A new book was just released called “Nasty Women: Feminism, Resistance, and Revolution in Trump’s America,” a collection of essay’s written by empowered women speaking out against life in Trumpland.
One of the essays was written by Chicago writer Sarah Hollenback titled “As Long As It’s Healthy.” Sarah suffers from Moebius syndrome, a rare disorder that causes partial paralysis to certain areas of her face. The vignette is a deep unapologetic look at our country told through the point of view of someone who feels threatened because of our current President.
Sarah is co-owner of Chicago’s Women & Children First bookstore and in her essay, she struggles on whether or not she should have a baby with her husband, in fear that her disease won’t allow her body to act normally.
When Sarah witnessed Donald Trump mocking disabled New York Times reporter Serge Kovaleski for his congenital joint condition and then quickly rise to The White House, she lost hope. She saw cruelty being validated in the eyes of society and she feared bringing a child into this cruel world.
“I am furious when I think about all the black, brown, refugee, and queer babies, and the ‘unhealthy’ ones like me, like my sister, being born into a world that feels unequivocally less nice now than it was more than 30 years ago,” she said.
She spoke about her sense of responsibility toward the humans currently on the planet and worried about whether she should be responsible for one of her own. You could read an excerpt of her essay by clicking here.
Her excerpt is only one of many stories written by empowered women dubbed “Nasty Women,” in reference to Trump’s use of the term toward Hillary Clinton and more recently, the mayor of San Juan. A mayor who has been soldiering forth through the muck and trying to keep her ravaged island in control.
Women & Children First will be hosting a party with the “Nasty Women” themselves including Hollenbeck, Kate Harding and Samhita Mukhopadhyay and renown Chicago author Megan Stielstra. Providing the music will be Deejay Maggie Tomasek.
You can purchase tickets for the event on the Women & Children First site.
