Dear GOP: Will You Help Me Raise My Baby?

Dear GOP,

My name is Claire, Lilly Ledbetter’s friend. I’m 24 and work in a male dominated profession. I just found out I’m pregnant and know that if I vote for your party, there’s a great chance that abortions will be banned in my state.

I suppose you want me to vote for you and that’s why I’m writing. I know you want me to agree to saying “no” to an abortion but I struggle with that.

A big part of my struggle is related to the disparity in wages between my male colleagues and me and I know I’m not alone.  You see, in an ideal world, if I were to say “no” to an abortion, I would be left with the responsibility of raising the child. That means diapers, child care, nutritious food, car seats, doctor’s visits, taking unpaid days off when the baby is sick, and of course, saving for the future.

Perhaps you think that I should’ve thought of all of that before I got pregnant. Just so you know, I was on birth control at the time but something went wrong. That said, I’m a responsible person and want to do the right thing.

I would gladly agree to no abortion, but first I need equal pay. Equal pay would allow me to financially care for this child in a responsible way. Although you say you won’t repeal the Lilly Ledbetter Act, you didn’t support it while it made its way through Congress.

Equal pay and reproductive health care go hand in hand for me – they’re core concerns for me because they affect my daily life.

All in all, I’m a little confused about what you truly stand for. There’s a part of me that wonders if you would like all women to be stay at home moms raising children the traditional way? If that’s the case, you’ll still have me to deal with: unemployed, single and raising a child.

Sincerely,

Claire.