1 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: Good morning, peeps, and welcome to wige F Daily. We 2 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 1: meet your girl, Danielle Moody. Recording from the Rhode Island Bunker. 3 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:22,440 Speaker 1: I am bundled up because it is damp and cold 4 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 1: as I record this, friends, I'm really excited to bring 5 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:34,159 Speaker 1: to you today an episode with Joanna Jojoe Sweat. She 6 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: is a retired former marine and it is an advocate 7 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:47,160 Speaker 1: for women's reproductive rights and health as it pertains to military. 8 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: In this interview, I became so enlightened by the issues 9 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: that obviously we have been fighting for in the United States, 10 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:03,520 Speaker 1: as it pertains to the overturning of Rob Wade, access 11 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 1: to healthcare, and that meaning all forms of reproductive healthcare. 12 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 1: And I will tell you, as I told Joanna, it 13 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: did not occur to me that as we are marching, 14 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 1: as we are fighting and working on legislation to try 15 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 1: and secure a pathway to reproductive health for women, it 16 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: didn't occur to me what women in the military are 17 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: facing and how egregious their treatment is. Joanna will illuminate 18 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:43,400 Speaker 1: the fact that women who are active in the military 19 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 1: have to pay for their own feminine hygiene products that 20 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: if you were to let's say fall ill because of 21 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 1: you know, broken bones, or you had let's say appendicitis, 22 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 1: or or some cause of bodily harm due to war. 23 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:08,399 Speaker 1: You're treated right on the base, right and then you're 24 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 1: sent to a top notch hospital. If in fact you 25 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:19,519 Speaker 1: need an abortion, you have to pay for that yourself 26 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: and find a way to get that care if in 27 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 1: fact you're in a country that does not provide access 28 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: to abortion. We talk and touch upon the issues of 29 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 1: rape within the military, which we know that Senator Krisen 30 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 1: and Gillibrand this has been something that she has been 31 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 1: advocating and championing for quite some time, which is the 32 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 1: order in which women have to report cases of sexual 33 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 1: violence and then are doing so to people who they 34 00:02:57,280 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: report to. Do you know what I'm saying, Like, so, 35 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:02,919 Speaker 1: there is no safe space, There is no safe space, 36 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:05,920 Speaker 1: and there's no protection for women in any forms of 37 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 1: care that they may need, whether it is requiring an abortion, 38 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 1: whether it is proper reproductive healthcare as it pertains to 39 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 1: birth control pills, feminine hygiene products, any of these things. 40 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 1: These women are out fighting for America liberty and democracy, 41 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 1: and we can even cover their basic fucking needs. So 42 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 1: this interview was very illuminating and shocking to me. I'll 43 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 1: ask Joanna at the end of the interview, what is 44 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 1: it that people who are not active military can do 45 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 1: in order to advocate on behalf of our women's service members, 46 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: and she'll provide that answer. Folks. I'm very excited to 47 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 1: be joined on woke F Daily today by Joanna Jojo Sweat, 48 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: who is a Marine Corps of veteran, an advocate and activist, 49 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 1: an organizer, and is the co founder of Arizona That's 50 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 1: Forward and it is the national organizing director for Common Defense. Joanna, 51 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: I read your peace an NBC think that you wrote 52 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:21,280 Speaker 1: last year after the overturning of Roe V. Wade, and 53 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:24,560 Speaker 1: I got to tell you that I was so appreciative 54 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:29,040 Speaker 1: for it because I had not thought about because I 55 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:33,720 Speaker 1: am not I don't have family that are active military. 56 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 1: I've never been in the military myself. And when we 57 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:41,599 Speaker 1: think about what the repercussions are for the overturning of 58 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 1: Roe V. Wade, for just the treatment of you know, 59 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 1: of women and reproductive health in this country, I never 60 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 1: thought about the impacts of women in the military, and 61 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: you know, just to read your piece and just I 62 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: want to lift up a couple of points for folks, 63 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: that women have to pay for their own sanitary products, 64 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:10,599 Speaker 1: their own feminine hygiene products, which I just think is outrageous. 65 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 1: The fact that you know you could be out, as 66 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:16,600 Speaker 1: you would mentioned in in your piece, in the field 67 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 1: for hours upon hours without the ability to be able 68 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: to again care for your your mentional cycle in any 69 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: type of way. And the fact that you know you 70 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:35,920 Speaker 1: have access to one type of birth control pill, and 71 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:39,840 Speaker 1: what if that doesn't work for you? Right, So, I 72 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:42,840 Speaker 1: wanted to give you an opportunity to talk, you know, 73 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:49,160 Speaker 1: in more detail about what women in the military have 74 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 1: faced and are facing, and how this heinous Supreme Court 75 00:05:54,920 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 1: decision that came down last year affects you all who 76 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: are doing the Lord's work and trying to defend our 77 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 1: country and our democracy and our freedom that you clearly 78 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:17,159 Speaker 1: don't have. Absolutely. I was floored when the Supreme Court 79 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 1: came down with that decision, and I didn't know what 80 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:27,160 Speaker 1: else to do. Right, You know, you yell online, you 81 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 1: can just get really angry and frustrated and feel stuck. 82 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 1: And for me, writing has always been cathartic. I'd like 83 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:43,720 Speaker 1: to call myself a writer. I'm attempting attempting at least, 84 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:47,719 Speaker 1: And so sitting down to write that article, I wanted 85 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:52,480 Speaker 1: to think about things from my past from when I served, 86 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 1: how that affects the women that are serving now, and 87 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 1: even the women who are in transition, who are exiting 88 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:03,799 Speaker 1: from the service and going back to the civilian world. 89 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 1: And why I'm so worried about them. It's because we 90 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 1: are already a population that is treated less than right. 91 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: We came into the military in full force because they 92 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:23,240 Speaker 1: needed us. It was essential for us to be as 93 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 1: a country having the military readiness that we needed and 94 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: not having enough folks volunteering and so opening up the 95 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 1: rents to women. Back when I joined in the nineties, 96 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 1: they opened up a lot of the support of combat 97 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:45,280 Speaker 1: role jobs for women that hadn't ordinarily been previously allowed 98 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 1: to serve in. So like somebody like me, I came 99 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 1: in in communications. I was a radio operator, and there 100 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 1: were a lot of units before that I couldn't go to, 101 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 1: and that slowly changed over time where you're deploying and 102 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 1: being used as a radio operator, even with an all 103 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 1: male unit that's going out to do whatever mission that is. 104 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: And so sitting down to write that article, It made 105 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 1: me realize how how even more tragic yes decision is 106 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 1: because it compromises our military readiness. It compromises the women 107 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: who have made the sacrifice sign that blank check to 108 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 1: the United States and said that I will serve this 109 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:38,720 Speaker 1: country and that first engagement and the service, you really 110 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 1: understand like that you're just a body that belongs to 111 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 1: the service. Right, so when you go to boot camp, 112 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:52,400 Speaker 1: you get inoculated with all your immunizations, right, oh yeah, yeah, 113 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: it happens in the service to include your COVID back. Yes, 114 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:02,079 Speaker 1: and that's been happening since the beginning of time. And 115 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 1: then on top of that, for women, we go through 116 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:07,680 Speaker 1: where they're just they hand out the birth control pills 117 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:12,560 Speaker 1: while you're at recruit training for you know, thirteen some 118 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: weeks not engaging in sexual activity. But it's almost like 119 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 1: conditioning your body a to not get pregnant, and then 120 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 1: just in case you have access to get pregnant, you 121 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:30,320 Speaker 1: don't get pregnant. But it just to me, creates this 122 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 1: cycle that you know, your body doesn't belong to you, 123 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:38,680 Speaker 1: it belongs to us, and whatever we want to put 124 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 1: in it is what we're going to put in it. Now. 125 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 1: Once you leave recruit training. You have access to services, 126 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 1: a primary care doctor and whatnot. But generally you're going 127 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:51,679 Speaker 1: to get like an ied, you're going to get a 128 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:56,199 Speaker 1: pill option, and there's some other ones I think that 129 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 1: they've come out with that they've given but then decided 130 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 1: not to provide anymore because of the complications. And so 131 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 1: that administering of your birth control doesn't include a lot 132 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 1: of conversation about how you want to impact your reproductive 133 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 1: health long term. Right, So maybe you don't want to 134 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 1: have babies now while you're in the service, but if 135 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 1: you're going to have babies later, your service is going 136 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:29,080 Speaker 1: to affect that. Right. I'm a Vietnam or a child. 137 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:33,960 Speaker 1: I have health conditions derived from my father who served 138 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 1: in Vietnam and was exposed to agent Orange. So it 139 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:42,320 Speaker 1: just doesn't start with me entering this service, right, But 140 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 1: nobody has that conversation about my previous health conditions, my 141 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:51,719 Speaker 1: current health issues, and potentially what the feature would look 142 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:53,680 Speaker 1: like for me if I want to have a child. 143 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: And so that's a very haphazard process you're going through. 144 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:04,079 Speaker 1: Like the naval hospitals, it doesn't come with great bedside manner. 145 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:08,320 Speaker 1: You know, your primary care physician almost feels like somebody 146 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:12,319 Speaker 1: who is also a supervisor over you because they're an officer, 147 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 1: they have that authority. You're enlisted, and so it's very 148 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 1: difficult to have that conversation. And my sisters and friends 149 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:25,959 Speaker 1: who still serve in the service, you know, get excited 150 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 1: when they get a primary care provider that actually looks 151 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:34,960 Speaker 1: like them or is from their same culture, right because 152 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,720 Speaker 1: we know, especially as black women, we don't get the 153 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:43,679 Speaker 1: same care from providers as it is. So that's definitely 154 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:47,600 Speaker 1: going to translate in the service as well. And I 155 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:49,839 Speaker 1: can give you an example of kind of like the 156 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 1: rhetoric that you get in the service is that one 157 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:58,199 Speaker 1: of my best girlfriends who's still serving, Black woman and 158 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:03,880 Speaker 1: intelligence amazing marine, just made a Facebook post about how 159 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 1: excited she was to get a black PCM, a primary 160 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 1: care manager that was in the Navy that was assigned 161 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:14,480 Speaker 1: to her as her doctor that she could talk to 162 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:17,720 Speaker 1: about her mental health, her reproduction health, all the fact 163 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:20,720 Speaker 1: and her And she was so excited because that first 164 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:23,160 Speaker 1: visit with the doctor, the doctor had looked at her 165 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 1: whole file and was like, honey, let's talk about these 166 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 1: things that have been that I can see you have 167 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:35,200 Speaker 1: been going through that we need to address and the 168 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,880 Speaker 1: empowerment she felt from that experience, and then to share 169 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 1: it in a white male marine came on there and 170 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 1: just wrote if I would have said the same thing, 171 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,840 Speaker 1: I would have been ran at it hell. And it's like, hey, 172 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 1: you don't ever have to say that same thing, right, 173 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 1: because there are white doctors everywhere everywhere, that's the norm, 174 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 1: like ninety nine percent of the medical staff out there. 175 00:12:59,559 --> 00:13:03,800 Speaker 1: That is your doctor, your surgeon is gonna be white. 176 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:08,520 Speaker 1: So it's like people don't even take the time to 177 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:13,320 Speaker 1: think before speaking. And if that's coming from one person 178 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:18,560 Speaker 1: who serves, he got that rhetoric right, And so that's 179 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 1: a cultural thing. So we have a real problem. And 180 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:27,960 Speaker 1: so dropping Roe v. Wade and those protections the women 181 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:31,360 Speaker 1: in our service who are being raped such you know, 182 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 1: suchially he's assaulted or not wanting to carry a baby 183 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:41,720 Speaker 1: to term because of their financial situation. You don't make 184 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 1: a lot of money serving. I've joined the service married 185 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 1: with a child and we suffered, thinking that it was 186 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 1: going to change the trajectory of our life, but it 187 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 1: did not. And again I had two babies while serving, 188 00:13:56,720 --> 00:14:00,600 Speaker 1: and it was a very transactional experience I went in 189 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 1: to give birth, I gave birth, and they sent me 190 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 1: on my way. There was none of this amazing care. 191 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:11,440 Speaker 1: And I have that experience to gauge in on because 192 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: as a dependent daughter of an airman at the time, 193 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 1: when I had a baby as a teenager at my 194 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 1: senior year, I got access to try care benefits and 195 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:29,080 Speaker 1: that was a phenomenal experience where like I got to 196 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 1: say at the hospital for three days post birth. I 197 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 1: know they don't do that anymore because they just don't know. 198 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 1: They do not like, oh, women be given birth, they 199 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: can just go home, and those things matter to deal with, 200 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 1: like postpartum depression. And then on top of that, you 201 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 1: when I was in I only got six weeks maternity leave. 202 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:54,720 Speaker 1: And after I had my third baby, after six weeks 203 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 1: and I was trying to breastpeed my son, I got 204 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 1: sent to a training exercise and so there Joan, let 205 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 1: me let me because I haven't heard two questions that 206 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:09,960 Speaker 1: I want to that I want to ask one in 207 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 1: the beginning, when you're talking about the birth control pill, 208 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 1: is that a choice or women are just given it 209 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 1: and you have to take it like that is part 210 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 1: of your regular care, Like it's not a choice of 211 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:33,840 Speaker 1: whether or not to take the pill. Um. It is 212 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:36,960 Speaker 1: you do have the choice, okay, but they issue it 213 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 1: to you, right, And so when they issue it to you, 214 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:43,800 Speaker 1: it almost just becomes like this becomes a part of 215 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 1: your process. And when you're in recruit training, you're pretty terrified. 216 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 1: So like the sanitary napkins and it goes to community 217 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 1: property and then a recruit carries it around. You don't 218 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 1: even have direct access to it, and then you have 219 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 1: to ask for mission from your drill instructor to make 220 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 1: a head call to use the restroom to attend to that, 221 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 1: and then you're like counted down. You get real real quick. 222 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 1: And so the stress helps minimize that experience. UM, but 223 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 1: that that's the model of life you're living, you know, 224 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 1: and it's it doesn't feel good, you know, you don't 225 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 1: feel clean, you don't it's just not sanitary overall. Has 226 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 1: there been any I mean, obviously you have since um 227 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 1: retired from service and are now an advocate, what kind 228 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 1: of pushes have there been to create a more holistic 229 00:16:43,880 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 1: and humanized experience since you since you began for for 230 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:54,680 Speaker 1: for women in the military. You know, I think a 231 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:59,880 Speaker 1: lot of the legislation that tried to get past regard 232 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:05,880 Speaker 1: adjudication of the criminal activity that happen in service, specifically 233 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 1: to military sexual trauma, is that that conversation opened up 234 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 1: avenues for the military to obviously have to address these issues. 235 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: So what I do know from my friends that are 236 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 1: still serving, that they are levels of working groups that 237 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 1: are happening things specific to women and their hairstyles, women 238 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 1: of color and natural hairstyles. So we're seeing an evolution 239 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,920 Speaker 1: of change that's happening in the service. And I will 240 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:50,440 Speaker 1: say that those changes usually it's like that direct reflection 241 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:53,440 Speaker 1: of what needs to be happening in our society, because 242 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:57,639 Speaker 1: the military is a microcosm of our American society, the 243 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:01,439 Speaker 1: true diversity of it, and so what's happening inside the 244 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 1: military is definitely happening in our greater world. And whatever's 245 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:10,600 Speaker 1: happening in our greater world impacts every serviceman, and I 246 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: think people need to hear that more because they think 247 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 1: that like we're a carve out and then where there's 248 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 1: separate society that's not affected by what's going on, but 249 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:22,919 Speaker 1: we're very much affected. Our families are affected, and we 250 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:26,640 Speaker 1: also have to return back to those communities. And so 251 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 1: if we don't have adequate resources access to universal healthcare, 252 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:34,879 Speaker 1: that's why we have so many veterans that fall in 253 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 1: this transition nightmare, right, And so it is they are 254 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:43,840 Speaker 1: making changes to make those processes better. And I will 255 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:47,800 Speaker 1: say the VA and the Secretary of the VA and 256 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:53,280 Speaker 1: Chairman Mark Takano, who's a representative from California, has been 257 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 1: extremely vested in protecting women, especially in that transition space. 258 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:02,520 Speaker 1: And I was a part of a roundtable group that 259 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:06,199 Speaker 1: made a decision that if you are a veteran and 260 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 1: you have access to be a healthcare and you're picking 261 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 1: up birth control or any prescriptions, you can literally ask 262 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:16,320 Speaker 1: for a Plan B and they'll just give it to you. 263 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:20,800 Speaker 1: And so that's how you're trying to mitigate things and 264 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 1: then also create safe places for women who are on 265 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:27,919 Speaker 1: active duty to access those things. Because as it is 266 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:31,440 Speaker 1: right now, if a woman on active duty needs to 267 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 1: terminate a pregnancy for whatever reason, she has to source 268 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:40,440 Speaker 1: that and pay for that herself, and then she has 269 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 1: to take leave. She doesn't get like a medical shit 270 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:48,160 Speaker 1: of leave unless then she reports it to the doctor 271 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:52,840 Speaker 1: and staff on posts. But then that just becomes like 272 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 1: this very you know, everybody's privy to what I was 273 00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:59,399 Speaker 1: going to say, I was I was going to ask you. 274 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:03,400 Speaker 1: So it doesn't seem as if when you are a 275 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:10,440 Speaker 1: service member that there is confidentiality in your in your healthcare. 276 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:15,879 Speaker 1: So if tell me what happens, then if you are 277 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:23,520 Speaker 1: stationed in a country that doesn't have abortion access, you 278 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:29,360 Speaker 1: would have to make arrangements to take leave, to buy 279 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:33,840 Speaker 1: a plane ticket, yeah, and fly somewhere to take that services. 280 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:39,600 Speaker 1: And that's probably not logical because the timing right, we 281 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 1: don't time these things. And so if you're not scheduled, 282 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:48,200 Speaker 1: if you're in a deployment overseas, generally you're there for 283 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 1: a year at a minimum or and if you're there 284 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:53,680 Speaker 1: a year at a minimum, at the six month mark, 285 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:56,560 Speaker 1: you might get some leave to go home to visit. 286 00:20:57,720 --> 00:20:59,880 Speaker 1: If you're there more than a year, you might get 287 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:03,159 Speaker 1: thirty day league block. But what if that's not the 288 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: block of time that you need to be to get 289 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:11,760 Speaker 1: those services. And that's why when you get ready to 290 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:16,119 Speaker 1: deploy or go abroad, they have the do you want 291 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:18,680 Speaker 1: to get birth control issued to you so that that's 292 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:21,760 Speaker 1: something that you don't have to worry about because once 293 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:23,720 Speaker 1: you get there. You know, if this happens to you, 294 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:25,639 Speaker 1: we have to send you back. And if we have 295 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:32,200 Speaker 1: to send you back, then there could be administrative adjudication 296 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:36,600 Speaker 1: and punishment assessed to you, even though this is a 297 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:39,119 Speaker 1: medical condition. So let me ask you, because I want 298 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:44,439 Speaker 1: people to really understand here. If you were to hurt 299 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:48,919 Speaker 1: any other part of your body, right like if there 300 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 1: was harm done, you broke bones, you had appendicitis, these 301 00:21:54,920 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 1: things would be taken care of on the base. They 302 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 1: would be taken care of immediately, and then you would 303 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:08,040 Speaker 1: be sent somewhere for the whatever. Like when you're in 304 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:11,679 Speaker 1: Iraq and Afghanistan, if you get injured, you get triage 305 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:14,920 Speaker 1: you know there however they can and then stabilize you, 306 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:16,840 Speaker 1: and then you're going to go to somewhere that has 307 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:20,040 Speaker 1: you know, first rag medical care like Hams for Germany 308 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:22,440 Speaker 1: or something of that nature. So you are going to 309 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:27,359 Speaker 1: get airlifted or sent somewhere to be treated. Definitely not 310 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:33,120 Speaker 1: the same protocol for pregnancy or issues of that nature. Wow. 311 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:35,720 Speaker 1: And then for a woman to even report a rape 312 00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:40,520 Speaker 1: becomes a very traumatic process and a lot of people 313 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:47,680 Speaker 1: don't want to even report that. Oh Joanna, this is 314 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:53,200 Speaker 1: really like it I my my, My heart like breaks 315 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:56,760 Speaker 1: just at hearing examples because I know that there are 316 00:22:56,840 --> 00:23:00,679 Speaker 1: so many real women that are attached to the examples 317 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:07,719 Speaker 1: that you're providing. What is it that people non service 318 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 1: members can do in order to be a source of 319 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:16,239 Speaker 1: help to advocate? What could the listeners do that are 320 00:23:16,280 --> 00:23:21,360 Speaker 1: taking in this story right now and feeling just shocked 321 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:26,600 Speaker 1: and disgusted by what you're sharing. Yeah, I mean the 322 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:32,440 Speaker 1: important thing is for people to understand and realize that 323 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:37,399 Speaker 1: we have the power. And I think so many of 324 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:41,159 Speaker 1: us have been conditioned to believe that we don't have 325 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:45,200 Speaker 1: enough collective people power to fight back against these systems. 326 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:50,480 Speaker 1: But we do know. We've seen a lot of things 327 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 1: happen at changes in the military based on outside voices. 328 00:23:56,160 --> 00:24:00,840 Speaker 1: So for instance, the abuse physical abuse that used to 329 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:04,960 Speaker 1: be endured by folks at recruit chaining that was unchecked. 330 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 1: There was this huge movement of Moms of America right 331 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:13,480 Speaker 1: who said, you ain't gonna beat up on my child 332 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:17,879 Speaker 1: at recruit training, like that's inappropriate, and so a lot 333 00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:23,600 Speaker 1: of things change within that. The history of recruit training 334 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 1: and breaking down a human being to make them a 335 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:28,879 Speaker 1: service of member, so you can't put hands on people 336 00:24:29,119 --> 00:24:34,119 Speaker 1: you know there there's limitations, and so that's the power 337 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 1: of a group of people back together and said this 338 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 1: is unacceptable. And I think in present day society, like 339 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:44,560 Speaker 1: I said before, people look at the military as a 340 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:48,760 Speaker 1: separate animal and that they it's not their business to 341 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:52,440 Speaker 1: be involved. But it's very much their business to be involved. 342 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 1: It's their tax dollars that support that entire operation. It's 343 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:01,680 Speaker 1: their children, it's their neighbors, it's their friends kids, you know, 344 00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:05,520 Speaker 1: whomever you know. But everybody is connected somehow to those 345 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:08,240 Speaker 1: folks who are serving. And so it is up to 346 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:11,159 Speaker 1: us who have served, who are on the outside, and 347 00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 1: those of us who haven't served that are hearing these 348 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:16,919 Speaker 1: things to speak out about it. You write and representatives, 349 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:19,720 Speaker 1: You tell them you want these people to be protected. 350 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:23,240 Speaker 1: You tell them that it's unacceptable that their commander who 351 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:27,959 Speaker 1: oversees them also gets to adjudicate any issues or crimes 352 00:25:28,040 --> 00:25:31,720 Speaker 1: that happen under the purview with their troops, because that 353 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:34,720 Speaker 1: comes with a lot of bias. They need to say 354 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 1: that women need to be treated much better and that 355 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:41,240 Speaker 1: the services that are provided to them are first rate. 356 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:45,440 Speaker 1: We need universal healthcare in this country that's completely free 357 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:48,840 Speaker 1: medicare for all, and then that will translate to better 358 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 1: services even in the military as well as in the 359 00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:56,600 Speaker 1: VA services, because then we actually have to fund them 360 00:25:57,240 --> 00:25:59,879 Speaker 1: at their full value that they needed to need to 361 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:02,200 Speaker 1: be funded. And we know that we can do that 362 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 1: because the NDAA is so grossly over budgeted, that we 363 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:09,440 Speaker 1: could take lots of money that gets directed to the 364 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:14,640 Speaker 1: war machine and improve life and the sustainment of health 365 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:19,160 Speaker 1: for all of our service members and make it equal 366 00:26:19,840 --> 00:26:24,600 Speaker 1: for everybody who raises their hands, swears that oath and 367 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:28,840 Speaker 1: dedicates their life and service to this country. So we 368 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:31,640 Speaker 1: all can play a part. We should all get involved. 369 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:36,159 Speaker 1: We should all be angry, especially every woman should be 370 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:40,040 Speaker 1: extremely angry. And I just also want to throw out 371 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:45,200 Speaker 1: that in the service, they have been cutting childcare availability 372 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 1: for service members, So if you're forcing them to have babies, 373 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:53,199 Speaker 1: you don't even have the adequate system so that they 374 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:55,879 Speaker 1: have childcare put in place for them so that they 375 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:59,360 Speaker 1: can complete the mission of their job. And on top 376 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:01,000 Speaker 1: of that they may and pay for it at the 377 00:27:01,119 --> 00:27:03,800 Speaker 1: market rate. And so there are a lot of things 378 00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:06,720 Speaker 1: that can be improved if we take money away from 379 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:10,040 Speaker 1: the war machine and put it into services for our 380 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 1: folks and take care of them. Joanna, thank you so 381 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:17,679 Speaker 1: much for your advocacy, for your voice, for your writing, 382 00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:22,560 Speaker 1: and continuing to raise the issue around how women are 383 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:26,600 Speaker 1: treated in the military, the reproductive care that they need, 384 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:30,280 Speaker 1: the childcare that they need, the emotional health and wellbeing 385 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:34,280 Speaker 1: and services that they need. I really appreciate you and 386 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:36,639 Speaker 1: thank you so much for making the time for woke A. 387 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for having me. That is it 388 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:48,360 Speaker 1: for me today. Dear friends on woke a f as 389 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:52,560 Speaker 1: always power to the people and to all the people. Power, 390 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:55,240 Speaker 1: get woke and stay woke as fuck.