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Organized Religion Has Been Oppressing Women For Centuries – The Faithless Feminist
On June 30th, 2014, The United States Supreme Court, in the case Burwell vs. Hobby Lobby, decided that corporations could have religious beliefs. In doing so the court struck down the contraceptive mandate included in the Affordable Care Act. Unknowingly, they also sparked the rage of one tough Oregon lady: Karen Garst, The Faithless Feminist.
Garst, PhD from Sherwood, Oregon, first expressed her anger. “Haven’t we already fought and won women’s rights to birth control? Why is the Supreme Court taking these rights away now?” She also began to wonder what had happened to the doctrine of the separation of church and state. The Supreme Court decision stated that because Hobby Lobby had “religious objections” to providing certain forms of birth control under the Affordable Care Act, it was not required to provide such insurance coverage for its female employees.
“No one is obligated to start a business. But if they do, they should have to abide by the laws… all of the laws,” stated Garst. “If a company’s owners object to providing food stamps, should they be able to refuse to pay the taxes associated with it? Of course not, that’s absurd,” she added.
However, she did more than just get angry. Garst also took action. She decided to write about the barriers religion has erected that prevent women from attaining full gender equality. She created a blog, www.faithlessfeminist.com, to reach out to like-minded women everywhere. She created a Facebook page, a YouTube Channel, and a Twitter account. Not satisfied, she also assembled a group of 17 women who have written deeply personal essays about their journeys away from religion.
The Faithless Feminist is well qualified to write on these issues. She holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin and has held several executive positions: Field Representative for the Oregon Federation of Teachers, executive director of the Oregon Community College Association, and executive director of the Oregon State Bar. “Each of these positions has afforded me the opportunity to advocate in the public sphere: for school employees, for students eager for a college education, and for access to legal services for low-income Oregonians.”
Dr. Garst is available for speaking engagements, writing assignments, and interviews. For more information contact Karen Garst by phone at 503-701-8911 or on http://faithlessfeminist.com
Release ID: 93179