“The Women”

 

I sat with this book for days after finishing it. My thoughts, as the title suggests, went to the women. Wives. Sisters. Daughters. Grandmothers. This is what I was left thinking about…

From the book:

”We were the last believers, my generation. We trusted what our parents taught us about right and wrong, good and evil, the American myth of equality and justice and honor.

I wonder if any generation will ever believe again. People will say it was the war that shattered our lives and laid bare the beautiful lie we’d been taught. And they’d be right. And wrong.

There was so much more. It’s hard to see clearly when the world is angry and divided and you’re being lied to.” (455)

(This is the generation leading us today…)

As women’s rights are slowly being stripped away, what strengths do we possess? How can our voices be heard? How do we shape the world into a better place for all of us? Whose ear do we need to bend to affect change? What kind of courage will it take to fight?

The First Ladies of the United States: I see women of powerful men - standing idly by, waiting for the next photo op. The next gala event. What does their pillow talk sound like? Do they play “devil’s advocate"? Bring a voice of reason to the conversation? Share their empathy for others? Help steer a more humanitarian course for our future?

Thoughts again began to swirl…Voices of reason. Compassion. Devil’s advocate. Hero. Empathetic. Partner. Supportive. Strong. Tough. Protective. Complissant. Complacent. Passive. “Stepford” Wife. Independent. Dependent. Privileged. Gold digger. Heartless. Vindictive. Loving. Caring. 

Which words will we use to describe the women standing beside the men leading our great country? Only history will judge their actions and their inaction.