#mary dye

[scottbcrowley2]

Mary Dye, Jenn Goulet battle in rematch for 9th District House seat - Wed, 03 Oct 2018 PST

In southeastern Washington, state Rep. Mary Dye faces familiar opponent in the November election. Mary Dye, Jenn Goulet battle in rematch for 9th District House seat - Wed, 03 Oct 2018 PST

[pro-choice-feminist-voice]

my body is none of your business

There is a growing belief among our country’s conservative lawmakers that female bodies, especially the bodies of young women, are community property. This was demonstrated earlier this week when Rep. Mary Dye asked a group of pro-choice teens whether or not they were virgins. (!)

This is certainly not information that one expects to share with another upon first acquaintance.

Worse, the direction and setting of the question make it clear that this was not an inquiry borne of curiosity. Instead, this was an attack intended to shame and diminish the teens’ confidence. It was intended to remind them of essentialism: that fundamentally as young women they are only valued for their bodies, their sexual status, and their reproductive potential. That is, that women of value are sexually compliant.

Firing this invasive and inappropriate question in a business setting makes it clear that Dye has no respect for women. If she did, she would know that women have value no matter their sexual status. She would understand that asking this question in a professional setting undermines all women. That judging young girls’ worthiness based on their sexual history relegates all women to objects, to bodies to be used for male pleasure and reproduction.

Above all, Dye’s snide inquiry implies that thoughtful and intelligent individuals are worth less if they do not comply with antiquated and oppressive cultural mores that seek to force women into domesticity. And that is simply not true. Women can be powerful leaders, businesswomen, politicians, artists, writers. And they can do it all while having sex or not having sex whenever they choose!

But no matter what they decide, it’s not any of Mary Dye’s damn business.

*

Here’s a news article from the Seattle Times.

And here’s a great opinion piece on the incident!