Guest Author - ISABELLE HARMAN

It’s All About Me

Lou Rogers, Florence Kelley, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Jane Addams stood together to ensure that women around the world, and in particular the United States, were given the right to vote in their country. They laid the foundation that has given a segment of the human population an incredible gift… the ability to be heard.

In 1920 the Nineteenth Amendment was passed giving women the right to vote. Universal Suffrage has yet to be adopted in many countries throughout the world. The good news is there are those who still fight the good (and important) fight to ensure that all humans are given the ability to speak for themselves. They understand the fundamental human right to self-governance and the ability to safely participate in the development of a community.

It is to those who have forgotten the sacrifices made so we have this voice in our respective countries that makes it necessary to remind you of the importance to vote, write, speak up and be heard.

I suppose I could easily blame this phenomenon of lack of participation on societal complacency and video games. But why take the easy way out.

Women have been given – whether by other women, man or God – plenty of opportunities to rise above the oppression and take control of themselves and their lives. This fact makes the state of mind of so many women more perplexing. We have been able to overcome obstacles such as race, gender, and culture. We have achieved a great deal and are able to reap the rewards of a hard-fought battle for a decent living. But when it comes to addressing issues at work, problems with children, and fulfilling our dreams, we can stop cold - almost paralyzed. Are we still harboring feelings that we are not deserving of the fruits of life?

Fear of rejection, arguments, and hatred abound. Fear of losing our job if we question the boss permeates our very being. Generational views of how women should be offer conflicting opinions of a woman’s role in society. A woman as president of the United States is a serious bone of contention.

Why do we do this to each other and ourselves? Why do we think it’s okay to burden other women with notions of exaggerated negative consequences if action is taken? Why do we look to each other for strength and then turn our backs if we don’t get the answers we’re looking for?

It’s not too late to study the ways of those who extended the path to democracy to women. A path that allows women to be considered the right person who can accomplish what needs to be done, not because of her gender but because of her capabilities.

To those who want women to stay home and bake cookies – more power to you for expressing your ability to speak freely. But remember those who are still bound by rules that are oppressive. They may want to continue baking cookies, but would also like the opportunity to own their own business or teach without fear of the consequences if caught.

By no means can this type of thinking - that of insisting that women don’t need to take on positions of leadership let alone simply work outside of the home - be generalized to all women. To those who have achieved and believe in the true meaning of suffrage, take the time to encourage others to do their research and learn why it is important to speak up and be heard.

Get out of your own way! Suffrage truly is all about you.