I am a feminist

I hope that you all had a great “International Women’s Day”.   I am a feminist!

I am a Gynecologist.  I care for, treat, heal, and deliver women every day.  I am a feminist.

I am a husband, a father, a son, a brother-in-law and a friend.  I love my family.  I am a feminist.

Women can be mothers, teachers, artists, doctors, lawyers, a CEO of a major company, hold positions of power in our Government, are entertainers, and entrepreneurs of new innovative technologic businesses.  They invent software, medications and cures for diseases, environmental protocols to save our planet and have been into space.  They are Olympic and professional athletes, novelists, chefs, electricians and plumbers.  There is nothing a woman cannot do that men can do EXCEPT get respect.

The 1960’s brought radical and necessary change to American culture and almost anyone would agree that this change brought improved perceptions about and opportunities for women.  All the efforts directed towards change have been lasting and meaningful, although, the recent conversation that is finally validating the voices of women across the nation tells us that it was not enough.  It is not one person, one industry, one race, or one geographic location.  Men are equal opportunity abusers, hypocrites, liars and cowards.

I am not a prophet or saint but I would never treat anyone as less than myself, less of a person, or less of a human.  What happened to ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself’?!

Without getting into current events I want to express my sympathy to all the women who have been abused and ignored and I want to encourage them to speak out.  Use all platforms available to be heard.  The International Council of Women, The National Organization for Women, The Women for Women International, #MetToo, and so many more.  Call your representatives in your neighborhood, faith and government.  If you want to see change you have to become a leader.  Speak out, go to a rally, vote and blog!

Women can do AMAZING things.  As an OBGYN, I see women battle through childbirth, infertility, miscarriages, motherhood, marriage, divorce, cancer and death.  Women are human.  They have faults, accidents, misgivings but also have remorse, compassion, love and affection.  They endure, survive and become stronger through adversary.

I am a feminist.  I should not have to be a feminist in 2018 because women should be equal, but since they are not, an ardent feminist I will remain.