Rage, Grief, Revulsion, and Hopelessness
I feel so much about this “new” development [making abortion illegal] in the United States—rage, grief, revulsion, and hopelessness.
I am a female who is also a white, Protestant, rural, working-/middle-class mom. The recent developments have restimulated my having been “steamrolled” [overcome] by sexism and male domination as a girl and then blamed for how “broken” I was—for not being able to prevent or easily recover from the abuse.
This leaves me feeling that I’m supposed to have things figured out before taking a stand [taking a position]. It’s as if I can only have a voice after I discharge all the rage and powerlessness. But those things won’t discharge if I stay quiet.
I plan to meet with women’s support group leaders in my Region and participate in an upcoming women’s march. I’m hoping these actions will yield clear thinking and hopefulness.
I’m grateful for RC and the framework we have for figuring out how to be human—and female—in the face of all the old and new oppression.
Otisfield, Maine, USA
Reprinted from the RC e-mail discussion list for leaders of women
(Present Time 208, July 2022)