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“Where are the women?”

So, with all the hullabaloo over the so-called, “Lines Crossed: Separation of Church and State. Has the Obama Administration Trampled on Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Conscience?” hearing (yes, that’s actually what it was called), and all the discussion about how no women were allowed to speak as witnesses (despite the conversation being about birth control), has left me with the impression that something is missing. Female politicians have taken to the stand, asking the question, “Where are the women?” saying that it is inexcusable that a hearing on women’s health without any women’s voices present is ridiculous. Republicans have come back by saying that hearing was on religion, not contraception, and it’s this direction that the debate has gone.

What the Hell?

Why is it Republicans think they can excuse themselves from having female representation by “proving” that the conversation is not about women directly? Why are women only angry that Republican men are blocking them out of a conversation about women? There’s an issue here that isn’t being talked about that goes beyond the women’s health problem–it’s women’s representation in government in general. We should be just as pissed that “It’s about religion, so we don’t need you ladies,” was offered as a counterargument at all! As if women aren’t just as involved in religious matters as men, as if women don’t care about an issue unless it’s a “women’s issue!” And hearing Senator Gillibrand speak out earlier today didn’t relieve my ...