Patricia Nugent: It Feels Bad

March 9, 2023
Reprinted from Vox Populi

[T]here was only one thing I wanted to say about women not having rights and protections equal to white men in the United States of America: It feels bad.

When asked to write a blog post for our local League of Women Voters about the recent U.S. Senate hearing on the Equal Rights Amendment, I reported to my desk armed with the latest data on women’s status in this country and rolled up my sleeves. There are many arguments to be made as to why our nation must move forward to ensure women full protection under the U.S. Constitution. And I was ready to pound them out.

But when I sat down to write, I first had to acknowledge and honor the despair I often feel as an American woman. As that washed over me, there was only one thing I wanted to say about women not having rights and protections equal to white men in the United States of America: It feels bad.

It feels bad that we are the only industrialized nation that doesn’t have women’s equality built into its constitution.

It feels bad that the ERA was proposed more than 100 years ago and hasn’t yet been adopted.

It feels bad that women have no rights in this country that cannot be reversed legislatively.

It feels bad to hear late Justice Scalia on YouTube declaring that the Constitution “doesn’t say you have to discriminate against women but doesn’t say you can’t.”

It feels bad to read current arguments, the same tropes from the 1970s, as to why women need protection instead of liberty – especially when put forth by other women.

It feels bad to see women standing on the dais behind politicians blocking the ERA.

It feels bad to hear women’s voices answering the phones of politicians who voted against the ERA.

It feels bad that American Catholic bishops are issuing directives to parishioners to reject equal rights legislation.

It feels bad that it’s periodically necessary for Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which one political party consistently votes against.

It feels bad to see merch for sale on the internet advocating “Repeal the 19th.”

It feels bad that The Handmaid’s Tale now reads more like nonfiction than fiction.

It feels bad that the tokenism of an all-female flyover at the Super Bowl is considered progress.

If feels bad that many of my feminist friends are suffering from resistance fatigue.

It feels bad to be considered less than by my government.

It feels bad to wonder if I might be reciting Susan B. Anthony’s final words on my own deathbed: “To think, I have had more than 60 years of hard struggle for a little liberty, and then to die without it seems so cruel.”

What feels good is that this enumeration of what feels bad pisses me off enough that I must continue working to make it feel better. For all of us.

Oh…and welcome to Women’s History Month, which also feels bad.

Copyright 2023 Patricia Nugent

How Black History is Killing Black Mothers Today

By Linda McKenney Feb. 21, 2023

“It’s not race, it’s racism,” said Tiffany L. Green, an economist focused on public health and obstetrics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “The data are quite clear that this isn’t about biology. This is about the environments where we live, where we work, where we play, where we sleep.”

What was Ms. Green talking about?

In the United States, black women are 2 to 6 times more likely to die from complications of pregnancy than white women. The numbers are impacted based on education, income and location. A groundbreaking study of two million births in California was the first of its size to show how the risks of childbirth vary by both race and parental income, and how Black families, regardless of their socioeconomic status, suffer the worst childbirth outcomes. And sadly the majority of those deaths were preventable.

Postpartum cardiomyopathy and blood pressure disorders, such as preeclampsia and eclampsia, were leading causes of maternal death for Black women. With prompt and correct treatment, these health issues do not have to be a death sentence.

Case in point. A daughter’s high blood pressure after giving birth left Wanda Irving in profound grief. Three weeks after giving birth to a baby girl, Shalon Irving collapsed and died from complications of high blood pressure. Yet Shalon had many advantages — a B.A. in sociology, two master's degrees and dual-subject Ph.D., comprehensive insurance and a rock-solid support system. These had not been enough to ensure her survival. Wanda says she lost her only daughter at the hands of “the covert bias of her medical provider and that very bias, fueled by structural racism, is the root cause of disparities in health care.”

Wanda’s TED talk - https://www.tedmed.com/talks/show?id=770778

If an educated, articulate woman wasn’t able to be heard and believed by her health care provider, is any black woman safe?

This writer searched and searched for the reasons why Black women are more likely to die during and after childbirth and only one reason resonated - systemic implicit bias. And this is where history comes into play. The myth that was propagated in the 1800’s that Black people have thicker skin and less sensitive nerves is amazingly still believed today.

Reporting pain that does not have visible evidence requires physicians to rely on judgment, and unfortunately physicians have shown a pattern of distrust when Black patients seek help with pain, especially Black women.

In addition, the “strong Black woman” cliche characterizes Black women as naturally resilient and self-sacrificing. This may encourage physicians to view Black women as more willing to push through distress. And it may silence those women to feel as though they need to suffer in silence.

What can we do? To address this maternal health crisis in America, Congressional leaders have been fighting for critically important policies like 12-month postpartum Medicaid coverage, which would ensure mothers have access to the care and support they need and deserve for the full postpartum period. But that’s not enough!

Public awareness and education, such as Wanda Irving’s Dr. Shalon's Maternal Action Project are critical. This project developed four pillars used as the base of their action and strategic partnerships. All the work that they do is centered around:

  • Storytelling

  • Empowerment

  • Community-Building

  • Education

They believe that the most powerful tool a Black mother has is her voice. Shalon’s voice is her mother.

References:

Justice for Tyre Nichols

LWVSC stands with our community partner, MLK Saratoga, in condemning the murder of Tyre Nichols and calling for accountability. Justice calls for change in the racist systems perpetuating the unconscionable number of deaths of Black people committed under the veil of public safety.

MLK Saratoga statement:

MLK Saratoga demands justice for Tyre Nichols and the countless Black people who are disproportionally violated and murdered by police. Justice that includes both accountability for the officers who beat and killed Tyre, and also calls for accountability for the systems which consistently perpetuate this violence.

Justice will not bring back the lives of Tyre Nichols or any others who have been murdered by law enforcement. But we can honor these precious lives by fighting for a democracy that values each and every person. When our systems continue to enact violence on Black bodies, our democracy is fractured and our humanity is compromised.

All over the United States, people are demonstrating and protesting in the streets to demand justice and to visibly and collectively mourn. This is what a healthy democracy looks like. We stand with these activists as they exercise their right to assemble and voice their grief and outage.

We mourn with the family of Tyre Nichols. We hold them and the families of other victims of police violence in our hearts. May our collective mourning and outrage bring us closer together. We must employ Dr. King’s Beloved Community Mindset to bring meaningful change to these unjust systems, and healing to our wounded nation.

Ann Marie Pendergast 2/2/2023

Your right to vote without intimidation

Patricia Nugent October 31, 2022

The League of Women Voters of Saratoga County is reminding registered voters that it is their legal and constitutional right to cast a vote without harassment, interference, or intimidation.

The League has been combating voter suppression efforts and legislation since its inception in 1920. We’ve seen a renewed surge of denied access since 2013 when the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was gutted by the Supreme Court. But making it hard for certain citizens to vote has recently devolved into a more dangerous mission: Voter intimidation, especially of more vulnerable populations. Since 2020, there has been a concerted effort by some groups to train poll watchers to disrupt and challenge voting across our nation. Various methods are being employed.

Might you be intimidated if someone with a guard dog on a chain was standing near the ballot box? Or taking your photograph? Or erroneously reporting that you are ineligible to vote for various reasons? This is unacceptable in a democracy, and the LWV will not stand for it. Casting doubt on election integrity is one way to destroy a democracy – it’s dangerous and destructive to erode public confidence in the electoral system. Therefore, any attempts to dissuade voter participation should be reported immediately.

The NYS League of Women Voters is assuring voters that systems are in place in NY to conduct secure, reliable, and fair elections. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, the actual incidence of voter fraud in the U.S. ranges from 0.0003 to 0.0025 percent, less than the odds of being struck by lightning.

If you encounter a challenge or interference at the polls, do not leave the site without voting UNLESS you feel physically threatened. The LWV advises that any attempts to dissuade or influence voting should be reported to the Attorney General’s hotline at 866-390-2992. Another hotline available to guide voters and take meaningful action to address problems is the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law. They are staffed with well‐trained volunteers and pro bono attorneys from around the country. They also have assistance available in multiple languages. The phone number for the Election Protection Hotline is 1-866-687-8683 (1-866-OUR-VOTE).

Early voting runs for nine days before the election, from October 29 through November 6, at various polling places. Any registered voter can vote at any of those designated sites within their county during this period. On Election Day, voters can only cast a ballot at the polling place in their own election district. For more information about what’s on your ballot, visit www.vote411.org/ballot, funded by the League of Women Voters Education Fund.

Thank you for being part of our mission to keep our democracy viable and vibrant. These are challenging times, but we are hopeful that reason will win out and our nation will heal.

Support the Environmental Bond Ballot Proposal

On November 8th, 2022, New York voters will have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect clean water, update infrastructure, build parks, and improve quality of life in every county of the state.

The League of Women Voters of New York State is supporting the Vote Yes for Clean Water & Jobs coalition which is leading the campaign to encourage voters to approve the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Bond Act in the general election this November.

The Coalition believes that the top reasons for supporting the bond act are:

  • Clean Drinking Water: The Bond Act will protect clean drinking water, a priceless resource.

  • Modern Infrastructure: The measure will bring much-needed upgrades to outdated roads, sewer systems, and drinking water pipes.

  • Local Jobs: The Bond Act will support nearly 100,000 good jobs.'

  • Public Health: The measure will add street trees, reduce lead exposure, increase energy efficiency, and improve air quality.

  • Wildlife Habitat: The Bond Act will conserve wildlife habitats and increase access to parks, nature centers, campgrounds, and public waterfronts.

Don’t forget to flip your ballot over on election day this fall to vote for the Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022. Election day is Tuesday, November 8, this year, and early voting is available from October 29 - November 6th.

Fact Sheet on the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Bond Act from the Vote Yes for Clean Water and Jobs Coalition