hope behind this representation was to also represent traditional feminine characteristics such as caring for and love for one another.  Every October is recognized as national Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  The color pink is incorporated into uniforms and worn proudly by several sports teams during games. In many stadiums, a pink ribbon has been painted onto the playing field, for even more representation and awareness for Breast Cancer. Through the pink ribbon, the Susan G. Komen foundation has created a iconic symbol that allows for others to recognize and be aware of breast cancer and it’s affects on women and a small percentage of men across the globe. 

The second impact the Susan G. Komen foundation has made is the 3 Day, race for the cure. The 3 Day is a 60 mile walk over the course of 3 days. Each day participants walk 20 miles as they are cheered on by supporters on the path. The 3 Day occurs yearly sometime between August and November. The cities that have hosted the 3 Day include: Dallas/ Fort. Worth, Atlanta, Philadelphia, San Diego, Seattle and the Twin Cities. In order to participate a walker must raise $2,300. Many participants reach out to family members/ friends/ coworkers, etc. in order to reach the goal. Because of this several others are able to be involved in the 3 Day, even if they are not walking. Many of the walkers in the past have walked for their mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, friends or other relatives who were affected by breast cancer. 75% of the proceeds from the 3 Day go to Komen’s national priorities which include: research, community health and advocacy and global partnerships. The other 25 % of the profits stay within the local community to fund screenings, diagnosis programs and education.  In order to find more information about the Komen 3 Day and register for the race, you can visit their website.  The fight to end breast cancer isn’t over, but dedicated people and organizations like the Susan G. Komen foundation are making big steps toward finding the cure.

Born in 1879 in Corning, New York Margaret Sanger came out of the womb headstrong. Technically, literally and figuratively because she would eventually become known as the founder of Planned Parenthood as well as an iconic advocate for women’s reproductive health. Keep in mind that the impact she made happened 100 years ago and women who took a stance and spoke up about anything were considered “stubborn” or “emotional.” Even though Sanger was the start of the movement that is still so important for women today, there are some beliefs and connections she had that Planned Parenthood realizes but denounces today. Every heroes story is a very complex and interesting account with flaws, because even though we look to them as inspirations, all of our heroes are also humans.

A lot of her personal background is what fueled her passion for access to reproductive healthcare for women, especially those in poverty. Growing up she was born into a family who wasn’t able to support the number of kids they had brought into the world. She would go to school and be made fun of by her peers for wearing old clothes. She wanted to stop living a life of poverty, which is one of the inspirations to help others get out from under the poverty line. She eventually went on to private school which was funded through the help of her older sisters and later graduated as a practical nurse from Whites Plains Hospital in 1902. (Planned Parenthood 2) This upbringing and background is recognized as what she drew from to form her passions for the care of those in poverty and women’s reproductive health.

Six years before she was born the United States Congress implemented a law that “made it illegal to to publish and distribute information across state lines about sex, reproduction, or birth control anywhere in the U.S. on the grounds that they were obscene.” (Planned Parenthood 2) After serving women as a nurse for several years, Sanger wanted to find other ways to help women in need. She began publishing a series of articles entitled “What Every Girl Should Know.” Her articles were later censored even though she had went around using language about contraception. Sanger didn’t back down, instead she decided to write her own paper, appropriately titled “The Women Rebel.”  The paper included any and all information about birth control. She was told to stop publishing but kept doing what she did best, defying the wishes of those wanting to censor her mission for women’s reproductive health. She continued publishing and sending out copies through the mail. Even through tireless efforts, Sanger was arrested.

Instead of writing a plea for her defense, she began writing a book all about birth control entitled “Family Limitation.” It sold for 25 cents and women all over were beginning to hear about it. It was translated into 13 languages and over 10 million copies were sold. It essentially was  the “Bible” of the birth control movement. This was just the beginning of Sanger’s impact. She later went on to become the founder of Planned Parenthood and is considered one of the most important Americans in the 20th century. The history of Planned Parenthood and Margaret Sanger’s foundations will be covered more in our next blog entitled: Human Rights are Reproductive Rights.