I used to work in a school with a full time nurse. As the mother of an asthmatic kid, I was so glad she was there, because I could trust her judgement on when my child needed an inhaler and when she did not. When I was working, I fielded a few really frightening asthma attacks from other kids—and, again, having the…

Yes. They are not required... but most do. For asthma and allergic reactions alone this seems like a damn no brainer.

I don’t really drink milk, except in my coffee. But I eat a lot of cheese and yogurt. And my husband drinks milk. And my nine year old drinks a LOT of milk.

No. Religion can certainly be used as a reason to oppress women. But not all religions are used that way, and not all sects of any religion demand that women be oppressed. Within every religion, you’ll find humanists working to help people—all people—and people working against the more tribal and brutal doctrines that…

I know you are young, which is what I suspected, and while it is laudable that you like feminism, your knee-jerk simplification of all religions into “patriarchy,” and all reproduction into, “women oppressed by men,” is not very useful.

I am not at all interested in your story. I am interested in pointing out to you that throwing around blanket statements about the patriarchy and oppression because you read a few essays is not that helpful.

I would like to know when in your life you have been required to provide men with children? Has that happened to you?

Having children is not supporting a “patriarchal ideology.” You are not a child bride of Isis in Alleppo. No one is making you breed.

It was relatively funny, Joanna. Not amazingly funny, but a little funny.

That’s the party line, but that does fuck all to help actual women.

Zhe seems to want all of history to acquiesce as well.

Also, many apologies for the phone typing of this post. I edited it... But it did not work.

How are you defining your patriarchy? Are you one of this same dreary people arguing for a whole bunch of gender rights that don’t address birth control, pap smears, breast exams, prenatal care and child care?

Rest assured, you are no judge.

Sure. I would think they’d have to have a whole ton of foster kids though.

All of history is a choose someone’s adventure. If you want to get upset about choices in the fourteenth century not being in sync with yours, I have a tiny viola da gamba for you to play.

Anyone should be able to be a feminist. It is not a special, unicorn sparkley club.

No religion needs to be taken as gospel by its root. All are open to interpretation—and are interpreted, endlessly, according to the historic norms of the day. Way back when, there was a time when Islam was relatively progressive, in advocating for women to be educated, as an example. If you throw out the birth…

Huh. Do you think there are Catholic feminists?

At times I received some help here and there. A month’s deposit on an apartment when I had an emergency move. A computer for Christmas once.