Take nothing for granted. The things so many people fought to gain, the things that seem like simple human rights can be snatched away in a moment.

I grew up in the '80s. I was young and unaware (until my eyes were opened when I started reading Ms. Magazine) that my desire to attend college was not yet truly mainstream. I was told not to have such high expectations. Financial issues were certainly part of the problem, but I soon found out another reason: I was female.

Even under the age of 18 could get birth control, but - like my other female friends - we had to keep it a secret. If word got out, we would be considered a slut. We were expected to get married. By that time we were starting to be 'allowed' to keep our jobs. Having children was dicey -- what mother would still work and leave kids at home? Eventually the children of my generation would become latchkey kids. Women couldn't have their own credit cards. It was nearly impossible to buy property without a husband. People turned blind eyes to domestic violence.

Most important and least taught? I had a right to have an abortion. No one really wanted to educate people about this medical procedure.

Eventually, I learned was that this was not normal to women who were not informed -- but they were accepted practices to this country as a general collective. until they weren't.

So many women should not take the rights fought for by by our grandmothers, mothers and even my contemporaries for granted. We can't. There are forces that want to take the power we have away. I'm not talking solely about women. I am talking about every member of our society who is considered "other" by the white, male-dominated class. I make no apologies if that makes those who read this blog uncomfortable.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a huge part of paving the way. "We take Ginsburg's successes for granted now, but she was the one who brought to the Supreme Court the perspective of women’s rights."

Justice Ginsburg has earned her rest. We haven't. There are still too many people who think that rights are just pieces of a pie. I grew up with the luxury of assuming my rights would always be there -- and years ago I learned how wrong I was. Keep fighting.

Dissent.

and
Raine