Women's March Jan 21, 2017

[Arcadian]

by the age of 6 I could tell you the parts of the vagina, and I could tell you about the penis. By the age of 6 I could tell you in detail how a baby was made and where they came from. That was something my mother insisted on for all of her kids. I'm the youngest of 5, 3 boys in between and they knew the same info I did.

So thankfully by the time I had my period, there was no embarrassment. It was a natural part of growing up.

IMO, the human mind makes such things dirty or embarrassing. In and of themselves, they are a part of the human anatomy, normal and natural.

A parent that takes pride to teach their children about anatomy is a beautiful thing.

I wish all parents would teach their kids these things early BEFORE the crazy stuff they might hear in the streets.

A girl gets her period around 11 or 12, so I think age 6 is a bit young to have that talk.

And there is nothing wrong with the human body, it is the costumes, complete with public hair, that I find distasteful.

I got my period at the age of 10, which was a totally different talk. My sister who is older than me, was the late bloomer, in my case I heard the talk twice....

Anyway back to the subject at hand; When I learned all of this, my mother was a registered nurse. She also decided she wanted her kids to be more aware and KNOW because knowledge is power. That first talk took place in the early 1970's. I guess you could say my parents were in many ways, progressive.

You know something, funny, I remember my mother telling me after I asked her if we could be friends (can't remember how old I was) that she would not be my friend until I was 21. Until then, she was NOT my friend, she was my mother.

The costume sighting in my household would have been a teachable moment. We grew up in the projects. There were LOTS of teachable moments, trust!

 

[Tacori E-ring]

At what point Ruby do you realize that while you don't consider what you say to be offensive, it is. The lack of personal insight is alarming. This is a thread dedicated to the Women's March. When I mentioned I should have taken my 9 year old, you compared that to CHILD ABUSE. How should I and other people reacted? At some point you need to take responsibility for what you say. I say that to my 9 year old ALL THE TIME. She is very bright.

Go back a page. My response was to Chrono below. It had nothing to do with you.


Why are we women judging other women again? Why judge other's parenting styles and decisions? Only they know what their situation is and whether they can handle it. If they want to bring their child to the March, that is their choice. If they don't feel comfortable bringing their child to the March, that is their choice.

My answer is that if you see a situation then sometimes you need to speak up. It was for all situations in life not solely pertaining to the March. Believe it or not, Not all women are perfect in their decision making..

I am referring to the posts on page 2. It had everything to do with me as I said I should have brought my daughter. Again, this thread is about the March. Is not about women endangering their children, neglect, or child abuse. I did not imply everyone is a good parent. Trust me. I hear about poor parenting daily. Things that would HORRIFY you. Sometimes we need to step back and look at the situation objectively. I encourage you to re-read the thread and perhaps you will understand why some people responded the way they did.

 

[momhappy]

I also didn't see any vag costumes. But for anyone who is worried their child might have missed out, maybe they could just google up some pictures of the new FLOTUS's?

ETA: not that I care about her pictures, but I do think pearl clutching over some extremely non-sexual vagina costumes is a bit rich, considering.

I wasn't "pearl clutching" over the vagina costumes. My posts were about how it's hard to take someone in a vagina costume seriously, which meant that the march lost some credibility/some respect in my opinion. If we know the media picks up on those sorts of things and sensationalizes them, why would you want that to potentially be the focus of the march?' I've seen those images on social media with people poking fun and I think that's kind of sad (even though I wasn't interested in marching). If people were cool with the vag costumes, great. I'm not judging - I just didn't think they were necessary.

 

[jaaron]

I also didn't see any vag costumes. But for anyone who is worried their child might have missed out, maybe they could just google up some pictures of the new FLOTUS's?

ETA: not that I care about her pictures, but I do think pearl clutching over some extremely non-sexual vagina costumes is a bit rich, considering.

I wasn't "pearl clutching" over the vagina costumes. My posts were about how it's hard to take someone in a vagina costume seriously, which meant that the march lost some credibility/some respect in my opinion. If we know the media picks up on those sorts of things and sensationalizes them, why would you want that to potentially be the focus of the march?' I've seen those images on social media with people poking fun and I think that's kind of sad (even though I wasn't interested in marching). If people were cool with the vag costumes, great. I'm not judging - I just didn't think they were necessary.

Momhappy - Please know that wasn't aimed specifically at you- I was actually just trying to make a point in general about sexualisation being inappropriate for kids, while human anatomy is not. I can see why you thought it was in response to your post, and I apologise.

 

[momhappy]

I also didn't see any vag costumes. But for anyone who is worried their child might have missed out, maybe they could just google up some pictures of the new FLOTUS's?

ETA: not that I care about her pictures, but I do think pearl clutching over some extremely non-sexual vagina costumes is a bit rich, considering.

I wasn't "pearl clutching" over the vagina costumes. My posts were about how it's hard to take someone in a vagina costume seriously, which meant that the march lost some credibility/some respect in my opinion. If we know the media picks up on those sorts of things and sensationalizes them, why would you want that to potentially be the focus of the march?' I've seen those images on social media with people poking fun and I think that's kind of sad (even though I wasn't interested in marching). If people were cool with the vag costumes, great. I'm not judging - I just didn't think they were necessary.

Momhappy - Please know that wasn't aimed specifically at you- I was actually just trying to make a point in general about sexualisation being inappropriate for kids, while human anatomy is not. I can see why you thought it was in response to your post, and I apologise.

No apology necessary! It was just a misunderstanding - no harm done

 

[chrono]

I do my best to post without calling out anyone in particular as I don't want anything to be mistaken for a personal attack.

I'm not afraid, Ruby. I never said I was. I never said what I would or would not do regarding taking my children to protests or marches on this thread or I believe anywhere else on the internet. You've made it clear through several posts, quoted below, that you have concerns about others decisions. Yet you read everything you could and made a decision what was best for your own family. You can't have it both ways. You wanting to make your own decision about what was right for your family but questioning others ability to do the same for theirs.

Again, why judge others? You (generic person) make the best decision for your family and accept that others are doing the same based on their family situation, with regards to the March. What is right for one person might not be right for another person. Why? I don't know the other person, so I cannot answer for them. Because I don't know what person and their capability and experience, I have NO right to judge them just as others do NOT have the right to judge my decisions.

 

[ericad]

I also didn't see any vag costumes. But for anyone who is worried their child might have missed out, maybe they could just google up some pictures of the new FLOTUS's?

ETA: not that I care about her pictures, but I do think pearl clutching over some extremely non-sexual vagina costumes is a bit rich, considering.

I wasn't "pearl clutching" over the vagina costumes. My posts were about how it's hard to take someone in a vagina costume seriously, which meant that the march lost some credibility/some respect in my opinion. If we know the media picks up on those sorts of things and sensationalizes them, why would you want that to potentially be the focus of the march?' I've seen those images on social media with people poking fun and I think that's kind of sad (even though I wasn't interested in marching). If people were cool with the vag costumes, great. I'm not judging - I just didn't think they were necessary.

Lololol the only ones making the 5 vagina costumes the "focus of the march" are conservatives. Telling, no?

 

[Rhea]

I do my best to post without calling out anyone in particular as I don't want anything to be mistaken for a personal attack.

I'm not afraid, Ruby. I never said I was. I never said what I would or would not do regarding taking my children to protests or marches on this thread or I believe anywhere else on the internet. You've made it clear through several posts, quoted below, that you have concerns about others decisions. Yet you read everything you could and made a decision what was best for your own family. You can't have it both ways. You wanting to make your own decision about what was right for your family but questioning others ability to do the same for theirs.

Again, why judge others? You (generic person) make the best decision for your family and accept that others are doing the same based on their family situation, with regards to the March. What is right for one person might not be right for another person. Why? I don't know the other person, so I cannot answer for them. Because I don't know what person and their capability and experience, I have NO right to judge them just as others do NOT have the right to judge my decisions.

I was attempting not to judge, Ruby, but to highlight the flip flopping of her posts from saying, don't judge, just as you said, but then Ruby repeatedly questioning the decisions others made. I'm sorry if I didn't do that as well as I intended.

 

[chrono]

Rhea,
I am sorry to have worded my post poorly, and thus, made it look like I was judging you (or anyone else) instead. What I mean, is that I agree with you, with regards to how I interpreted Ruby's posts. She throws red herrings everywhere and flip flops (makes her informed choice but questions others who make their own informed choice).

 

[missy]

It is frustrating the way some PSers here continuously throw red herrings into the conversation trying to muddy the message. Except we are wise to you so continue if you must but it won't change the message. And we know who you are and sadly what you stand for at least regarding these issues. Keep showing us who you are and we will believe it.

At what point Ruby do you realize that while you don't consider what you say to be offensive, it is.

The lack of personal insight is alarming. This is a thread dedicated to the Women's March. When I mentioned I should have taken my 9 year old, you compared that to CHILD ABUSE. How should I and other people reacted? At some point you need to take responsibility for what you say. I say that to my 9 year old ALL THE TIME. She is very bright.

And I totally agree with you Tacori and all the other strong women who are standing up for a better world than the one we live in right now.

 

[ericad]

This has been floating around and I thought it a terrific read that really represents how I feel. Perhaps those posters who don't understand why we marched might glean something from it. If they care to read it at all, that is.

https://medium.com/@dinachka82/about-your-poem-1f26a7585a6f


"You Are Not Equal. I’m Sorry.

A post is making rounds on social media, in response to the Women’s March on Saturday, January 21, 2017. It starts with “I am not a “disgrace to women” because I don’t support the women’s march. I do not feel I am a “second class citizen” because I am a woman….”

This is my response to that post.

Say Thank You

Say thank you. Say thank you to the women who gave you a voice. Say thank you to the women who were arrested and imprisoned and beaten and gassed for you to have a voice. Say thank you to the women who refused to back down, to the women who fought tirelessly to give you a voice. Say thank you to the women who put their lives on hold, who –lucky for you — did not have “better things to do” than to march and protest and rally for your voice. So you don’t feel like a “second class citizen.” So you get to feel “equal.”
Thank Susan B. Anthony and Alice Paul for your right to vote.
Thank Elizabeth Stanton for your right to work.
Thank Maud Wood Park for your prenatal care and your identity outside of your husband.
Thank Rose Schneiderman for your humane working conditions.
Thank Eleanor Roosevelt and Molly Dewson for your ability to work in politics and affect policy.
Thank Margaret Sanger for your legal birth control.
Thank Carol Downer for your reproductive healthcare rights.
Thank Sarah Muller for your equal education.
Thank Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Shannon Turner, Gloria Steinem, Zelda Kingoff Nordlinger, Rosa Parks, Angela Davis, Malika Saada Saar, Wagatwe Wanjuki, Ida B. Wells, Malala Yousafzai. Thank your mother, your grandmother, your great-grandmother who did not have half of the rights you have now.
You can make your own choices, speak and be heard, vote, work, control your body, defend yourself, defend your family, because of the women who marched. You did nothing to earn those rights. You were born into those rights. You did nothing, but you reap the benefits of women, strong women, women who fought misogyny and pushed through patriarchy and fought for you. And you sit on your pedestal, a pedestal you are fortunate enough to have, and type. A keyboard warrior. A fighter for complacency. An acceptor of what you were given. A denier of facts. Wrapped up in your delusion of equality.
You are not equal. Even if you feel like you are. You still make less than a man for doing the same work. You make less as a CEO, as an athlete, as an actress, as a doctor. You make less in government, in the tech industry, in healthcare.
You still don’t have full rights over your own body. Men are still debating over your uterus. Over your prenatal care. Over your choices.
You still have to pay taxes for your basic sanitary needs.
You still have to carry mace when walking alone at night. You still have to prove to the court why you were drunk on the night you were raped. You still have to justify your behavior when a man forces himself on you.
You still don’t have paid (or even unpaid) maternity leave. You still have to go back to work while your body is broken. While you silently suffer from postpartum depression.
You still have to fight to breastfeed in public. You still have to prove to other women it’s your right to do so. You still offend others with your breasts.
You are still objectified. You are still catcalled. You are still sexualized. You are still told you’re too skinny or you’re too fat. You’re still told you’re too old or too young. You’re applauded when you “age gracefully.” You’re still told men age “better.” You’re still told to dress like a lady. You are still judged on your outfit instead of what’s in your head. What brand bag you have still matters more than your college degree.
You are still being abused by your husband, by your boyfriend. You’re still being murdered by your partners. Being beaten by your soulmate.
You are still worse off if you are a woman of color, a gay woman, a transgender woman. You are still harassed, belittled, dehumanized.
Your daughters are still told they are beautiful before they are told they are smart. Your daughters are still told to behave even though “boys will be boys.” Your daughters are still told boys pull hair or pinch them because they like them.
You are not equal. Your daughters are not equal. You are still systemically oppressed.
Estonia allows parents to take up to three years of leave, fully paid for the first 435 days. United States has no policy requiring maternity leave.
Singapore’s women feel safe walking alone at night. American women do not.
New Zealand’s women have the smallest gender gap in wages, at 5.6%. United States’ pay gap is 20%.
Iceland has the highest number of women CEOs, at 44%. United States is at 4.0%.
The United States ranks at 45 for women’s equality. Behind Rwanda, Cuba, Philippines, Jamaica.
But I get it. You don’t want to admit it. You don’t want to be a victim. You think feminism is a dirty word. You think it’s not classy to fight for equality. You hate the word pussy. Unless of course you use it to call a man who isn’t up to your standard of manhood. You know the type of man that “allows” “his” woman to do whatever she damn well pleases. I get it. You believe feminists are emotional, irrational, unreasonable. Why aren’t women just satisfied with their lives, right? You get what you get and you don’t get upset, right?
I get it. You want to feel empowered. You don’t want to believe you’re oppressed. Because that would mean you are indeed a “second-class citizen.” You don’t want to feel like one. I get it. But don’t worry. I will walk for you. I will walk for your daughter. And your daughter’s daughter. And maybe you will still believe the world did not change. You will believe you’ve always had the rights you have today. And that’s okay. Because women who actually care and support other women don’t care what you think about them. They care about their future and the future of the women who come after them.
Open your eyes. Open them wide. Because I’m here to tell you, along with millions of other women that you are not equal. Our equality is an illusion. A feel-good sleight of hand. A trick of the mind. I’m sorry to tell you, but you are not equal. And neither are your daughters.
But don’t worry. We will walk for you. We will fight for you. We will stand up for you. And one day you will actually be equal, instead of just feeling like you are.
~ Dina Leygerman, 2017"

 

[E B]

Thank you for posting that, erica!

 

[AGBF]

"Open your eyes. Open them wide. Because I’m here to tell you, along with millions of other women that you are not equal. Our equality is an illusion. A feel-good sleight of hand. A trick of the mind. I’m sorry to tell you, but you are not equal. And neither are your daughters.

But don’t worry. We will walk for you. We will fight for you. We will stand up for you. And one day you will actually be equal, instead of just feeling like you are."

~ Dina Leygerman, 2017

Thank you for posting this, Erica. I have been trying to say this is many different ways since I was a college student and "had my consciousness raised". (I just watched a video about the history of the women's movement while looking for information on the women's march this past weekend and it that video 'brought it all back".) I had forgotten consciousness raising groups. I had forgotten what it was like before I started to realize that some of the things I now take for granted as sexist are sexist because no one had ever examined them before.

In recent years I sometimes feel like banging my head against a wall when I try to explain my perspective to younger women. They never had to face the incredibly staunch male opposition to the most innocent "demands" that we women made in the early days. (The video showed women demanding entrance to a public all-male drinking establishment and being told they couldn't enter.)

This is absolutely on target. Again: I thank you.

Deb

 

[ksinger]

"Open your eyes. Open them wide. Because I’m here to tell you, along with millions of other women that you are not equal. Our equality is an illusion. A feel-good sleight of hand. A trick of the mind. I’m sorry to tell you, but you are not equal. And neither are your daughters.

But don’t worry. We will walk for you. We will fight for you. We will stand up for you. And one day you will actually be equal, instead of just feeling like you are."

~ Dina Leygerman, 2017

Thank you for posting this, Erica. I have been trying to say this is many different ways since I was a college student and "had my consciousness raised". (I just watched a video about the history of the women's movement while looking for information on the women's march this past weekend and it that video 'brought it all back".) I had forgotten consciousness raising groups. I had forgotten what it was like before I started to realize that some of the things I now take for granted as sexist are sexist because no one had ever examined them before.

In recent years I sometimes feel like banging my head against a wall when I try to explain my perspective to younger women. They never had to face the incredibly staunch male opposition to the most innocent "demands" that we women made in the early days. (The video showed women demanding entrance to a public all-male drinking establishment and being told they couldn't enter.)

This is absolutely on target. Again: I thank you.

Deb

Indeed. I can relate to this. Not that I've ever tried to actively beat the drum of feminism into younger women's heads, but my discussions with them - and most of them have been under 30 - made it very clear that most of them declined the label of "feminist" as distasteful and not inclusive enough. And the times that I've peeked into various feminist fora (admittedly not often) my fly-over view showed what looked like a movement that has become strictly cerebral and rife with lots of internecine battles about the failures of "second wave" feminism only focusing on the problems of white working women and failing to include women of color, etc. All of these things are likely true, but it seemed very dismissive of the work done by that second wave group, and myopic to the point of denial about the steady erosion of rights occurring right under their noses. And I would certainly understand them not wanting to see the men of their acquaintance as potential foes, but there it is.

Maybe my take on the situation is incorrect, and I'm hoping someone will chime in and enlighten me if so. But I really would love to poll my younger friends again, and ask them what they think of wearing the moniker of feminist now.

ETA - Oh, and yes, thank you Erica for the post. It is brilliant and needs to be totally viral.

 

[lovedogs]

Thanks for posting, Erica. I loved that piece when I saw it posted on various social media platforms
It expresses my views perfectly.

 

[Calliecake]

Thank you so much for posting this Erica. Love, love this!!!!!!

 

[missy]

Thank you Erica! Excellent piece and I just sent this to all the young women and men I know.

This has been floating around and I thought it a terrific read that really represents how I feel. Perhaps those posters who don't understand why we marched might glean something from it. If they care to read it at all, that is.

https://medium.com/@dinachka82/about-your-poem-1f26a7585a6f#.a7mer8oxw


"You Are Not Equal. I’m Sorry.

A post is making rounds on social media, in response to the Women’s March on Saturday, January 21, 2017. It starts with “I am not a “disgrace to women” because I don’t support the women’s march. I do not feel I am a “second class citizen” because I am a woman….”

This is my response to that post.

Say Thank You

Say thank you. Say thank you to the women who gave you a voice. Say thank you to the women who were arrested and imprisoned and beaten and gassed for you to have a voice. Say thank you to the women who refused to back down, to the women who fought tirelessly to give you a voice. Say thank you to the women who put their lives on hold, who –lucky for you — did not have “better things to do” than to march and protest and rally for your voice. So you don’t feel like a “second class citizen.” So you get to feel “equal.”


Thank Susan B. Anthony and Alice Paul for your right to vote.
Thank Elizabeth Stanton for your right to work.
Thank Maud Wood Park for your prenatal care and your identity outside of your husband.
Thank Rose Schneiderman for your humane working conditions.
Thank Eleanor Roosevelt and Molly Dewson for your ability to work in politics and affect policy.
Thank Margaret Sanger for your legal birth control.
Thank Carol Downer for your reproductive healthcare rights.
Thank Sarah Muller for your equal education.
Thank Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Shannon Turner, Gloria Steinem, Zelda Kingoff Nordlinger, Rosa Parks, Angela Davis, Malika Saada Saar, Wagatwe Wanjuki, Ida B. Wells, Malala Yousafzai. Thank your mother, your grandmother, your great-grandmother who did not have half of the rights you have now.


You can make your own choices, speak and be heard, vote, work, control your body, defend yourself, defend your family, because of the women who marched. You did nothing to earn those rights. You were born into those rights. You did nothing, but you reap the benefits of women, strong women, women who fought misogyny and pushed through patriarchy and fought for you. And you sit on your pedestal, a pedestal you are fortunate enough to have, and type. A keyboard warrior. A fighter for complacency. An acceptor of what you were given. A denier of facts. Wrapped up in your delusion of equality.


You are not equal. Even if you feel like you are. You still make less than a man for doing the same work. You make less as a CEO, as an athlete, as an actress, as a doctor. You make less in government, in the tech industry, in healthcare.

You still don’t have full rights over your own body. Men are still debating over your uterus. Over your prenatal care. Over your choices.

You still have to pay taxes for your basic sanitary needs.

You still have to carry mace when walking alone at night. You still have to prove to the court why you were drunk on the night you were raped. You still have to justify your behavior when a man forces himself on you.

You still don’t have paid (or even unpaid) maternity leave. You still have to go back to work while your body is broken. While you silently suffer from postpartum depression.

You still have to fight to breastfeed in public. You still have to prove to other women it’s your right to do so. You still offend others with your breasts.

You are still objectified. You are still catcalled. You are still sexualized. You are still told you’re too skinny or you’re too fat. You’re still told you’re too old or too young. You’re applauded when you “age gracefully.” You’re still told men age “better.” You’re still told to dress like a lady. You are still judged on your outfit instead of what’s in your head. What brand bag you have still matters more than your college degree.

You are still being abused by your husband, by your boyfriend. You’re still being murdered by your partners. Being beaten by your soulmate.

You are still worse off if you are a woman of color, a gay woman, a transgender woman. You are still harassed, belittled, dehumanized.

Your daughters are still told they are beautiful before they are told they are smart. Your daughters are still told to behave even though “boys will be boys.” Your daughters are still told boys pull hair or pinch them because they like them.


You are not equal. Your daughters are not equal. You are still systemically oppressed.


Estonia allows parents to take up to three years of leave, fully paid for the first 435 days. United States has no policy requiring maternity leave.


Singapore’s women feel safe walking alone at night. American women do not.
New Zealand’s women have the smallest gender gap in wages, at 5.6%. United States’ pay gap is 20%.
Iceland has the highest number of women CEOs, at 44%. United States is at 4.0%.

The United States ranks at 45 for women’s equality. Behind Rwanda, Cuba, Philippines, Jamaica.

But I get it. You don’t want to admit it. You don’t want to be a victim. You think feminism is a dirty word. You think it’s not classy to fight for equality. You hate the word pussy. Unless of course you use it to call a man who isn’t up to your standard of manhood. You know the type of man that “allows” “his” woman to do whatever she damn well pleases. I get it. You believe feminists are emotional, irrational, unreasonable. Why aren’t women just satisfied with their lives, right? You get what you get and you don’t get upset, right?
I get it. You want to feel empowered. You don’t want to believe you’re oppressed. Because that would mean you are indeed a “second-class citizen.” You don’t want to feel like one. I get it. But don’t worry. I will walk for you. I will walk for your daughter. And your daughter’s daughter. And maybe you will still believe the world did not change. You will believe you’ve always had the rights you have today. And that’s okay. Because women who actually care and support other women don’t care what you think about them. They care about their future and the future of the women who come after them.

Open your eyes. Open them wide. Because I’m here to tell you, along with millions of other women that you are not equal. Our equality is an illusion. A feel-good sleight of hand. A trick of the mind. I’m sorry to tell you, but you are not equal. And neither are your daughters.

But don’t worry. We will walk for you. We will fight for you. We will stand up for you. And one day you will actually be equal, instead of just feeling like you are.
~ Dina Leygerman, 2017"

 

[Calliecake]

I also didn't see any vag costumes. But for anyone who is worried their child might have missed out, maybe they could just google up some pictures of the new FLOTUS's?

ETA: not that I care about her pictures, but I do think pearl clutching over some extremely non-sexual vagina costumes is a bit rich, considering.

I wasn't "pearl clutching" over the vagina costumes. My posts were about how it's hard to take someone in a vagina costume seriously, which meant that the march lost some credibility/some respect in my opinion. If we know the media picks up on those sorts of things and sensationalizes them, why would you want that to potentially be the focus of the march?' I've seen those images on social media with people poking fun and I think that's kind of sad (even though I wasn't interested in marching). If people were cool with the vag costumes, great. I'm not judging - I just didn't think they were necessary.

Lololol the only ones making the 5 vagina costumes the "focus of the march" are conservatives. Telling, no?

Yep, it sure is.

 

[ruby59]

I do my best to post without calling out anyone in particular as I don't want anything to be mistaken for a personal attack.

I'm not afraid, Ruby. I never said I was. I never said what I would or would not do regarding taking my children to protests or marches on this thread or I believe anywhere else on the internet. You've made it clear through several posts, quoted below, that you have concerns about others decisions. Yet you read everything you could and made a decision what was best for your own family. You can't have it both ways. You wanting to make your own decision about what was right for your family but questioning others ability to do the same for theirs.

Again, why judge others? You (generic person) make the best decision for your family and accept that others are doing the same based on their family situation, with regards to the March. What is right for one person might not be right for another person. Why? I don't know the other person, so I cannot answer for them. Because I don't know what person and their capability and experience, I have NO right to judge them just as others do NOT have the right to judge my decisions.

I was attempting not to judge, Ruby, but to highlight the flip flopping of her posts from saying, don't judge, just as you said, but then Ruby repeatedly questioning the decisions others made. I'm sorry if I didn't do that as well as I intended.

I am not judging anyone. Just questioning how women there were able to pull it off having their kids and pets there in that enormous crowd. And I also questioned whether some of these costumes and signs were appropriate for young children and those of reading age.

Some of you forget this is an inclusive message board where all opinions should be welcomed.

 

[ruby59]

It's just AMAZING to me that one person can continually twist things around to derail and make it all about them. So weird!

For the record, my 5 year old niece asked my brother and I what a pussy was. We had CNN on some months ago. And now that man is her president! So I made it a special point to have that talk with her about how her body is a wonderful thing to be respected, and we were very proud of her mom who chose to march.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

I found out today the march was three times bigger than Trump's inauguration crowd. Oh MAN I bet that pisses him off!



______________________________________________________________________________________________


Why is this one never called out for outlandish posts and crude remarks. This one dogs me every time I make a post and tries to get as personal as possible, yet she called me a troll and said I should be ignored.

 

[ruby59]

It is frustrating the way some PSers here continuously throw red herrings into the conversation trying to muddy the message. Except we are wise to you so continue if you must but it won't change the message. And we know who you are and sadly what you stand for at least regarding these issues. Keep showing us who you are and we will believe it.

At what point Ruby do you realize that while you don't consider what you say to be offensive, it is.

The lack of personal insight is alarming. This is a thread dedicated to the Women's March. When I mentioned I should have taken my 9 year old, you compared that to CHILD ABUSE. How should I and other people reacted? At some point you need to take responsibility for what you say. I say that to my 9 year old ALL THE TIME. She is very bright.

And I totally agree with you Tacori and all the other strong women who are standing up for a better world than the one we live in right now.

Obama had been President for 8 years. Trump - two days.

So if this world stinks, who is to blame for it?

 

[chrono]

I am not judging anyone. Just questioning how women there were able to pull it off having their kids and pets there in that enormous crowd. And I also questioned whether some of these costumes and signs were appropriate for young children and those of reading age.

Ruby,
I did not go, so I cannot answer your questions but Tacori did with regards to her daughter. As to the appropriateness of the costumes and signs, obviously some did not bat an eyelash over it since your level of comfort differs from others. Many think that there should be no shame in learning and knowing about your private parts.

The topic became judgmental when you brought in the topic of child abuse (unrelated to the march). I am glad you clarified that it is unrelated to the March though, which is why I didn't pursue that question further.

 

[ruby59]

I am not judging anyone. Just questioning how women there were able to pull it off having their kids and pets there in that enormous crowd. And I also questioned whether some of these costumes and signs were appropriate for young children and those of reading age.

Ruby,
I did not go, so I cannot answer your questions but Tacori did with regards to her daughter. As to the appropriateness of the costumes and signs, obviously some did not bat an eyelash over it.

Are you talking about adults or their children?

None of us are privy to questions they may be having now and the confusion it might have caused.

 

[chrono]

Are you talking about adults or their children? None of us are privy to questions they may be having now and the confusion it might have caused.

Isn't that up to the parents? My children know the proper name of private body parts before starting school and also know where babies come from. Things can be explained clearly and correctly without going into science level detail so that a child understands. If you feel your child isn't able to comprehend it, that's all right too, since not everyone is the same.

This is why it sounds judgemental, even though, in your mind, it is your opinion. Those parents have considered the ramifications, are prepared to handle it, and accept it. That is why you didn't go and others did.

 

[Calliecake]

I am not judging anyone. Just questioning how women there were able to pull it off having their kids and pets there in that enormous crowd. And I also questioned whether some of these costumes and signs were appropriate for young children and those of reading age.

Ruby,
I did not go, so I cannot answer your questions but Tacori did with regards to her daughter. As to the appropriateness of the costumes and signs, obviously some did not bat an eyelash over it.

Are you talking about adults or their children?

None of us are privy to questions they may be having now and the confusion it might have caused.

The things you concern yourself with Ruby LOL. I am sure if children have questions their parents are capable of answering their questions.

I questioned your judgement about feeling your children were not mature enough to know the correct terms for their body parts. With that said, I am smart enough to know how you chose to raise your children is really non of my business.

 

[ruby59]

Are you talking about adults or their children? None of us are privy to questions they may be having now and the confusion it might have caused.

Isn't that up to the parents? My children know the proper name of private body parts before starting school and also know where babies come from. Things can be explained clearly and correctly without going into science level detail so that a child understands. If you feel your child isn't able to comprehend it, that's all right too, since not everyone is the same.

This is why it sounds judgemental, even though, in your mind, it is your opinion. Those parents have considered the ramifications, are prepared to handle it, and accept it.

You are making judgmental statements yourself. You have no way of knowing if every child there were prepared to handle the situation or went because the parent wanted to and had no one to leave the child with.

And I am free to disagree that if you mean by age 4 your children knew all of this.

Curious, but do you let young children surf the Internet without parent vigilance or every channel on the TV? I did not.

The quoted part I feel is indulgent on the part of the parent. So if you made a bad call and your kid is freaked out, you are just going to accept it?

 

[chrono]

Why are you worried about other families? Isn't your first priority your family? You made your choice and they made their choice, yet you question everyone else's choice. I cannot answer for everyone and not only that, it is none of my business. If you are this curious, perhaps you can start worldwide poll or survey to sate your curiousity?

 

[lovedogs]

Are you talking about adults or their children? None of us are privy to questions they may be having now and the confusion it might have caused.

Isn't that up to the parents? My children know the proper name of private body parts before starting school and also know where babies come from. Things can be explained clearly and correctly without going into science level detail so that a child understands. If you feel your child isn't able to comprehend it, that's all right too, since not everyone is the same.

This is why it sounds judgemental, even though, in your mind, it is your opinion. Those parents have considered the ramifications, are prepared to handle it, and accept it.

You are making judgmental statements yourself. You have no way of knowing if every child there were prepared to handle the situation or went because the parent wanted to and had no one to leave the child with.

And I am free to disagree that if you mean by age 4 your children knew all of this.

Curious, but do you let young children surf the Internet without parent vigilance or every channel on the TV? I did not.

The quoted part I feel is indulgent on the part of the parent. So if you made a bad call and your kid is freaked out, you are just going to accept it?

Call me crazy, but isn't this essentially the definition of parenting? Parents make judgement calls about what their children can and cant handle all day, every day. What to watch, who to be around, what conversations they can/cannot hear, etc, etc. Pretty sure that if/when parents make mistakes (which is inevitable), they'll handle and accept it. Kind of like how parents have always done.

 

[ruby59]

I am not judging anyone. Just questioning how women there were able to pull it off having their kids and pets there in that enormous crowd. And I also questioned whether some of these costumes and signs were appropriate for young children and those of reading age.

Ruby,
I did not go, so I cannot answer your questions but Tacori did with regards to her daughter. As to the appropriateness of the costumes and signs, obviously some did not bat an eyelash over it.

Are you talking about adults or their children?

None of us are privy to questions they may be having now and the confusion it might have caused.

The things you concern yourself with Ruby LOL. I am sure if children have questions their parents are capable of answering their questions.

I questioned your judgement about feeling your children were not mature enough to know the correct terms for their body parts. With that said, I am smart enough to know how you chose to raise your children is really non of my business.

You mean the welfare of all children. And the fact that if I see something in public that I feel where they are being put in danger, that I will speak up. Yup, and proud of it.

Example. I walked my kids to school. I saw a baby in a car by herself. When I walked home, baby was still alone in that car. Did I ignore it? Hell, no. I approached a crossing guard who quickly looked into the matter. But by your definition, the mother knew what she was doing when she left her baby alone in the car.

And I will express the same concern when I see young children put into a situation that I feel inappropriate by voicing my opinion.

 

[ruby59]

Why are you worried about other families? Isn't your first priority your family? You made your choice and they made their choice, yet you question everyone else's choice. I cannot answer for everyone and not only that, it is none of my business. If you are this curious, perhaps you can start worldwide poll or survey to sate your curiousity?

Says the people who are analyzing pictures of Melania and the expressions on her face.

Why are all the other women concerned about this? Shouldn't they be worried only about their own families? So it is none of our business - yet we have a thread dedicated to it.

And before I get the cr*p that it says volumes about his character and fitness as President - again I will just say LBJ, JFK, Bill Clinton.