Yes folks, you heard it here first. On Tuesday, November 6th, I will not be voting in the presidential election. Wow, do you have a loud gasp. The candidates do not want to hear this. As a white, suburban woman raising children in a swing state, I realize I am a highly coveted voter. The non-stop TV, radio and mail ads remind me how important my vote is. Frequent phone calls from the two major parties beseech me to vote on Tuesday. The truth of the matter is, I will not be going to vote on Tuesday, but my uterus will.
My uterus is a bossy little thing, but I’ve got a lot of respect it. After all, my uterus carried my two healthy children to term. Our relationship has not always been easy, plagued by painful cramps and a cancer scare. We’re good now. Except when it comes to politics.
It’s not that my uterus entirely disagrees with my desire to vote for the third-party candidate most closely aligned with my views, but my uterus is scared. My uterus fears that the uterus of the girl who once lived inside its protective walls will not enjoy the same privileges my uterus does in terms of fertility and health care. My uterus remembers how women of previous generations fought for access to control our fertility and for the right to vote. My uterus shudders at the thought that some gray-haired men think a pregnancy from rape is either impossible or a gift from God. My uterus wants to know how many children of rape those men have personally adopted. Come to think of it, so do I.
Come Tuesday, my uterus will take charge of my body and march us to the polling place. I’ll show my voter ID, and receive the voting instructions. A worker will lead me to the designated voting booth. But, do us both a favor, don’t look behind the curtain. My uterus will vote for the candidate who respects women.
Lyra's Musings 