I spend a lot of time thinking about the life-threatening issues too many women are facing today. Some are the same old problems women have faced in the past, some new and unexpected, most will never be fixed—at least not with the attitudes and approaches that continue to exist.
So many problems have been a direct result from COVID; others have been exaggerated by the pandemic and so many more will be surfacing over the next few months.
My nature doesn’t focus on problems, normally I look for solutions. I’ve seen too much in this lifetime to want to participate in the ‘ain't it awful’ discussions. I know better. Any ‘awful’ can get worse and usually does.
This past year has shaken my nature.
I live in a world of statistics, knowing that every number represents a person, someone who was once living, breathing, vibrant; each number was someone who once believed in a future.
Still, I am chilled by the statistics of this time:
One in three Americans have lost someone due to COVID.
The virus has taken the lives of Black people in the US at twice the rate of white people.
One in four women are in abusive domestic situations.
Domestic abuse has increased 30% with the pandemic.
Black women experience domestic abuse 40% more often than white women.
One in five women will not return to the workplace.
One in three Texans under 65 are without health insurance; 35% of all adult Texans don’t have health insurance.
Those statistics don’t begin to describe the devastation of this time.
All last month, during Women’s History Month, I struggled with the question of ‘celebrating’ women. I stayed up half the night thinking about all the things that are impacting women; they deal with a whole different kind of plague—one that could last their lifetime and continue for generations to come. It springs from poverty, but festers from decades of neglect.
So, my list continued:
The pandemic and its permanent altering of the world.
The antiquated system for deciding the federal poverty line means the difference between life and death for women in Texas.
The lack of Medicaid assistance for the uninsured woman who is beyond childbirth. If she’s not having children, she doesn’t exist.
The uninsured rate in Texas has surged to 29%, the highest rate in the nation.
Texas still refuses to expand Medicaid, knowing people are dying from lack of care.
What other fallout will happen from unemployment, no health insurance, loss of homes, loss of status, widening the gap between the haves and have nots?
Threats to women’s health care with proposed State budget cuts (to happen in September) due to loss of revenue IN SPITE OF THREE FEDERAL STIMULUS PACKAGES.
Will we see the unexplained increase in women diagnosed with breast cancer within the next two years, as we did after Hurricane Harvey?
The irony of who is diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer. At The Rose over the past five years, ONLY uninsured women have been diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer.
The fact that after ten years and tens of millions of dollars poured into awareness media campaigns, black women are still dying from breast cancer 50% more often than white women.
More young women are diagnosed within two years of a pregnancy.
Despite the 40% decline in mortality from breast cancer SINCE mammography was introduced and COVERED by insurance, the debate on the age of screening and value of mammography continues to rage.
On and on….
And that night, I decided I needed to sleep with the lights on.