She Rant: #1 Sister Suffragettes

As much fun as it is to stomp my feet and holler loudly about gay rights and the Mormon Church (and as much as listening to me do so can't, in any way, ever get old) I have decided that it's time for a brand new rant - one that has been brewing for quite some time.

I'm actually not quite sure where to start with this one but, I think that, rather than just jump right in with what is deeply bothering and downright pissing me off, I need to lay a very careful foundation and give some background because what I want to write about has the potential to, in turn, piss off 99% of the women that read this blog. And I DO NOT want to do that. I really, really don't. Therefore...

Let me state, for the official record, I LOVE BEING A WOMAN. I am thrilled that I am female - something I haven't always felt and have worked extremely hard to achieve. I don't want to be a man. I have never wanted to be a man. I don't have man envy, nor do I have penis envy (I do admit to having a healthy curiosity as to what it would be like to have a penis for one day - as do all women if they are being honest. But that's the extent of it.)

I was raised by a very feminist mother. I grew up around her "Radical Mormon Women's Group" that were fighting hard for the Equal Rights Amendment. I heard them do their own ranting and raving about the place of women in the LDS church and in the world at large. I saw the tears and the frustration. I saw the hard work and focus. I was aware of Sonja Johnson and Gloria Steinem. I had my own little "A Woman Without a Man is Like a Fish Without a Bicycle" pin. I was aware of the inequality and the issues they fought so hard against. I saw it, I totally get it and I am more grateful for it than I even have words for.

I am eternally grateful to the women that stood up and said NO. To the women that marched and burned their bras to give me equality; and to those that marched and starved in jail to give me the right to vote.


I honor the women that battled and sacrificed and suffered horrible indignities and pain to give me a better life. I praise the women that found the courage to stand up and say NO against, therefore shedding light on, rape, domestic violence, female circumcision and genocide.

These women of years past bled to give us women of years present freedom, dignity, safety, equality and opportunity. They gave us vision. They gave us dreams and hopes and options. They gave us Wonder Woman and Charlie's Angels for cryin' out loud. I have what I have and I am who I am because of them.

Internetland, please know that I DO KNOW THIS and please just go with me for a minute here because the following issues left unsaid are causing me hives and spasms and, as usual, foaming at the mouth Tourette's.

Okay. Ready? Set? Go...