Unite Against the War on Women March April 28 PA Coordinator Lynn Thomas Guidetti Interview By Anne Enke

Anne of Carversville introduces friends to the three women behind April 28th’s Unite Against the War on Women march for Pennsylvania: Amy Gould Caraballo, Nicole Turman and Lynn Thomas Guidetti.

Anne, along with other Pa citizens, has joined forces with these three busy moms who have strong views about what’s happening to the women of Pennsylvania at the hands of Republican legislators.

Today we introduce our third ‘partner’ in PA, the trio that Anne now calls the T’s: Lynn Thomas Guidetti.

Furious over this nationwide assault on women’s bodies,  we want to humanize the pro-woman voices who support women’s rights. Limbaugh calls us ‘feminazis’. But who are we really? Are what are we doing to each other — woman to woman.

After you’ve finished reading Lynn Thomas Guidetti’s interview with Anne, meet previously published Amy Gould Caraballo, and Anne’s interview with Nicole Turman. Then check in at the Unite Against the War on Women national Facebook page and Unite Women’s new website. Follow on Twitter as @NatlWOW.

In Pennsylvania, link here for April 28th’s Unite Against the War on Women Harrisburg march.

Pa Press | If you are a member of the Pa press, Anne is happy to talk to you in her role as media liaison for the Pennsylvania march. Contact her here.

(Anne) Did you know each other before joining forces to organize the We Are Women March - Pennsylvania?

(Lynn) I knew Amy from a mailing list focused on improving children’s health. I did not know Nicole before she joined our group. Amy and Nicole knew each other. And I think it’s great how well we work together.

Do you have a history of being a women’s rights activist? Was feminism a word in your vocabulary growing up? What is your background and relationship with women’s rights issues?

Not really - I don’t have a background in this at all. I have always been an independent woman, but I was fairly young when the last generation was fighting for abortion rights, and was not a part of the movement. 

I’m constantly told that I can’t possibly be a feminist? I like sex and men. Could you define feminism for yourself?

Anyone who doesn’t get that feminism has nothing to do with the act of sex is an idiot. And I’m not particularly philosophical about feminism. I have my own mind, and I make my own choices. I am not chattel. And I would just love to be respected and taken seriously, without having to get pissed off and fight for that respect. Maybe we need a women are persons, too, amendment.

I have a better question for you, Anne. Have you ever Googled “what does feminism mean to you”? Do it. You will be appalled by some of the answers you read, especially the ones on answers.yahoo.com.

These are just plain scary REAL kids who REALLY think this stuff. They REALLY believe this stuff and are SO uninformed as young women. Frankly, they are clueless that they are losing ALL their rights as American females.

I am more concerned that they understand ‘feminism’ than what ‘I’ think.

Do you have any opinions on why feminism has struggled to achieve legitimacy in America?

More men in power positions than women; men in power have more money than women. The consequences are obvious.

Another thing, we a situation in the rural areas, where people are basically proud to be ignorant. It’s an atittude I’ve never seen anywhere else, and as a matter of fact, Santorum is playing on a form of it in his campaign.

Santorum finds crowds of these people and talks about education — college — being elitist. And ignorant people are generally not feminist because they don’t understand the ideology; and no one’s ever REALLY explained it to them.

Many of these people are just afraid of learning, and get defensive about it, fearing that they might that they will find out they’ve been wrong all the time. It reminds me of Catholics not wanting to face the truth about rogue priests.

Do you have children? Do you work with children or young women?

Both. I have a son. I do work with with kids as a music teacher, both boys and girls as old as high school.

Was there a specific trigger that brought you to the national Unite Against the War on Women campaign?

It wasn’t one thing but rather a pile that broke the camel’s back. Just the idea of a transvaginal probe (TVP) or an ultrasound photo sends chills up my spine. Many young girls already have negative experiences with sex and sexual issues, and the major lack of respect towards women in the media doesn’t help.

What the hell do doctors think something like a TVP is going to do to them? I had a horrible experience with a male gynecologist when I was 16, and I never went to a male gyn again. In addition, I was laid off when I became pregnant. Is it any wonder many women resent men?

Did you have grassroots organizing experience before leading this Pa effort? What gave you the confidence that you could pull off this march on April 28?

Experience? Not in grassroots activism. I did work on Hillary Clinton’s campaign in 2007/08 and I really enjoyed it. When I volunteered for this, I thought I was volunteering to help run the group’. LOL … little did I know what I was getting into!!!!! But I am a teacher; I teach band, where organizing is a prerequisite.

Are people eager to get involved?

Some are thrilled, some just want to carry a sign and march. That’s ok, too— but we still need help DOING stuff!

Are there frustrations in this new effort?

Yes. Getting people to volunteer to help do the work. There is a lot to do — people think “oh, we’ll just all get together and march” — but there is a LOT more to organizing a rally than that. 

People are very passionate about the issues, so we have to tread carefully. Also there is a tendency for some to micromanage, which is definitely a problem when people are competent.

Do you believe that women’s rights are under assault in Pa more so than in previous years? Haven’t certain segments of American society always objected to women’s rights? Are the issues really worse in terms of women’s rights?

As a rule, Pennsylvania is a weird animal, and you never know what will come up. The latest legislation could be anti-women, or it might be something else. Whoever described the state as Alabama between two cities Philadelphia and Pittsburgh was totally right.

Today nothing is safe in PA from the Corbett hatchet if it costs money. It’s not just women’s rights here in PA. This Republican government is preying on anyone who is weak and vulnerable.

What Corbett is doing is a total lie from what he said when running for office, especially with services for the disabled. Anything that costs money — including abortions, birth control, services for the disabled, public education — is fair game to the Republicans. Heaven forbid they tax Marcellus Shale.

What forces are driving these changes for Pa women?

The last election focused on ousting the incumbents — basically causing Pennsylvanians to shoot themselves in the proverbial foot. The biggest forces are the People with Money. PA is loaded with rich Republicans. In typical Republican form, it’s easy to take advantage of the weak and vulnerable. You know that, Anne. These people don’t know how to fight back.

All the good Dems who were ousted — including our rep, the first guy who had actually DONE anything for our area in 40 years — now have no chance to help.

If you look five years into the future for Pa women, what potential changes loom very large in your minds?

It will depend if women really get over their fears and band together, or if the Tea Party takes hold here in a big way. And that could definitely happen. But it could also go the other way. If you have ever had a mind to run for office, ladies, DO IT NOW!!!

If you had one piece of advice for moderate and Independent Pa voters on the subject of women’s futures in the state what would it be? Is it the same for Republican and Democratic women? What do you say to men voters?

I think I would rather speak to the young women in their 20s and younger. (Everyone else can listen in if they really like.) Young women for the most part have no idea at all what previous generations of women went through to get the rights we do have. They take them for granted, because to them, life for women has always been this way.

Women have fought so hard so that it is NOT illegal in PA to have an abortion, and YOU have a CHOICE. You do NOT want to have to die from an ectopic pregnancy because of a personhood amendment. You do NOT want your daughter to have a coat hanger abortion because she was raped and is so traumatized she cannot bear the thought of having the rapist’s child.

If you think we can’t go back to those days, think again. Believe what I’m telling you. If this reality check doesn’t change the minds of moderates, Independents, and men, they will get a real wakeup call when life trauma happens to their kids.

What can Pa women and men do to support Unite Against the War on Women?

Join us in Harrisburgh on Saturday April 28^th . Ask us what you can do to help! And please take on a task! Tell your friends, you family. If you can’t be there, you can still join our website and learn more about what you can do. We are building a movement and organization to operate after April 28, so don’t stay away because you can’t make the march.

Motivating people to arrive in Harrisburg on Saturday, April 28 is no easy task. What’s your pep talk to get Pennsylvanians moving?

I think the topics of TVP amd birth control are SO publicized now, that once people find out about the marches, they will ALL want to come. I know some will want to go to DC, but it’s what happens in PA that is going to be relevant to THEM. This ia a PA problem! So if you want to show OUR PA government you aren’t happy, come to Harrisburg on the 28th! P.S. We hope to have a few surprises for them, too!

Meet Amy Gould Caraballo, Nicole Turman and Lynn Thomas Guidetti — and Anne — at April 28th’s Unite Against the War on Women Harrisburg march. On Monday, we introduce Lynn Thomas Guidetti.