Editor:

Historically, woman has been treated as a second class citizen at best; in some times and places, much worse. Frequently, that treatment is religion-based. Eve is blamed for all man’s ills because she ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge. Under the Muslim Sharia law, she is property, with no rights, to be divorced or killed on a whim. In some societies, the father sells her to the highest bidder as a wife or a prostitute. Other societies circumcise young girls to ensure they get no pleasure from the sex act, hoping to ensure they will not be unfaithful.

It is certain that such treatment is not God’s will; rather the will of man, because of his need to control her for his own desires and to ensure that her children really are his offspring. That is the basis of the white wedding gown representing purity, meaning virginal. If she had premarital sex, as she almost certainly did, is she impure, unclean? Is she in some way diminished? How about the male? Is he unclean as well? Oh, of course not, he is the innocent. She is the wicked temptress.

Were I a woman and was told that BS, there is no end to the ways I would advise them as to where, when and how to insert it. Parents attempt to prevent premarital sex to avoid unwed motherhood. Wouldn’t it be better for all concerned to provide her with full knowledge of her body and effective birth control? The circumcision that this society performs is psychological in nature, in some cases almost as effective in preventing her pleasure in the reproductive act.

Luckily, you ladies live in a society where most of the above is not legal, but ongoing attempts to limit reproductive health care, birth control, abortion, education, jobs, wages and promotions are all aimed at reducing you to second class status.

Physically, you are beautiful and delightful, but your mind is so much more important in this struggle for your rights. Never let any man, group, organization or government coerce or con you into acting against your own best interests. You are woman. Your country needs you to roar.

Barrie Johnson, Exeland