Demoralized

Well, this post is going to be obviously not related to any of my direct experiences traveling. This is more about Spanish culture that I've learned about on TV:

Prostitution and Abortion

Both are legal. Pimping is not, thank goodness. Because that's too violent and goes against women's rights. It's all about protecting the woman. Yeah, mhm.  I guess, to Spain's defense, it may be a slightly debated topic. But mostly it's been on the news only because neighbors are complaining that they can hear hookers fighting with their pimps on the street at night, and their kids can't sleep. Outlawing pimping isn't workin' so well.

And Abortion! I learned shortly after arriving from my host mom that Spain just recently passed a law so that 16-year-old girls can legally get an abortion without parental consent. WHAT?????

In what world is that OK????? Apparently Spain's world. Again, to Spain's.... defense?... if you can call it that, I think 16 is the US's 18. Yet, spaniards can't get a drivers license until they're 18.

SO, to reiterate: A spanish girl can get an abortion at 16 all by herself, but she can't be trusted to drive a freaking automobile until she is a mature 18-year-old.

What I want to know, is do they know anything about psychology here? Do they know anything about the development of human beings? Sexuality? Let's make it easy - Do they know ANYTHING ABOUT TEENAGERS??

Spain has so many commercials about women's rights, and domestic violence issues, and these laws are supposed to be empowering: that we women have the right to do what we want with our own bodies. But why doesn't anyone see that all legalizing prostitution does is enable men to continue using us? It doesn't matter if we "choose" it. Men are getting what they want, and maybe some women are too, but that doesn't change that those women walk away still feeling ashamed, used, and dirty. If anyone is going to fight for women's rights, then they need to fight to OUTLAW this. Forget the rights to your own body. It's not legal to do drugs. It shouldn't be legal to hurt yourself like this either.

You don't see men out there doing it as much. What's up with that? Anyone that says that the world is not sexist is blind or lying. And women ARE objectified. Way more than men. And I hate that these things are so taboo, and not talked about. No one knows what this crap does to a women's head, not to mention her heart. If we did talk about these things more, maybe there would be a few less strip clubs, fewer cheaters, less casual sex, more lasting marriages. A little bit more respect for women. A little more tenderness. A little more care.

We need to respect ourselves, but we need to receive it from the opposite sex too. The men hiring prostitutes are at just as much fault as the women out there selling themselves. Restoring women's dignity is going to take help from both sides.

Yeah, that'll be the day.

Jesus help me.