Why we need feminists, NOW more than ever
Women's rights stand at a crossroads. So many things that some folks thought would never happen have happened.
The US Supreme Court has a solid anti-woman majority. It recently overturned protections for abortion clinics and agreed to hear arguments on Carhart v. Gonzales, a law that bans certain abortions - even though the issue at stake was decided by the Supreme Court six years ago!
South Dakota has banned abortion - an obvious test case and a bid to overturn Roe v. Wade. Mississippi has followed suit.
Texas lawmakers voted to require parental consent for minors to obtain abortions, to limit the circumstances under which abortions can be obtained later in pregnancy, and to shift $5 million in family planning funding to anti-choice fake clinics called "crisis pregnancy centers." They also made funding cuts targeted at Planned Parenthood.
Medicaid and CHIP funding was cut, and red tape requirements were increased, leaving many more low-income Texans without the health care they need.
Higher education is more expensive than ever. Texas has deregulated tuition, and it is soaring. Seniors at UT Austin are paying nearly 40% more this year than they did as freshmen. And federal budgets cuts have made financial aid much harder to get. The GI Bill opened up college for millions of people, but rising tuition rates may bar the doors for low- and middle-income families.
Public education is in trouble. Texas schools simply do not have enough funding to educate our children, and no one seems to have the political courage to make the tough choices that will get Texas children the money they need.
The pay gap continues to widen, with women of color hit worst of all. African-American women earn 64% of the median income for white males, and Hispanic women earn just 52% of the same figure.
Some people say feminism is obsolete. But with all these problems still facing our country, it's clear to us that we have never needed feminism more. Complacency is dangerous. We hope to use this blog to raise awareness of women's issues and start conversations about solutions. Texas might be a red state, but we have a long tradition of strong women. Texas feminists can make a difference. We hope you'll join us in the fight.