Who knew that saying the "V" word (dare I say it? Vagina!) would get a woman silenced in a legislative forum? This past week, Michigan State Representative Lisa Brown spoke up about dramatic mandates restricting women's rights and their ability to get an abortion in Michigan, and was silenced when she stated: "I'm flattered you're all so interested in my vagina. But no means no." 

According to the Detroit Free Press, the House bill passed a 70-39 vote, with "sweeping new regulations and insurance requirements for abortion providers; makes it a crime to coerce a woman into having an abortion, and regulates the disposal of fetal remains. It won't be taken up in the state Senate until at least September."

Did Representative Brown have a history of speaking out of line or saying "controversial" comments on the house floor? No. She simply spoke up about her female anatomy, the very thing that the majority-male legislature had no problem controlling (but clearly had a problem hearing about when the actual "V" word uncomfortably pierced the air around them). 

If you are a woman and reading this right now, you should seriously consider getting politically involved on a local, state and national level in the United States. At this moment, we have an increasing number of states cracking down on women's rights to equal pay, health care, rights involving rape or domestic abuse situations, and the list goes on. Considering the fact that women make up the majority of the nation's population today, there should be no reason why their rights are under attack on such a massive scale. 

Stand proud while you wield the power of a "V" word that will affect who has a right to legislate over you and your body: VOTE. 

-Written by: Cafe Belle's Society and Culture Barista