Here I am,
mouth taped tight
so I don’t offend anyone.
Here I am,
sitting in silence,
biting my tongue
because I respect
all women.
Here I am,
a woman who chose
not to march.
Does that make your blood
boil or your eyes roll?
Well, here I am now,
a woman who’s triggered.
That’s right.
I’m pissed off.
Ripping the tape from my mouth
and exercising my first amendment right
just like you.
But I am sitting on the other side
of the table.
You know the one.
The hated side,
the stupid side,
and I cannot possibly know
what I’m talking about.
Well, have a seat.
Let’s sit together
while the table flips
THE FUCK OVER AND OUT.
I am the same as you
in many ways.
I don’t care if you get an abortion,
but I do care if you get it for free.
I don’t care if you get an abortion,
but I do care if it’s because
you’re too stupid to use birth control.
Before you fly into a frenzy,
I’m not talking about women
who seek abortions after rape,
incest, or medical emergency.
I’m speaking to the women
who use abortion as a form of birth control
after an oops!
I’m speaking to the women
who use their poverty
to get an abortion for free.
I’m speaking to the women
who have insurance plans that cover
this procedure, and I’m speaking to
the insurance companies
that have the audacity to cover
such a procedure if it’s not
life threatening or medically necessary.
To the insurance companies
who cover abortion,
To the insurance companies
who cover sex change operations:
FUCK YOU!
And before you tell me
to adopt all the unwanted babies
who couldn’t get aborted in time,
let me tell you this:
First of all,
that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard
because adoption isn’t free.
Adoption isn’t covered by insurance.
But you know what is covered?
A hysterectomy.
You know what also isn’t covered
under most plans?
Invitro-Fertilization.
So, while you are fighting for your right
to keep abortions legal,
let me tell you a story.
I was denied health insurance
by every major insurance provider
because I had a history of infertility.
These plans don’t cover pregnancy
so I was denied having any coverage at all
because I guess they were afraid
some miraculous pregnancy
would happen and they would be forced
to continue discriminating
by not covering me or my make-believe baby.
When I did have insurance,
I didn’t get any government funds
after I had miscarriage after miscarriage,
and I didn’t get any government help
when I had to have numerous
D&C procedures.
I was a great candidate for invitro-fertilization!
How exciting… until you see how much
that costs.
Adoption? Sure… in a heartbeat!
Oh… never mind,
too expensive.
You think the foster homes
and adoption agencies
are packed full of unwanted children
because someone couldn’t have
an abortion?
Wrong!
They’re overflowing
because no one can afford the
ten thousand plus dollars
to adopt a child.
So, go get your abortion
since the birth control
you didn’t use failed you,
and I will dream of a day
the hopes and dreams I once had
didn’t have a price tag
I couldn’t afford.
Insurance companies
love to pay for hysterectomies
by the way… if you have insurance,
but your out of pocket
is still going to be over five grand.
If you don’t have insurance,
and you need a medically necessary
hysterectomy, you can kiss about
twenty thousand dollars goodbye.
For anyone who says,
“It’s a rich persons world”
you are sadly mistaken
and horribly misinformed.
If all of the women who marched
sent $100 to planned parenthood
instead of dressing up like a vagina,
you could have funded them for a year.
I don’t think the government
should be able to tell women
what to do with their own bodies,
but if you want to be
an empowered woman,
take control of your own body
by being responsible for it.
Not everyone has the option
of finding themselves
facing the decision of keeping a baby
or getting rid of it.
There are empty wombs
who were never lucky enough
to be filled with that “oops”
you can’t stop making.
Also, if you are actually crying
over the fact that international funds
for abortion have been stopped,
I have no words for you
other than,
why were we funding other countries
abortions in the first place?
If you’re offended that I ripped
the tape off my mouth
because of the mistake you keep
ripping from your womb,
just know:
I’m offended too.
Stephanie Bennett-Henry©2017
YES!!….so much this!! ❤️
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Reblogged this on slheaton.
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❤❤❤
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Stunning. Poignant. Brutal. True. ❤
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Simply powerful, with raw emotion. I think you speak the words millions of women cannot say. ♡ Love to you
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A powerful piece, Steph. This is an extraordinary bit of soul you have written. Love to you.
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Simply phenomenal.
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I can’t love this enough.
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