The United States was founded on three main principles: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, these main principles were certainly not a reality for everyone, as many political movements have had to take place to get to where the nation is today. Moreover, taking a look at this nation’s history, it is evident that not all women were truly entitled to these concepts, as they struggled to have their voices heard on issues that they truly cared about. With that, I am proud to call myself a conservative woman because it means I can take part in the continuation of change until many of the injustices that go against the foundation of our nation are eradicated.
As a conservative woman, I am able to promote a culture of life within my nation, specifically through the pro-life movement. This movement is close to my heart, not only because it depicts a crucial aspect of my Christian faith, but also because I understand the fact that if humanity is to progress, every human life needs to be recognized for its full dignity, from the moment of conception until natural death. However, the liberal world tells us that when conservative women share pro-life beliefs, they are “unsupportive of women” in their right to choose. But, I propose, isn’t it “unsupportive of women” to expect all women to hold a uniform set of political ideas? Having the common liberal mentality ironically eliminates as sense of liberty within our country, this freedom to actually stay firm in our own political beliefs! Moreover, if it were not for the conservatism instilled into my heart from a young age, then the many opportunities for change that I’ve been presented with, such as taking part in the annual March for Life in Washington D.C, would have never become a reality, as I would not have believed that it was okay to take action with my own beliefs. Furthermore, my conservative values have encouraged me in taking a stance against the culture of death, emulating to others that their own lives crucially deserve to be lived to the fullest, and that it is vital to stand up for what one believes in.
The pride I hold in being a conservative woman in the world today goes against much of how our predominately liberal society tells me how to act. Our society tries to convince me that it is better to jump to conclusions about worldly solutions that may sound beneficial for the nation at the time, without thinking through any possible negative outcomes. Our society tries to convince me to accept whatever the media hashes out to the public, without discerning if the source of information was biased or not. Our society tries to convince me that injustice is a product of the government not fully supporting an individual, and that it is better to completely dependent upon others rather than strive to reach one’s own full potential. Well, I suppose I disagree with society! As a conservative woman, I am aware that every human is capable of great achievement, through matters such as hard work, firm values, and integrity. With these concepts in my mind, my sense of conservatism keeps me rooted, like a house made of stone, ready to withstand all of the world’s harsh forces that come slamming at my door.
The idea of being a conservative woman may seem like an oxymoron to some, but I find that women like myself are a necessary part in this culture of change. Take, for example, Jeannette Rankin, who was the first woman ever elected to Congress and a leader in the women’s suffrage movement. As a conservative, she recognized that in order for the nation to progress, a greater sense of independence and equality were necessary between both sexes, saying, “Men and women are like right and left hands; it doesn’t make sense not to use both”. On that note, being a conservative does not mean that we are anti-feminist, but quite the contrary! Our beliefs coincide with building women up rather than tearing each other apart. More and more conservative women have been “running the show” in this nation, constantly fighting for great causes, such as closing the wage gap, while utilizing leadership qualities that their motherly instincts have instilled in them. With that, who’s not to say that women can’t make an impact?
In the end, I am proud of my role as a conservative woman in our world today because it signifies to others the importance of standing up for one’s beliefs, even if their ideals are not the popular opinion. This conservative movement can also provoke a worldwide change in which the hearts and minds of individuals are transformed, leading to the shattering of stereotypes and an uprising of people longing to bring out the best in others. As a conservative woman, I have the wondrous gift of raising my voice to express my true beliefs, encouraging others to do the same.
