Hi, Viv! Something awesome happened today and I just wanted to share.
I’ve never been a big fan of my biology teacher. Sure, I’ve always thought that she was funny and really tried to make her lessons enjoyable. Nothing else, though.
All of my class has to do an internship in the medical department (at a hospital, for example). According to the law, you’re not allowed to talk about the patients without their permission. (Well, you technically can, but WITHOUT mentioning their name.)
She gave an example with a woman being in the hospital and getting an abortion, but not letting her husband know. In this situation, nobody (including us, interns) would be allowed to say anything to him without her permission. The law is pretty strict when it comes to data protection / privacy.
A girl raised her hand and argued that the man had a right to know, though. That’s when everything stopped.
“He might give the sperm in order to fertilize the female egg, but I would be the one carrying the baby,” she (my biology teacher) started firmly, determination lacing her voice as she put herself in the hypothetical situation. “I am the ruler of my body. I AM! Nobody else. A woman should have the right to decide what to do with her own body. Otherwise, it would be a violation of her personality / identity.”
Later, she talked about XY chromosomes and XX chromosomes, the different variations of them and genetic expression beyond a penis / vagina or XY/XX binary, and how it’s totally okay to be born with one sex that differs from the gender identity you identify with.
“It’s okay,” she kept saying, “as long as you don’t harm others. There is nothing wrong with it, just nature being diverse and not falling into one line.”
She was dead serious when approaching both of the subjects and never made fun of them. How she rose in my eyes, you have no idea.
You can bet that I’m gonna make the best chocolate cupcakes ever for the breakfast day the week after next one and give her as many as possible. I really admire this woman and it’s amazing how you can find feminist allies even at the most unexpected places! <3
(Thank you for listening!)
