Liberation: Women’s Rights
The Presidential election of 2012 has become significantly important in relation to the views of women. While both candidates had different stances on their views of women’s rights, in the end it was the women who made the final decision. As Romney and his party stood true to Republican beliefs, Obama and the Democratic Party focused on the progression of women’s freedom within their rights and what the Republican Party was not doing for them.
The focus on women’s rights and Planned Parenthood took center stage as Romney witnessed many of his female voters moving toward a more moderate approach, while holding Republican values but not agreeing with the Romney-Ryan agenda in relation to cutting Planned Parenthood, reversing Roe v. Wade, and Equal pay. Nearly fifty-five percent of women’s votes went to President Obama, leaving Romney, and the Republican Party something to reflect on in future elections.
Comments from women on President Obama’s win ranged in reactions for the Republican Party, humorous opposition in reaction toward Republican remarks, to giving Romney the respect he deserved. Meghan McCain’s, daughter of 2008 presidential candidate John McCain, twitter comment after President Obama’s victory reading, ”Heartbroken. My party has to evolve or it’s going to die.” (sourced from @McCainBlogette). On a more humorous note voter Maria Bustillos writes “The women have a way to shut that whole thing down.” (sourced from @maribustillos) Even male voters noticed the actions of Republicans that strengthened the female vote, as written by voter Nicholas Kratoch “Women everywhere climbing out of their binders to vote…” (Sourced from @NicholasBBL) Both in reference to prior comments made by republican candidates during the election.
Although statistics did show that there was a large amount of women in support for Obama, there were many women who felt Romney deserved their respect and support as a Republican candidate, as can be seen in this quote from voter Callie Schweitzer “Incredibly gracious concession from Romney. It is so hard to run for president, hats off to him. #election 2012” (Sourced from @cschweitz)
Now that President Obama has been re-elected for another term, what do we, as women, have to look forward to? Personally, in order to look forward, we must reflect on past achievements in women’s history. The moment President Obama entered office; he immediately ranked women’s rights high on his list of priorities, putting through the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which helped women fight against pay discrimination. He then passed the highly criticized Obamacare that has helped many obtain not only birth control, but preventative services such as cervical cancer and HRV screenings, HIV counseling and screening, STI counseling, and mammogram and cancer screenings. And Romney wanted to cut funding in this sector? REALLY?
Many argue that the Republican Party did not want to cut Planned Parenthood out permanently; the Republican Party simply did not want it to come out of taxpayer dollars. Something that people who oppose Planned Parenthood should understand is that President Obama saw that Planned Parenthood services needed to be accessible by all women, especially the ones who cannot afford it. President Obama has only begun to change these issues and has started his work with insurance discrimination against women.
As a young girl growing up I always heard the joke that the boy sitting next to me with the same qualifications as I will be making seventy-eight cents more than I will, or that my health insurance will be significantly higher than the man who smokes cigarettes, even though I am nineteen years old and consider myself to be highly active in sports and recreational activities. I have a lower chance of cervical or breast cancer being overlooked or unseen, and I have the ability to make personal choices with my doctor about my reproductive health. Given what President Obama has put into order the past four years, I feel that in relation to women’s rights, women have much to look forward to given our long struggle.
