Everyone most likely knows by now that Donald Trump is the president-elect of the United States.  Political views aside, there are some terrifying changes women can expect to face under President Trump. Feminism has been seen negatively through the public’s eyes and people have been claiming that feminists are all simply crazy. However, in reality, all feminists want is equality.  With women’s fundamental rights being challenged, it’s time to stand up.
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Abortion rights are still on the table for politicians to discuss.  Trump is trying to get Americans to join his Pro-Life Coalition, where he is outlining the steps to “advance the rights of unborn children and their mothers when elected president.” Trump wants to elect pro-life justices to the Supreme Court and his ultimate plan will be to overturn Roe v. Wade, which has protected abortion rights since 1973.  Even if Roe v. Wade isn’t completely overturned, abortion laws will be changed for the worst.  He plans to ban all abortions considered late-term after 20 weeks.
Planned Parenthood is being defunded as order from Trump, as long as they continue abortions.  However, only about three percent of Planned Parenthood’s services are abortion related, the rest are just basic, preventive health care options.  Most women will no longer have the easy access to birth control methods that they rely on which will lead to unintended pregnancies, and worst case scenario, risky home abortions.
Women need to embrace feminism in order to be able to take control of their bodies. Their needs are being blatantly ignored and their rights slowly being chipped away.
“Although my experience was arduous, at the time, I didn’t have anything to offer a child,” stated Nicki Minaj, who had an abortion at just 15. “It’s debatable whether or not I would have achieved the success I have today if I hadn’t had an abortion.”
Her achievements speak to how vital abortion is access is to women everywhere. Â Women deserve to have the same social opportunities as men to make the best choices for their lives and in order to be able to have charge of their lives, ensuring we need feminism.
Not only are pro-choice rights being questioned, but Trump also has no policies to ensure women’s safety, economically and socially.  It’s no secret that women do not get paid as much as men in the same profession.  The prominent wage gap only seems to worsen as time goes on. In June, the Boston Globe revealed that Trump was paying men on his campaign staff one-third more than he was paying women. Feminism will help women fight for the economic opportunities they deserve. Socially, women are told that their sexual assault problems are of no worry. Â
Trump has issued no promised programs for prevention, support, and survivors of sexual misconduct.  Instead of being worried, he seems to only glorify the mistreatment of women.  With him winning the election, it normalized all of the sexual misconduct he has been a part of.  He has publically shamed his victims and denied the accusations put forth on him, and he has said that if his daughter, Ivanka, was sexually harassed he would encourage her to “find another career or find another company.”  If Trump’s actions are any indication, sexual assault will continue to be an issue that is bragged about, denied, and tolerated, proving feminism is the only solution.
Time will only continue to move backwards unless it is stopped.  Feminism isn’t about dictating what a woman or man should or should not do, it’s about working to ensure that all individuals have the same social, economic and political opportunities to make the best choices for their lives.
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