America Is Turning Into A Real-Life Handmaid’s Tale & We’re Letting It Happen
It's clear that writers of the hit Hulu original series The Handmaid's Tale were on to something because it's beginning to look a lot like Gilead up in here.
Roe v. Wade guarantees women the constitutional right to privacy. The 1973 landmark decision ruled that the government could not prohibit a woman's fundamental right to have access to abortions during their first trimester, but according to recent headlines, a whole bunch of white men on the hill just said f*ck all that.
Two nights ago, Alabama's senate passed a bill that would ban all abortions in the state, including pregnancies that are a product of incest and rape. The law would also sentence doctors to life in prison for performing these procedures, putting Alabama in the lead for having the strictest abortion law in the nation. Also, here's a fun fact: Alabama's governor is a woman. Let that sink in for a minute.
The bill comes not long after Georgia's governor signed legislation to ban abortions after six weeks, and given the fact that most women don't even know that they're pregnant until five to six weeks into their first trimester, many women will lose the choice to terminate their pregnancy altogether. If the law goes into effect, women who have abortions will potentially be charged with murder and even investigated for miscarriages.
Legislators in South and Midwest are following Georgia and Alabama's lead, and states like Kentucky, Ohio, and Mississippi passed similar bills earlier this week. The passing of these bills on a national level could potentially cause a widespread shutdown of abortion clinics and even limit access to over the counter abortion pills.
Even if you're a woman who has never even thought about terminating a pregnancy, this law affects you too, sis. When the government starts infringing on any of our constitutional rights as women, we have a duty to take a step back and say 'wait a minute now'... first it's restricting abortions, but what's next?
Since these controversial political measures have hit the media, The Handmaid's Tale has been trending and if you haven't seen the show, I'll give you some context.
The series shows a dystopian future of an America where birth rates have plummeted and infertility is at an all-time high. The U.S. government is overthrown by a group of misogynistic assholes and the country, now called Gilead, converts into a patriarchal regime that forces the few fertile women that remain into sexual servitude in attempt to repopulate the earth.
Women are divided by class, but are treated like property nonetheless; men make their decisions and they are not allowed to own property, have money, or read. Is anybody else having deja vu, or nah?
These laws cannot be enforced unless Roe v. Wade is overturned by the Supreme Court, so it's important to know that the fight is not over. The future for this country may look like the dystopian nightmare we never dreamed of, but there are some things you can do to help. Here's what you can do to join the fight against the patriarchy's passionate ploy to police the puss:
Donate
Money talks and this is especially true when it comes to helping women in these states who need resources and access to safe abortion procedures. After taking into account the cost of the procedure, transportation, and aftercare, those funds can add up and make abortions less accessible to those with low income. Whether it's giving to an abortion fund like The Yellowhammer Fund, or donating to organizations like The P.O.W.E.R. House which is a Montgomery-based non-profit that offers shelter, food, and support to women who've traveled to get abortions, a little bit goes a long way.
Volunteer
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If you're short on cash, never fear. You can always donate your time to help the cause in your own backyard. Most cities have abortion funds or clinics where you can volunteer, and you can also sign up to be an escort that helps women who may need emotional support before, during, or after their procedure.
Click here for a list of abortion funds across the country.
Get Social
One thing that we will always make time for is social media, and that's OK. We live in a digital world, hell, you probably found this article on social media. Use your platform to share someone's story, GoFundMe page, or even just information to make the public more aware of what's going on. When posting, keep in mind that no matter how we all feel about abortion, this fight is ultimately about women having the right to make choices about our bodies. Even if you disagree with someone, try your hardest to empathize and connect on whatever level you can. This is an emotional topic and we all have a right to our feelings.
Host A Fundraiser
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Even if you don't have any disposable cash to donate, I bet you know someone who does. Help the cause by starting your own fundraiser. Whether it be an event or a crowdsourcing campaign, the money you help raise can later be donated to an individual or an abortion clinic that's in need.
To the women in these states, you are not alone. They may have won the battle, but it's imperative that we keep fighting in our own ways to win the war.
Somebody call Offred and let's get this thing crackin.
Featured image courtesy of Hulu.
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Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy