The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire is a notable event in US history, whereby hundreds of young immigrant women met their deaths while looking to better their lives. Most of the women who died in the tragedy jumped from the ninth floor to the street below because their only choice was death from either burning or jumping. Although this incident occurred over a century ago, it is still relevant to modern labor and women’s rights discussions. For instance, the incident was instrumental in fast-tracking workplace protections. Eventually, the number of hours individuals could work every day became regulated, and workplace safety became engrained in labor laws. The aftermath of this workplace disaster inspired massive protests in the US. Eventually, it became a key item of reference for reform-minded politicians and other champions of organized labor. Because most of those who died during this tragedy were women, the incident acted as a catalyst for women to fight for their workplace rights and the right to vote. The argument was that part of the reason why women were suffering was that they did not have legislative representation. Overall, the incident was instrumental in showing how the struggles for representation in legislative bodies and equal rights were intertwined.

There are two important distinctions Pat Mainardi draws in her essay. The first one – between the Liberated Woman and Women’s Liberation; the second – between the Politics with capital “P” and the politics of everyday life. The pair of dichotomies in question are interconnected. A Liberated Woman is a person who has achieved parity with men in the world of Politics, that is to say, in such spheres as career, voting rights, and freedom of speech. It often goes without saying that this new state of affairs should not affect the world of everyday existence – the allocation of household chores, the matters of sexual behavior or the distribution of income within the family or other forms of partnership. Additionally, a liberated woman is nearly always used in the singular, because it is silently assumed that her particular biographic circumstances have nothing to do with the conditions other women find themselves in. In the actual social landscape, both juxtapositions are misleading, as Mainardi clearly demonstrates. Right to the contrary, a Liberated Woman is in the best position to advance the cause of Women’s Liberation. Having mustered the resources of the economy and political order she is able not only to raise her voice and advocate for her female comrades that were robbed of such possibility. She is also capable of leveraging her emancipated style of life to transform not only Politics but the politics of everyday life as well.

The articles of Mainardi and Anne Koedt add two specific examples to the dictum about the ultimately political nature of the realm of personal life. The former demonstrates that even in the “progressive” households the legacy of the patriarchal domination largely determines what the notions of “appropriate” behavior or “important” work are. The latter expands the sphere of politics even further showcasing that not only sex but even the body is mapped and regulated by hegemonic ideologies.

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn abortion rights will impose serious consequences on women, especially from low incomeareas and minorities. In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of abortion, insisting that women reserve the right to an abortion without extreme government control. However, based on the leaked information surrounding the Supreme Court’s decisionand the video “Abortion Helpline, This is Lisa” the choice to overturn abortion rights will disproportionately affect low income and minority women,drastically exposing their lives to danger. Although the draft “does not represent a decision by the Court or the final position of any members on the issue in the case,” the idea of such a thought is an egregious breach of trust (Gerstein and Alexander 1).

The Hyde Amendment of 1976 legislated against the government’s intervention to help women seeking abortion with financial aid. The vetoed funding bill for the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (WEV) disproportionately affects minorities and low-income families. The video “Abortion Helpline, This is Lisa” shows how low income and minority women struggle with abortion, even when pregnancy possesses immediate risk to the mother.The implications of illegalization of abortion will impact medical facilities.

Various pro-abortion individuals have acknowledged that medical institutions that have been providing women with abortion procedures need to brace for a future where they will be punished and criminalized for providing abortion care.It is inconceivable to fathom how women can be punished and criminalized for opting for a procedure that directly impacts their life and health.

One of the arguments that the former Republic Congressman, Henry Hyde of Illinois proposed was that the American federal government voted against WEV because it was supposedly standing up for the rights of the unborn child. However, he spoke like the government truly cares about everyone equally. Many of the individuals impacted by the Hyde Amendment are the low income and minority families. If the government truly cared for them, it would enact various measures that enhance economic equity. Furthermore, abortion is neither the immediate nor pressing issue for minority and low-income families. The argument that the anti-abortion bill is standing up for minority and low-income children is not true, because what happens for those unplanned children once they are born. Are they simply forgotten, or do they not matter anymore? 25% of Medicaid beneficiaries seeking an abortion carry unplanned pregnancies to term because of the Hyde Amendment (“Abortion Helpline, This is Lisa”).Low-income and minorities are forced to see their pregnancies to term. If one can barely afford to care for themselves, how is it that they are forced to bring another human being into a situation of suffering and pain?

Medical oppression is an awful problem in our current society today. Many factors come into play like, social status especially gender and race. I did not get much of a surprise from “A Birth Story’ by Dr. Dana-Ain Davis, because I have heard similar experiences from black women in my community as well as close family members. However, Eden Prairie, Minnesota story was a bit surprising to me when he stated that he now wears a “EMS Do Not Resuscitate” bracelet and carry a doctor signed [Do Not Resuscitate] order in his purse. I felt as though he made his experience get the better of him and I also felt that he had no support from anyone, no care or affection. When I came to the U.S a past co-worker had told me about an experience she had with a person who wore the [Do Not Resuscitate] and shared the negative effect it could have on the person trying to help but has no knowledge on things of that nature (like me). She mentioned to me that the person could sue you if they survive (not sure if that was true).

The connections I had with the readings were that anyone could experience medical oppression when the person who is giving the services has a certain belief about, race, social status, gender etc. However, Black people and non-conforming people has a higher percentage experiencing medical oppression today. Medication oppression can be considered one of the worse oppressions today because it has to do with the body and being denied of medical care especially when sick or injured and is seeking help but in denial.

The format in which the stories are shared impact my understanding of medical oppression and/or other aspects of gender as pure ignorance and dehumanization amongst each other. Each story shared a similar pattern of judgmental medical officials who ignorantly set aside their professional services and act out on their personal beliefs putting transgender individuals at risk. The LGBTQ community and the black community LGBTQ community discrimination daily but imagine needing treatment and is being denied because of being something you cannot change and is human just like anyone else. “A Birth Story” really resonated with me because I am a black female and would never want to even imagine being humiliated and treated unfairly because of the color of my skin. It is scary to think of a situation like that and it seems that no matter how much planning ahead of time with the most appropriate/relatable people available there is always a bad apple in the bunch.

This week’s readings, “The Power of Identity Politics” and “Too Latina To Be Black, Too Black To Be Latina”, expanded my understanding of “Identity Politics”.  Identity politics” purpose is to make society fearer, more tolerant and more equal. Alicia explains that even though race, gender and class are socially constructed categories they have major impacts on people’s life especially when it comes to the resources, they have access to.  She mentions that these difficult conversations are need because if not real multiracial and intersectional coalition can’t be built. “Too Latina to Be Black, Too Black To Be Latina”, was really good, very relatable and had my emotions running all over the place. Both these reading is an eye opener and also us to be awoke and remain awoke because this is live, and we need to face what is going on in our society. Last weeks taught us about women’s movement and oppression especially when black and is a female. However, this week’s reading went into dept with real time events and actions of ignorant and a failed humanity. It is very much relatable as I am a black woman and has never had a black hatred experience until now. The reason I personally call it black hatred is because that exactly how I feel about those behaviors (due to one’s skin color).

I would like to expand on less resources being in the Black and Hispanic communities.  I see this in my community everyday especially whenever I exist and return. Comparing white communities to Black/Hispanic Communities it is so obvious of the privileges amongst us. When it comes to fast food restaurants, healthcare facilities and schools. Let’s talk about the crime rate!