Author: slonge

??Member Spotlight: Sarah Longe

Hello there! We have come to the end of our blog, Unite for the Uterus. My name is Sarah Longe and it has been a wonderful experience to be a part of such a strong and intelligent group of women. It was inspiring to work alongside these ladies and discuss our passion for feminism. I remember when we first met to choose our topic, I had just marched in Austin’s local Women’s March. I remember feeling empowered being surrounded with my fellow fellow females and wanted to translate that passion into this blog.

My inspirations have varied throughout the years. Today my inspirations are my mother, grandmothers, and activists Terry Tempest Williams, and Emma Watson. It was hard to narrow it down to this few. Terry Tempest Williams is an American author who is from Utah, just like me! She is a conservationist and activist, using her writings to fight for women’s health, women’s equal standing in rights, and for environmental rights. Growing up in the LDS church she felt she did not have an equal say and as she explored nature and expanded her ideals she felt the need to fight for “I stand in solidarity with Kate Kelly and her plea to grant women equal standing in the rights, responsibilities and privileges of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, including the right to hold the Priesthood.” She continuously inspires through her writing in “If Women Were Birds”, where she shares her journey of discovering the pure beauty of being a woman and her journey of discovering who she is as a woman.

 Terry Tempest Williams

Emma Watson has continuously fought for women’s rights. She once said, “The more I have spoken about feminism, the more I have realized that fighting for women’s rights has too often become a synonymous with man-hating. If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that this has to stop.” This is why I admire her because she understands that in order to make change happen for women we must stop the definition of feminism as a “man-hating” activists. It is not! Feminism is about equality, equality for both men and women. She continuously fights for women to have a choice of how to live their life. Everyday she speaks out about feminism or really does anything in her profession she is threatened by those who disagree and she does not let that devalue her work. I look to Emma Watson not because she is a phenomenal and talented artist, but because she carries herself with grace and force. She is not afraid to make a stand and work to cultivate change.

 Emma Watson

I look to my mother and my grandmothers for instilling the values I hold dear to my heart today. These ladies taught me I can do anything I put my mind to, that if I work hard I will see results, and that it is okay to vocalize my opinion. These ladies and many more have shaped the way I have chosen to cultivate change and writing with Carmen, Katy, and Nadia on Unite for the Uterus was a great experience. Unite for the Uterus taught me how to vocalize my opinions and not only educate you readers, but also educate myself! Thank you all for following our educational journey.

The Fight for Female Education

According to right-to-education.org, “31 million girls, are out of school and two thirds of illiterate adults are women (worldwide)”. The discrimination among females has continued. There are an assortment of reasons for the lack of education. For example,  poverty, pregnancy,  and even the threat of violence.  Many countries like Sub-Saharan Africa have the lowest proportion of countries with equal  gender education. In South and  West Asia 80% of there out of school girls are unlikely to ever begin compared to the 16% of boys that are not in school. Education is an intrinsic right and critical in progression. In order to create a better society we must ensure an education surrounding topics like human rights and gender equality occurs for not only the male population. When this occurs the strong education will be passed down from generation to generation, creating a better just and equal world.

While the numbers have improved from the past of girls receiving an education, there are many barriers girls must overcome to obtain an education. Many young girls have economic and social demands beyond their education, from chores around the house to child labor, child marriage, even genital cutting and mutilation. “One-third of girls in the developing world are married before age 18, and one-third of women in the developing world give birth before age 20” (unicef.com) Studies have shown providing an education for young girls can delay the age of marriage and the age at which a female gives birth. From  education in primary school up to high school we learn how to develop our skills such as writing, speaking up in class, and maybe even math, but the most valuable quality learned is confidence. Confidence grants women the power to fight for what they believe in.

By first becoming aware of the problem with can then  improve our education opportunities for females. We can help women develop the skills to allow them to make their own decisions an influence their community in a positive light.  We must look to those leaders like Malala Yousafzai or Emma Watson to encourage all women for fight for an equal and just education. If you want to make a change and take action, below the video of Malala’s speech is a list or websites where you can contribute to the movement.

Here is a speech done by Malala Yousafzai, whom we discuss in our Sunday Spotlight!

 

Links for you to make a change!

World Education

http://www.worlded.org/WEIInternet/index.cfm

Right to Education Project

http://www.right-to-education.org/

United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative

http://www.ungei.org/index.php

Unicef’s Education Page

https://www.unicef.org/education/bege_70640.html

 

 

 

 

 

Curate a Page to Learn More on Feminist Topics!

Learn more on how to curate you own page to learn more on any topic you’d like to indulge in. For next weeks posts we will be discussing maternity leave. With websites like Paper.li you, yourself can create your own search on topics of interest! Paper.li offers an assortment of types of stories ranging from  business, politics, arts & entertainment, and even more! Upon my search “maternity leave” came stories on the “American Progress” of maternity leave, how one should negotiate maternity leave and the politics behind maternity leave. These websites make research easier for us fellow bloggers.

It’s that time of the month again ladies, the monthly breast exam has called your name. According to John Hopkins Medical center, “Forty percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, so establishing a regular breast self-exam is very important.” Most women who perform these monthly breast exams a become familiar with their breasts, and b, are so familiar that when and if they feel a lump they can contact their healthcare professional right away. If you are wondering, how in the hell do I give myself a breast exam, have no fear we’ve got you covered.   There are three recommended ways.

 

1.) In the Shower

Take the pads of your fingertips and move them around your entire boob in the motion of a circle from the outside to the center. Don’t forget about your armpit area! Check each month for any lumps, thickening or hardened knots.

2.) In Front of a Mirror

 

Look at your boobs with your arms down at your side. Then raise your arms high above your head. Look to see for a changing in the contour, if there is any swelling, dimpling of the skin, or changes in the nipples. Lastly, rest your palms on our hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Each boob will not look exactly the same so again look for any dimpling, puckering or changes to either side.

3.) Lying Down

 

When you lay down your breast tissue spreads evenly out along your chest. Put a pillow under your left shoulder and your left arm behind your head. Use your right hand to move the pads of your fingertips around your left boob in those small circular motions again covering the entire boob area and armpit. Repeat this step on right side. Lastly, squeeze your nipple to check for discharge and lumps.

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer can vary from person to person. As a disclaimer, these signs and symptoms I am about to share with you do not automatically mean you have breast cancer!  If you notice a change in how your breast or nipple feels. Nipple tenderness or a lump or thickening in or near the breast or underarm may be a sign. If you notice a change in the skin texture or that the pores on the skin on your boob are larger. Some say it may feel the like an orange peel’s texture. Another sign is a change in the breast or nipple appearance meaning there is an unexplained change in size or shape or a nipple that is inward or inverted. Lastly, any nipple discharge that is clear of blood.

 

Please remember if you discover a lump or any of these signs or symptoms to contact your healthcare provider, but also know it may not be breast cancer. It is better to have a doctor look at it than self-diagnose yourself because it is most often the symptoms are not cancerous. I’ll leave you with this video from BuzzFeedYellow’s Ladylike bit. Watch these four ladies learn everything you need to know about breast exams from Dr. Sherry Ross, MD.

?Human Rights are Reproductive Rights

 

Planned Parenthood celebrated its 100th anniversary last year and is stronger than ever. Throughout history this organization has fought and pushed to grant education, healthcare, medical services,  and promoted research for all people regardless of his or her fertility, of the individual’s income, marital status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or residence. Planned Parenthood has granted the human right to reproductive rights for everyone.

 

It all began with three women, Margaret Sanger, Ethel Byrne, and Fania                    Mindell, who opened a clinic to provide birth control information and advice          to women.

After the opening it was shut down just 9 days later by the police and the women were charged with crimes. Margaret Sanger in particular refused to pay the fine and spent 30 days in jail.

After 14 years of advocating, the New York Urban leagues endorsed a new             clinic for black women who were denied access to health and social services.

In 1943 The National Clergyman Advisory Council launched to become the         precursor to the Planned Parenthood Clergy Advisory Board. Many religious leaders have played a critical role in advocating for reproductive health.

In 1951, Planned Parenthood granted funds to researchers to develop the             first birth control pill and in 1956 the first human trail took place in Puerto       Rico.

In 1965 contraceptives were legalized for married couples in the Griswold v. Connecticut case. Researchers found that one out of four married women under the age of 45 had utilized the pill.

In 1967, 19 Protestant ministers, and two rabbis created an underground community of about 1,400 clergy members to assist women who were at the time seeking out abortions.

About 11, 000 abortions were performed by this underground group until 1973 when Roe vs. Wade legalized abortion nationwide.

In the case of Eisenstadt v. Baird, the U.S. Supreme Court disbanded the Massachusetts statute, which banned contraceptives from unmarried couples.

 

Following the legalization of contraceptive usage and abortion came the launch of national sex education programs, and a safe place for women to seek help with family planning, referrals or medical services. While there were and are many success of Planned Parenthood that does on deter from the acts of violence that have occurred, and the numerous set backs from government officials. This is and will continue to be an ongoing battle. It is the fundamental right to every person to say what they choose to do with their fertility. We must respect everyone and value their opinion. Planned Parenthood has created and maintained a safe and nonjudgemental ground where all people can seek information in a private and safe space. It is our obligation to fight and advocate for the equality of all humans reproductive rights. We must continue to do so as our President begins to ban funding to those who support abortions.

?The Women’s March

 

The nationwide Women’s Marches occurred on January 21st, 2017. The purpose of each march was to unify women of all backgrounds that were insulted, demonized and threatened in this past election year. The objective was to stand together in solidarity for our nation to hear our voice. This was one of the largest protests in the United States’ history. More than 650sister marches occurred throughout the world with more than 4,956,000 protestors. These marches occurred not only in countries such as France, Poland, Bulgaria and Italy, but also in our home state of Texas. Austin itself brought together 100,000 protestors.

The Women’s March participants, united to fight for human rights. The marches fought to end violence in all forms, for example police brutality, ending racial profiling and the targeting of communities of color. They fought for reproductive freedom, LGBTQIA rights, workers rights, civil rights, disability rights, immigrant rights, and environmental justice. Many protestors felt President Trump expressed misogynistic views throughout his presidential campaign and chose to fight and stand against him. I was lucky enough to participate in the Austin Women’s March and I want to share my story with you.

I was raised in a conservative family that struggles to see their opponent’s views. Growing up I never fully understood what I truly believed until I went to college. I found my voice and wasn’t afraid to fight for what I valued. I was invited to the Women’s March in Austin, Texas via Facebook, which is how the coordinators organized to get the public interested. I immediately accepted and was ready to stand in unity with my fellow community.

I arrived two hours before the March on Texas was scheduled to begin; I walked on our capitol hill and stopped at every table, signed every petition, and wrote my email down multiple times for more information on how to get more involved. People drove hours, and even chartered buses. There were volunteer and nonviolent protest training days to ensure the safety of this March. Organizers also invited speakers and musicians to inspire and advocate on the Capitol steps. As the two hours flew by the number of people coming in with their signs, and wearing their pussy hats blew me away. Some inspiring signs read, “Hope will never be silent”, “Teach love”, “Women’s rights are human rights”, and “Strong women stand together”. Those were a few of the inspirational signs and chants we yelled at the top of our lungs as we stood on Capitol Hill and began to march. The men, women, and children that stood around me inspired me and motivated me to know that it is possible to make a difference in the world.

No pepper spray was sprayed, no policemen had to step in and no violence erupted. Even though President Trump may expresses misogynistic views, but our country will not stand for it and fight back. In order to move forward and make a change we must unite and understand where our opponent’s views come from to unite and create a more peaceful and inclusive world. These large protests will go down in history and show the generations to come that they too can make a change.

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