In 1976, Joanne McQueen, a member
of N.O.W., wrote a letter to McCullough Hyde hospital. Her letter was in
response to McCullough Hyde’s patient survey request. She told them that while
their medical care and facilities were excellent, she did have issues with
their brochure. Specifically, that it only referred to patients as ‘he’. While
this seems like a little detail, it is so much more. It underscored our
societies view that men are the norm and women are somehow less important. Joanne
therefore requested that in their next brochure they try s/he pronouns to be
more inclusive.
I found her request interesting,
which led me to look at the current McCullough Hyde brochures and online pages.
They now use phrases like “you and your neighbors” which effectively takes the
role of gender out of the scenario. This new phrasing shows that Joanne played
a role in helping create a more inclusive and equal dialog at McCullough Hyde.
I know what you are probably
thinking, why does it matter what one small hospital did in one small town?
Aside from the obvious answer that equality is important no matter the scale,
my answer to you is that this issue goes far beyond a small town hospital in
1976. Over the summer Supreme Court Justice
Ruth Bader Ginsburg referred to the President of the United States of America
using the word she, a female pronoun. And that one simple word, ‘she’ sparked
outrage.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been
criticized a few times for speaking out against Donald Trump because it is a
societal belief that Justices should remain impartial. A belief I agree with.
But why does using the pronoun she mean she is taking sides. Sources reported
that since Hillary Clinton is female a Donald Trump is male her use of the
female pronoun meant she was supporting Hillary. This argument however, is
bogus. I would believe it if it were not for one very important fact. Every
other politician, civilian, and news source refers to the President using male
pronouns and I highly doubt every single solitary one of them is planning to
vote for Donald Trump especially since Secretary Clinton happens to be leading
in the poles.
Once again the argument could be
made that all those other people use male pronouns because the President has
always been male and that is just a fact. And it is a fact but it also brings
us full circle. Why is it that the President has never been female? I believe
it is because it is the norm. And that is the real problem. Whether you are
looking at a small issue like the use of only male pronouns at a local hospital
or larger issue like drastic inequality in the most revered job in the U.S.
with 44 male Presidents and 0 female presidents, one thing is very clear
equality does not yet exists. Joanne McQueen was able to bring equality to a
small town hospital by raising awareness.
I believe it is time to once again use the tactics of NOW and make change by bringing awareness to all the small issues. In today’s society we feel that we have to change the world all at once, but that is too much for any one person. The best we can all do is make one small change at a time, like Joanne. They will add up.
I believe it is time to once again use the tactics of NOW and make change by bringing awareness to all the small issues. In today’s society we feel that we have to change the world all at once, but that is too much for any one person. The best we can all do is make one small change at a time, like Joanne. They will add up.
