YWCA Internship

Women’s rights have always been an issue in America. From wage gaps to the right to vote, women have had to fight for their rights every day. Recently, a new fight has broken out about new laws being created banning abortion in specific states, making it almost impossible for women to get an abortion if need be. On May 7th, in response to Georgia Governor, Brian Kemp signing a bill banning abortions after a doctor can detect a fetal heartbeat in the womb, and other activity in politics regarding abortion bans or “heartbeat bills,”, Actress Busy Philips spoke up on her late night talk show, ‘Busy Tonight,’ about her abortion story, how personal and important the decision to have an abortion can be, and how scared she is for women and girls across the country.

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“Women and their doctors are in the best position to make informed decisions about what is best for them and nobody else,” she told the audience breaking the fourth wall.

 

Busy later stated, “The statistic is one in four women have an abortion before age 45 and that statistic sometimes surprises people, and maybe you’re sitting there thinking. ‘I don’t know a woman who would have an abortion. Well, you know me. I had an abortion when I was 15 years old.”

Busy reached out to all women again on Twitter after Alabama created a “heartbeat bill” that included punishing doctors who perform abortions illegally to life in prison asking them to share their abortion stories with the hashtag #YouKnowMe. Women everywhere engaged by telling their stories and supporting each other. Over 50,000 people liked or shared her tweet in less than 24 hours. Since then, thousands of women have shared their experiences on Twitter causing extensive threads of reasoning behind abortion from all angles.

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In response to the fast-growing movement, celebrities like Keke Palmer, Minka Kelly, Ashley Judd, and Rosanna Arquette shared their stories of abortion and how it has impacted their lives. Sophie Turner and Jessica Chastain announced that they refuse to work in states that ban abortions. Even celebrities who have not had an abortion have raised awareness of the fact that women have the right to their own bodies and that what happens to it is their decision only on their social media. Busy Philips recently joined the American Civil Liberties Union, narrating ads advocating for women’s right to chose abortion. The ads will feature her hashtag #YouKnowMe.

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Thousands of women have participated in rallies and marches using the #YouKnowMe campaign as it has gone global. The movement is gaining media coverage every day. News outlets in Belgium, Canada, The Netherlands, Croatia, The UK, Germany, Italy, France, and South Korea have made statements supporting the #YouKnowMe movement.

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In response to #YouKnowMe in politics, Busy testified before congress at a hearing about abortion by telling her story and views on the new abortion laws and what they are doing to women across the country. She was challenged by Texas’s representative, Louie Gohmert, as he asked her what she thought about babies that survive abortions and does life matter for them if they were supposed to be terminated in the first place. In response to his crude questions, Busy expressed that she was there to talk about abortion, not birth, the circumstances that he was speaking about should be discussed between a patient and her doctor, not the state, and that she wishes the same for the choices she can make her own body.

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Others have challenged the movement saying that women are celebrating their victim status which is a “slap in the face” to victims everywhere, according to conservativereview.com’s Becky Holland. She explained that Busy is telling women to be happy about their abortions and to celebrate the devil’s handiwork. According to the writer, the #MeToo movement survivors are suffering because of the #YouKnowMe movement because they went through more deep emotions than the other women and that the real victims are the unborn babies. So, it’s a crime that Busy is telling people to share their stories. But didn’t the women involved with #MeToo share their stories?

#YouKnowMe is just the beginning. As women, we must fight for the right to our own bodies. We aren’t just baby-makers. We are people too.

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Being traumatized is one of the worst things that can happen to anyone. Trauma can be afflicted through domestic violence, military combat, death of a loved one, emotional neglect, abuse, sexual assault, and even your own actions. The experience corrupts the brain and can leave scars. However, those scars have the potential to heal. Trauma therapy is a type of therapy that helps those who have been exposed to trauma. It is meant to heal the brain by confronting and re-experiencing the events. The therapy caters to one’s mental, behavioral, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Holding on to those experiences without help can cause major damage to one’s mental health and cause mental disorders to arise later in life such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Acute Stress Disorder, Anxiety, Depression, Borderline Personality Disorder, and many more. To avoid this, patients and their therapists pick apart the trauma, and patients have to relive it until they make peace with each instance.

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Choosing to go through trauma therapy is incredibly brave. Everyone who has experienced trauma is incredibly strong and deserves the peace of mind. They deserve a fighting chance to heal. Putting yourself back on the front lines with no danger is tough, but all survivors have the strength to take back their life. Here is a letter I wrote to my best friend going through trauma therapy. This letter applies to all who have experienced trauma and are seeking help:

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Dear best friend,

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 I want you to know that you are the strongest person I know. You have a fire inside of you that can’t be blown out. I know that this is a hard time for you, never knowing if a day is going to be good or bad. The pain you feel is pain that no one should have to process. You may feel powerless but that’s not the case. You have all the power you had before your trauma and even more power now.

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If you are feeling lost, I’m here to hold the map as you move forward in your hunt to freedom to find the next clue, moving towards a healthy mind. You have the right to love yourself as much as I love you. You are worth everything in the world. I am here for you. There is a whole community out there who are in the same boat as you are, standing together with open arms. Yes, things are hard. But you are pushing through. Waking up each morning to fight for your peace of mind is incredibly courageous. When you are alone and you can’t think about anything but your demons, call me. I’ll be here ready to support you. You are needed and wanted by so many. You are beautiful, smart, and wickedly hilarious. You light up a room when you walk in. Your energy is radiant. Your spirit and beauty have never been diluted and I admire that.

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Those demons will be shattered in due time. You may be doing the heavy lifting, but I will always be your spotter. Life is long. If you keep moving, you will grow through what you go through. You will come out on top. You are more than your assault. You are more than that girl 5 years ago struggling. The woman that I see standing before me is a survivor. As you pick apart your trauma and make it real as day, you are healing yourself to be the best you can be. That is what a survivor does. I’m incredibly proud to see you move up and out. Just like you are always there to hold my hand, I am always here to hold yours. You are loved and supported. Don’t give up. Own your power. You are more than your trauma.

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All my love,

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Someone Who Cares