By Phyllis McCorkle / Herald Forum
Many of you may not know who Gisele Pelicot is. Fifty men in France are on trial for raping her. Her husband of many years drugged her and had men come to their home and rape her.
Her husband admitted his crimes, but the 50 men did not think it was rape.
I started with this information because for the life of me I can not understand why men think they have control over women. There is an 81-year old woman in Georgia who recently voted for the first time. Her husband would not let her vote before. He died early this year.
No man should make the rules or laws for women. If a woman wants to give me her opinion on birth control, abortion, day care, IVF, what kind of school she sends her child to or what she wants to cook for dinner, where she wants to go to college and lastly why she may choose not to have a child, she has that right because she is a woman with the same body parts as me.
Not one man on this earth has the right to vote, drug, rape or choose for a woman. Unless she asks for it. And believe me I don’t think one sane woman would ask for any of the above. If you are a woman who allows your male partner to make decisions for you, fine, but remember not all of us feel that way.
We have far too many good ol’ boys still running our country and making decisions for women.
They need to step down and let bright, younger people who still care about their fellow humans more than the prestige of the office. Or taking money and favors from people like Elon Musk, Harlan Crow and Peter Thiel. You have completely forgotten why you were elected or appointed in the first place.
There are many women currently in the country who are in power. They have also been elected or appointed to their positions. I am asking you to represent all. Remember you should not use the position to push your own agenda or beliefs. Look everyone, you should not compromise your positions and do your best to take care and stand up for all.
When I was younger there was a man that controlled and abused me. I did find a good guy who is my partner, friend, someone that I share a life with. Some days of our 44 years together are a roller coaster, some are romantic and some days we are not too fond of each other. But at the end of the day I know this guy will let me make my own decisions about my body and he always has.
We will also talk, compromise and work together for the best possible outcome for both of us.
I was in my early 20s when I was abused. My heart aches for the young girls that have been raped and forced to carry the child. Are the men who are making these girls carry this child ready to support her and the baby the rest of their lives? Probably not. They only care about control. And later on in the future they will try to cut off the state or federal support they are getting to help their day-to-day lives. If they are even fortunate to receive any.
I realize that our abuse and control issues are minuscule compared to what women are enduring in other countries, but we have to start somewhere. Today we fight for our right to make our own decisions. Tomorrow we fight to let a woman go outside in clothes she wants to wear and be proud of who she is and the possibilities that come with that small choice.
Not all men are consumed with controlling women. The ones who believe a woman is intelligent enough to make decisions for themselve are in large numbers. But this small group of men that want to write laws that degrade us, need to leave us alone. Believe me, no one knows our bodies better than ourselves.
To every male on this planet who feels the need to make decisions for us, please understand we are strong, we are worthy, and we are resilient. We are capable of pretty much anything and remember, we do carry your children if we choose to!
My husband and I have two strong, opinionated adult children. We raise both of them to respect the others beliefs, and the opposite sex, be responsible role models and above all respect yourself, lead by example, be humble, be kind and be a positive influence for others.
Below are just a few lyrics from a heartfelt song by Helen Reddy, “I Am Woman.” Released in
1972. It is devastating to know the words still resonate today.
I am woman, hear me roar;
In numbers too big to ignore.
And I know too much to go back and pretend;
‘Cause I’ve heard it all before;
And I’ve been down there on the floor;
And no one’s ever gonna keep me down again.
Phyllis McCorkle, a wife and mother by choice, lives in Marysville.
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