Wordsmithing the "War on Women"

It's hard to escape the latest political catch phrase "war on women". From channel to channel, tweet to tweet, discussion of the rash of proposed legislation to limit female reproductive rights heading through various statehouses is hard to miss.  Just this week, Arizona upped the ante with another attempt to hand employers- religiously affiliated or tiny storefronts- with a "moral objection" excuse to cut coverage for contraception and anything else that offends them.  From Rush Limbaugh's misogynist rantings to the Virginia attempt to require women seeking an abortion to have transvaginal ultrasounds, it would be hard for women not to feel under fire.  "Personhood" bills that put mothers' lives secondary, repeated attempts to water down sex education until it's worthless, and endless obstacles to abortion so that "confused" women can be "well informed" would lead most women to feel that we have become the enemy---or perhaps time travelled back 50 years.  If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck---isn't it a duck?

The puzzling question is why now?  Why attack women's reproductive rights, settled almost 50 years ago, when the nation is facing a myriad of difficult problems that demands the attention of both women and men to solve?  Why attack a breakthrough for women- contraception finally universally covered under the Affordable Care Act-when millions of families- that's men and women- will benefit economically from this in a down economy? Why not remember that contraception benefits both sexes in preventing unwanted pregnancy and not just the woman? (Last time I checked, it took two to tango.) And why would politicians greenlight an agenda sure to alienate the very group they need to court for the 2012 elections? Is it insanity, religious zealotry, or just plain insecurity?

Perhaps the answer lies in the changing demographics of America.  The past fifty years have seen huge advances for women.  Dedicated women are more likely than men to earn a college degree and continue to increase that gap, they are earning more than ever before (though still not paid equally), and breaking glass ceilings-in male-dominated areas- every day.  Throughout this economic downturn, women have fared better in the job market, and are successfully starting more small businesses that will create jobs in the future.  In the 2008 election, women cast 53% of the votes, sending President Obama--another trailblazer-into the White House. Yet the percentage of white men, once the ultimate power brokers of our society, keeps aging and shrinking. The Pew Research Center estimates that the Hispanic population of 42 million (2005) will grow to 128 million in 2050, tripling in size.  This leaves whites---for the first time in our history-- projected to become a minority at 47% in 2050. Could it be that the historical powerbrokers feel more than a little threatened and just wish for things to go back to the way they once were?

Ultimately, if the wording "war on women" offends the GOP--- the party that appears to be backing most of the attempts to roll back our reproductive rights- perhaps we ought to offer them the clearer alternative of saying that they are simply attempting a "rollback of women's reproductive rights". Not sure that would help rally the female voters they need in the 2012 election, but they are welcome to try it.

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