I Stand with Women, But I’ll Be at Work Today

I stand with women.

And I’ll be at work today.

I’ve marched. I’ve protested. I’ve called senators and representatives. I’ve donated money and I’ve donated time. I try to be vocal when it’s expected I be silent. I am a woman. I stand with all women.

And I think this is an obscene showing of privilege.

If you’re lucky enough to work at a small business that is giving you the day off, that’s pretty cool. Good on them and lucky for you. Those of us, though, who would need to take the day off to make this point are divided into two camps: those of us who have vacation days and can easily take a day out, and those of us who can be fired for calling in again. 

Those of us who are able to easily take the day off aren’t the ones who need this fight most. My guess is that this day will be filled with women who, for all intents and purposes, are the same: upper-middle class, primarily white women, which is fantastic in the sense that each person should make his or her voice heard. Notably missing, though, will likely be minimum wage workers without paid time off, women who may actually worry that missing a day will cost her a job. I simply don’t think this can be labeled a day without women when it will, most likely, be a day without white women in office jobs/at Saks. I hope I’m wrong, and I hope that today is a fireworks display of intersectional feminism that crosses all socioeconomic boundaries: I’m just not sure that it will be. 

I’ll be at work today. And when I eat lunch, I’ll take the time to donate to Planned Parenthood or the ACLU again. If needed, I’ll call a senator or two. And then I’ll go back to work, where I’m needed. I may not work in an uber-liberal feminist company, but my role is still crucial to keep it running. In my position, I’m valued for what I do. That in itself is a great reward. Everyone should feel treasured and appreciated at their job. I’ll give my money and time to be sure of it, but today, I’m going in to mine, safety pin dangling off my name badge. Many, many people, causes, and organizations need support right now. For me, though, this is simply not one of them. I love the camaraderie; I don’t love the idea that all women aren’t able to participate. 

I support women. I support those working, those with the day off, and those who raise our babies. I support black women, white women, trans women, Latina women, big women, little women, queer women, questioning women. Rich, poor, married, single, and anywhere in between.

I support and stand with all of you.

And I’ll be at work today.