In 2004, at eighteen, I was blissfully unaware of the political landscape. My world revolved around parties, pretentious VHS tapes, and the fleeting joys of youth. The presidential election, a choice between two white men in suits, felt distant and irrelevant. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
We all have that issue that awakens us to the urgency of political engagement. For some, it’s the climate crisis tearing apart their homes. For others, the crushing weight of student loan debt. For me, it was the betrayal of my own body – a journey that unveiled the interconnectedness of societal injustices.
The US healthcare system is a stark testament to this interconnectedness. It is the intersection where every form of inequality converges. My personal experience with endometriosis and chronic pain, documented extensively in this magazine, has been a painful odyssey through the medical industrial complex. From endless cycles of misdiagnosis to emergency room visits across the country, my journey was marred by a pervasive disregard for my pain and autonomy.
I encountered countless men – established doctors, interns, anesthesiologists – who treated my body with indifference. My period was explained to me as if I were a fifth-grader, my pain dismissed with skepticism, and my body treated as a faulty engine rather than a human being.
The stark contrast between the urology ward, adorned with wood paneling and flat-screen TVs thanks to a wealthy donor, and the dilapidated obstetrics and gynecology wing, with its peeling walls and limited television channels, highlighted the systemic disparities within healthcare. It made me acutely aware of the privilege that allowed me access to better care, a privilege not afforded to countless women across the country.
This experience, coupled with the overwhelming evidence of healthcare disparities based on gender, race, and socioeconomic status, led me to a profound understanding: our bodies are the battleground. The fight for bodily autonomy, for access to healthcare, for a future where all people are valued and cared for, is inextricably linked to the political landscape.
The statistics speak for themselves: $110 million allocated to prostate cancer research versus $51.6 million for cervical cancer, $45 million for ovarian cancer, and a paltry $16 million for endometriosis. These figures highlight a disturbing lack of investment in women’s health, while the lack of transparent data on trans health research underscores the continued invisibility of this community.
It is not just a matter of funding. It is about access, about legal rights, about the power dynamics that dictate who gets to live and who gets to thrive. The Dobbs ruling, the systematic underfunding of women’s health research, the pervasive bias within the medical system, all point to a nation run by men who prioritize their own values, often to the detriment of women and marginalized groups.
This is why voting matters. This is why electing leaders who understand the complexities of healthcare inequities, who prioritize the well-being of all people, is essential. Kamala Harris’s candidacy offers a glimmer of hope. Her commitment to reproductive rights, her promise to make healthcare subsidies permanent, and her understanding of the systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities are encouraging signs.
While her policies on trans healthcare require further clarity, her commitment to fighting for all women, regardless of gender identity, is crucial. We need leaders who will hear the voices of cis women who demand inclusivity and who recognize the urgency of providing gender-affirming care.
This election goes beyond abortion rights. It is a referendum on the future of our nation, on the value of our lives, on the right to bodily autonomy and the pursuit of well-being. We must elect leaders who will fight for a future where our bodies are not battlegrounds, but vessels of strength, resilience, and hope.
I implore young voters to heed my call and participate in this crucial election. You are the future, and your voices, your actions, your vote, are essential to shaping a brighter future for all.
