Are Women’s Rights in Danger?

With a man in the Oval Office who is known to have mistreated women physically and verbally, it’s no wonder many women are crying out for their rights. But do women really have a reason to worry?

Some would say that the President can not do much without the consent of Congress. But perhaps they are not thinking about Executive Orders.

On January 23, President Donald Trump signed an executive order “barring federal funds from organizations that promote abortion around the world.” Among these organizations is the International Planned Parenthood Federation.

President Trump may have defunded Planned Parenthood because he is pro-life, but he has taken away much more than the right to have an abortion.

Defunding Planned Parenthood takes away affordable health care. It takes away affordable birth control. It takes away educational programs.

Defunding Planned Parenthood will not end abortion in the United States. It will, however, cause more harm to women who do not wish to have a child. They will resort to using dangerous and unsanitary methods at home or with poorly trained doctors, putting their lives in danger.

Okay, so abortion is out of the question if you ask Donald Trump. What about feeding your child in public?

Breastfeeding is a natural part of life. A mother is taking care of her child. So why does President Trump think of something so natural, so pure, as a dirty act, something to be kept private?

At a deposition in 2011, Donald Trump called a woman who needed to breastfeed her child “disgusting.” Is this the person America has chosen to “make America great again?”

Taking care of your child in public is wrong. What about taking care of your newborn at home?

During his Presidential campaign, President Trump called for maternity leave of six weeks for a woman after giving birth, whereas Hillary Clinton had been supporting a plan for twelve weeks of maternity leave.

Six weeks is not enough. A woman carries a baby in her womb for nine months, but once the baby is out, does she really only deserve a little over a month to recover? Moreover, she does not get the support of the father at home because he does not get paternity leave. This emphasizes the role that is forced onto women: stay at home and let the men take care of them.

Either knowingly or unknowingly – willingly or not – President Trump has let down the women of the United States. He has let down the people of the United States.