“Unfortunate conversations”: A report from the South

Here is a report from an observer in the South.

I had some unfortunate conversations with some young women predominantly that were terrifying. They are all in on anti-reproductive rights (meaning they don’t care or think it’s perfect okay to take their rights away), are so racist about Kamala Harris it’s very scary, and they and their partners are filled with rage and think the Democrats are the dark and dangerous and Trump is the sunlight. It was very disturbing and scary.

I’ll give you some demographics. 6-8 of them, either married or partners and some with young children, Late 20s/ Early 30s. High school graduates or GED, others with specific trainings from mechanical to healthcare. One or two with education. Some originally from Northeast; now in the in the South. Pot, alcohol, guns etc. Entitled but very angry yet mostly unwilling or unable to make the sacrifices and efforts to get ahead. Spendthrift yet unable to pay bills and borrow from their parents or others.

The conversation developed because I knew one of the young women and was very concerned for months what I saw in her feed. Knowing some of her health situations I just wanted to make sure she knew the views she was espousing would harm her, specifically if reproductive health went wrong. I can’t even tell you what came next but it wasn’t good and I ended up blocking people. I had always been hesitant to say anything to her but have been more concerned over time. She and another person were asking if someone could show them one good thing about Kamala Harris. I know now that is actually a dog whistle some of them use to pile on Democrats or anyone not in the cult, and is not a genuine question, as others not in the conservation joined in and were in sync. I left the conversation because it was concerning and a tad violent. Blocked all but the one person I knew.

I should also add they are deeply deeply steeped in misinformation and probably would not know how to find actual information anywhere. Very much down the rabbit hole, a little on this the patriarchy/ misogyny/ violence line, even the women. Cruelty mixed with laughter. Not a good combination.

I asked for an explanation of this mode of thought. 

I think entitlement and poor parenting, bad role models and low self esteem are part of it. However, I feel the young women are taking on the yper male tough guy racist $ immigrant hating misogynistic viewpoints of their husbands, who are following the Donald Trump “abuse somen to wealth and world domination” model with a healthy helping of JD Vance “you are only useful as a child bearing” model with a little bit of the DeSantis model of “schools are making your kids transgender”. But sadly they are the yunger representation of the older Trump voters, and very racist (hence hatred and minimizing Kamala) and adopting the attitud that women can’t be strong and independent equals. Kind of mind mlowing from my viewpoint of how hard women have worked to make any inroads to rights and successes in this country, and heartbreak for women who are more oppressed in other countries.

One further thing that is shocking to me is some of the young women I was communicating with felt that part of it was religious- they didn’t want to kill “life” but couldn’t distinguish that between what could go wrong, even after a birth if a placenta isn’t fully removed: it can cause sepsis requiring a D &C to remove it which is considered a “banned abortive technique “ which will not be performed in an abortion ban state. One young woman has already died as a result of that. The fact that they can’t distinguish between how aspects of what is called “abortion care” is just plain old simple “healthcare” and very often “emergency healthcare” is what is concerning to me. Lack of education or indoctrination?