This is a note to my daughter, to my wife, to my sister, my mom, to my Dine sisters, to my aunties, niece and cousins, to all of the women that I know and don’t know. Like so many people, I felt many deep and visceral emotions learning about the SCOTUS ruling on Roe v Wade. After hugging my crying wife and talking to my daughter, I did what we do when we need to think, feel, and hurt; I hit the trail on the mountain bike.
For three days I rode, I climbed, I repeated climbs 4 and 5x, all the while marinating and feeling. I felt sadness, anger and heaviness for and with every woman I rode by. I couldn’t help but look at these 20, 30 and 40 something females trail running, wondering what their life would be like this time next summer should they have an unplanned pregnancy, knowing they aren’t assured paternity leave—and even if she is supported by a company that provides this most basic of human health services, it’s for a mere 90 days, completely insufficient to support these women in their life-altering transition. I couldn’t help but think of the women who will be most impacted by this decision, some of the most vulnerable in our society, poor, young and underserved women on reservations throughout Montana, Native America women, African-American women, Hispanic women, who will receive little support from the very people who are stripping these women of their fundamental right to choose what is best for their health and their life.
The great Natalie Maines said It best, “I’m not ready to make nice, I’m not ready to back down, I’m mad as hell and don’t have time to go ‘round and round.”
To all the women and girls out there hurting, feeling angry, sad, scared, I say, I’m sorry. I’m sorry that the day after we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Title IX, you were met with this ruling and news. I can’t imagine what you’re feeling right now, but I feel pain and sadness and fear for my daughter, so while I can’t walk in your shoes, I can validate and reassure you that you’re not alone. And I can tell you that I want to help make your walk upon this earth easier, not harder. I want to fight beside you and with you. I want to be a champion of your cause.
I started the Be Audacious message for a group of rural, small-town girls in 2007, long before the Be Audacious book was published. Why? Because those girls were up against it. Despite Title IX, those girls didn’t receive the love that the boys did, and this disturbed me deeply, so I began writing my girls quotes, about what it looks like to Be Audacious.
One in five girls are raped or sexually assaulted while pursuing their college degree. These are the odds for a young woman fighting for a better life.
I want to live in a world where all of you have the freedom to choose what you do with your body and while I don’t know what it looks like, I can promise you this: I will fight on with you and beside you until you are afforded body autonomy and a right to choose what you do with your life, what you pursue as your passion, and how you chase your dreams.
With nothin’ but love, MWL