Mother and Daughter Dynamic Duo: Fighting For Women ’s Health Equality

This essay was first published on MsMagazine.com.
For decades, my mom and I have been a dynamic duo using the arts to creatively fight for women’s rights. And now we are using the arts to fight for my life.
In the ’60-70s, during the burgeoning “Women’s Liberation Movement,” my mother, Bobbi Ausubel, co-wrote America’s first feminist play, How to Make a Woman. After each performance, cutting edge and ruckus consciousness raising groups helped women and men grapple with just how much gender roles dictated their lives.
As a little girl, I couldn’t care less. I played with my toys under the adults’ chairs, impatiently waiting for my parents so we could finally go home. Such was the life of a child of early feminist leaders.
Yet the women’s empowerment message sank in. As an adult, I published a collection of true tales of women’s bold deeds and brazen acts. Then, my mother and I jointly adapted my book for the stage, which resulted in over 1000 events — theatrical productions and open mikes — where audiences shared their own real-life stories of courage.
But now my mom and I have a new focus: we are fighting for me to get my life back. And once again our work involves a cutting-edge women’s issue.
I have ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis), a devastating, chronic neuro-immune disease that disables up to 2.5 million Americans, 17-20 million worldwide, a majority of whom are women. The disease is so debilitating, ...

Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care - June 8, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: dw at disruptivewomen.net Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs