Hello Readers! I am disturbed by a trend that has been gaining momentum in American society that encourages women to shrink themselves both physically and in their roles as participants in this country. I see these ideas as problems, and I would like to address both types of shrinking behavior that is encouraged.
First, my body has been on an incredible journey this past year. I will thank her for surviving by not starving myself. I have been sick, stressed, sleep deprived, and pushed hard mentally, and somehow my body kept going. There has been A Lot going on in my life! I am disturbed to see that thinness ideals, body shaming messages, access to birth control methods, and identities other than heterosexual cis-gender persons are all under attack now, or should I say again?! Why can society not accept the beauty in differences?! I want to be free to have a curvy figure with a “fat” booty and “thunder” thighs. Not to mention that my sex life is no one’s business. You may ask why I am being so defensive?
I will be completely honest: I believe that the current political atmosphere is an attack on women, and is attempting to shrink their roles in public life. JD Vance (our vice president) has bragged about having his wife pregnant and “barefoot in the kitchen.” Donald Trump (our president for a second term) has multiple sexual harassment cases filed in court against him, and is a suspected pedophile. The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and Republicans in charge have defunded Planned Parenthood. Not only can I no longer safely access abortion in most states, I now have limited access to other female reproductive care such as the birth control pill. Now, even a woman’s right to vote is being questioned once again by conservative politicians. In addition, childcare services, such as daycare subsidies, have been cut by the current administration. AND, SkinnyTok is making a comeback online. Need I say more??
Okay, I will! I have begun reading The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, and I suggest that you read it for a dose of current reality. A world dominated by men, with women only valued for being fertile and compliant, is where we are headed. I am afraid that in the fascist regime of our government that has taken over the once blissful days of democracy in the USA, women are being expected to shrink. And the ones who think they have power, such as Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, will wake up to see they are completely disposable if the men who truly hold power want them gone. She has begun to get her boss Trump bad press through the endless defense of murders by ICE of innocent American citizens. I do not feel sorry for her; all I can say is good luck on your job search Nazi Barbie!
You may have seen at this point that I am a “mad woman ” as Taylor Swift would sing on her Grammy winning album “Folklore.” However, I encourage all my female readers to get mad, because our rights and freedoms are being taken away. It may be obvious in some ways, but a lot of it is a steady sneaky campaign by the current administration to tame opinionated women such as myself. So, this is my warning: resist! Resisting must always be peaceful, but use your unique talents to make it effective!! My way of resisting is to write. In addition, I persist in prayer. God is not indifferent to our struggles. Active prayer is a powerful, yet peaceful, weapon. I believe in a Higher Power who cares about our struggles, hears our petitions, and comes to our aid. Please listen to my advice ladies: Do Not Shrink!!! We will prevail in body, mind, spirit, and action! Women must stand and not disappear!
In Power and Peaceful Resistance, G.
The Ladybug 
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