Why “Conservative Female” is an Oxymoron
RIP RBG.
I always cringe a bit when I hear someone described as a “conservative female.” No, it’s not as cringe-worthy as “gay conservative” or “black conservative,” but still bad. The fact that the word “conservative” has to be added to the word female is evidence that my point is accurate – as if it’s necessary to preface. You wouldn’t describe me as a “liberal female,” would you? No. It’s assumed that because I am female, I will stand with others who support women’s rights – the liberals. It’s the liberals who always look out for groups of people who need looking out for – the marginalized groups: women, minorities, the LGBTQ+ community.
If conservative and liberal are opposite, and liberal means to be generous, doesn’t conservative mean to hold back? So I ask, what are they holding back? Money, service, love? Why not be generous with those things? Women and liberals go together, hand in hand. We are the original nurturers, the foundation of our families, the pillars of love and motherhood. It’s in our nature to spread love, not hate. It’s just not natural for women to be conservative: money above people, tradition above love, business above service, discrimination above equality. (No, it’s not natural for men to be conservative either, but I’m focused on the females right now.)
Women have long been the helpers and the teachers, guiding our children to become adults of integrity and to show love to others with consideration and kindness. We tell our children to treat others as we would like to be treated – the “golden rule.” But, America has had a problem with the golden rule since its formation – and unfortunately, women have not always been treated as equally as men. There’s a long list of women who have fought hard for the right to be treated equally through the decades: the right to vote, the right to equal pay and the right to choose, just to name a few. One of these women is none other than, Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The loss of RBG has been a blow to women’s rights, no doubt. So when I first heard that Trump will be nominating a woman to replace RBG, I felt a little better. The false comfort I had was my ignorant assumption that a woman will protect other women. That was until I read Jill Filipovic’s NBC News article explaining how it would be the ultimate insult to RBG and I changed my mind. I would like to be able to trust other women to protect the rights of equal pay and equal power, but it’s clear that the female conservative will not uphold the rights our predecessors fought so hard for.
The hypocrisy in it, as so well described by Jill Filipovic, is that this woman will have benefited from the fight of other women by even having been considered for the most prestigious court in the nation. And will then use that power to reverse the outcome of the fight. In a nutshell, she will be standing on the very shoulders of the woman who fought to allow her that privilege, and will dismiss her hard work by contradicting the dissent she stood for – as if the new justice, standing high on the shoulders of RBG, kicks the stool out from under the 5-foot-tall icon, just as she leaps onto the bench. Unfortunately, by the time I publish this article, we will probably have a “conservative female” in the vacant spot on the Court. This I’m afraid, is out of my control. So, I turn my focus to the election.
I know a few conservative women, most of whom are educated, and I wonder why they remain stuck in the “Grand Old Party” when the mere image of the party is one of stodgy, old, cigar-smoking, white men. Yes, I make generalizations (on appearance and on their beliefs) that the political affiliation of most Republicans is more rooted in religion than in the very notions that the Republican party hold true. They confuse their draw towards tradition as a political decision. I too like traditional values: patriotism, strong family, excellent work ethic, education, accountability. And I’m a Democrat. Yes, as contrary as one Republican might thing, I too consider myself a patriot. My dissent, as it is with other Democrats, is the way we express our love for our country. Some enlist, some fly the flag – and some protest. Liberals fight for justice and equality. We march. We fight for women’s rights and the rights of LGBTQ+. We spread love and join the Black Lives Matter movement. We support our troops and pay taxes. This is how a Democrat shows her patriotism.
But, it’s a religious thing to be conservative, right? I can’t speak to the specifics of any religion, but I believe that the common value in all religions is LOVE – to love one another, to love all people, to love this country. And if you love this country as much as I do, you will vote Democrat this year. Do not confuse traditional values with political values one more time.
Tradition and liberalism can coexist in one belief system.
Let’s address the “elephant” in the room, shall we? It’s no secret that one single issue drives the vote of conservative women – the issue of abortion. If you believe this to be untrue, please just oblige my assumptions for a moment. This single-issue-voting cries hypocrisy from the mountaintops for Republicans. One of the fundamental beliefs of the GOP is to keep government small and uninvolved in the lives of Americans. So how can Republicans want less government involvement and also want government to insert itself in the decisions of a woman’s own body? They don’t want the government to mandate mask wearing, but they want them to tell a woman what she can and can’t do with her body? They want the government to stay away from your Second Amendment right, but want to require a mother of six who is being raped by her husband to bring one more child into the world?
The hypocrisy is astonishing – it’s not only evident in the decision of having or not having a baby, but in the way that baby, if brought into this world, is treated by the Republican Party. A Republican wants to protect and give rights to the unborn child, but once the baby is born, they set them up for failure by limiting the aid given to the mother and child.
The conservative female and the liberal female have different beliefs – or do we? We both want the best for our nation and for our children. We both believe in treating others the way we would be treated. We are both responsible for helping others. We both want families to succeed. Am I right or am I wrong? If you’re still not convinced, can we at least put aside the single-issue-voting mentality, and focus on the future of our country? Can we come together to support each other and to protect each other from the misogyny and abuse of power that we are currently victim to? Can we come together to prevent unwanted pregnancies? Your vote this November for the current president could detrimentally effect the nation and the world in the years to come, so much so, that the result could be irreversible.
I say to all of the women out there, liberal or conservative, let’s “get together and love one another” – and love our nation. Let us nurture her through these hard times and through this critical election. Join me in the new patriotic movement: one of empathy for others and for love of country; one of progress and also love of tradition; one where women support women; and one where we find common ground. Join me in voting for the party that supports women – the Democratic Party.
Here’s my disclaimer, because you know I like to cover my bases: I am a feminist – a believer in all things equal, but I do not hate men. I love the kind ones with all of my heart: my son; my dad. I don’t care if you were born female, or male, or something else – if you identify as female, or you’re just in touch with your feminine side, I am speaking to you. No, not all women are nurturing and not all women are mothers, but all women have a responsibility to stand with other women. So I ask you – will you stand with this woman?
Standing with you 1 million percent !