This morning, my heart feels heavy. As we approach the 2024 election, we find ourselves at a crossroads where women’s healthcare, abortion rights, and democracy itself are on the ballot. It’s not just a question of policy; it’s an issue that could shape the lives and futures of every woman in this country. In many ways, the stakes have started to resemble a real-life Handmaid’s Tale, a stark and haunting vision of a world where women’s autonomy is systematically stripped away. What once seemed like fiction now feels like a cautionary tale echoing all around us.

In The Handmaid’s Tale, women’s bodies and lives are controlled by a state that values them only for their ability to bear children. They are stripped of their rights, forbidden from reading, working, and even speaking freely. They are seen not as individuals but as vessels for reproduction, denied agency, freedom, and dignity. Today, we are witnessing a disturbing push from leaders who envision a society that limits women’s choices, their freedoms, and even their basic rights. The ambitions of certain political forces echo this dystopian nightmare—policies that restrict access to abortion, limit women’s healthcare, and undermine our autonomy reflect a desire to revert us to a time when women were seen as second-class citizens.

The Republican Party’s vision, as we see it unfolding, is deadly and deeply harmful to women. Abortion bans that force women to carry unwanted or dangerous pregnancies to term echo the horrifying control exercised over women’s bodies in The Handmaid’s Tale. With restrictions on birth control and reproductive care, they are effectively saying that a woman’s purpose is not to thrive or achieve her own dreams but to produce children at all costs. They are saying that her value lies solely in her ability to fulfill a specific societal role. Policies like these rob women of the right to make decisions for their own health, safety, and lives.

The harm extends beyond reproductive rights. Consider the terrifying precedent set by some states that have discussed banning certain types of contraception and restricting educational resources about women’s health. Just as in The Handmaid’s Tale, knowledge is power, and when that knowledge is denied, people are left vulnerable, unable to understand or defend their rights. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a direct assault on our ability to live freely and safely in our own bodies.

The stakes are horrifyingly real. Voting for leaders who support restrictive and oppressive policies could pave the way for a world where women’s bodies are controlled, their voices silenced, and their freedoms obliterated. Imagine a future where our daughters and granddaughters are forced to carry pregnancies they didn’t choose, where women die from preventable medical conditions, and where anyone who challenges these decisions is punished. This isn’t a future we should accept, and it’s not one we can risk.

Men, We Need You With Us. This isn’t just a fight for women—it’s a fight for the world we all share. Women’s rights impact families, communities, and the future we’re building together. Men, think of the women you love—your wives, daughters, sisters, friends. If we allow these freedoms to be stripped away, we risk a future where these women are reduced to roles they did not choose, controlled by policies that don’t protect them. This fight needs all of us. We need allies who understand that equality and respect are not negotiable. This is the time to stand with the women in your life, to show up, speak out, and vote for their right to be free, respected, and equal.

Imagine being surrounded by women who not only celebrate your wins but help you create them. That’s the power of our sisterhood—a community where dreams become realities through collaboration, shared wisdom, and unwavering support. Together, we can hold strong against those who would limit us, diminish us, or control us.

A Few Questions for Reflection:

•What could you achieve with the support of a powerful community of women and allies?

•How would your life change if you had Sisters and supporters by your side, helping you protect your rights, grow your dreams, and balance it all with personal growth?

•What dreams have you been holding back that a supportive sisterhood could help you bring to life?

If your heart is saying, “Yes, I’m ready,” then let’s take the next step. Let’s make our voices heard. Let’s rise, vote, and support each other as we shape a future of freedom, dignity, and equality for all women. Together, with allies by our side, we can create a future that refuses to see women as property, but as powerful, respected, and equal voices in society.

This is our moment to be heard, to rise up, and to protect not just our rights but the rights of every woman who comes after us. This is our time to keep moving forward, together. 💪🏾

With gratitude, love, strength, and sisterhood,

Felicia Ray Owens