Feminists

I returned to the US in 1970 after living and working in Morocco for six years. I had experiences similar to these womens' in my own country even then. While I was fortunate never to have had the need or desire for an abortion, in those pre-Roe v Wade days, PP was under threat merely for dispensing birth control.

In many ways, Morocco's women - especially professional women (and there were indeed many women professionals there - even at the time) - had more advantages than women in the US then. For example, if I, a female secondary school teacher, got pregnant in the US, I would have to resign my post after the 5th month of pregnancy, with NO guarantee whatsoever that I would be rehired after the baby was born. Not only could a Moroccan counterpart keep her position, she was given paid leave for up to three months, all her maternity health care costs were covered, her husband had paternity leave benefits, and her job would be held open for her. In fact, she could even continue to have time off to breastfeed her child after she returned to work.

In Morocco even then, birth control methods were not only legal, but covered by health insurance. If a woman desired a pregnancy termination, she could obtain one legally and safely - although the overwhelming majority did not elect that option. The majority of those who did so opted for termination where their own health was concerned or when the fetus was already at risk in some way.

It wasn't until about 1973 that women in the US public school where I taught could wear pantsuits to school. Dresses or skirts were required unless there was a waiver for some special occasion.

We've come a long way since, but we still lag behind other countries in the industrialized world - and even some countries in the developing world - insofar as women's rights are concerned. Unfortunately, too many today who never experienced those days - or have managed selectively to forget them - do not understand how hard so many had to work to get us even where we are.

Many of those who were tireless campaigners for women's rights were not able to experience the fruits of their labor. But I, for one, will never forget them. Ever.