LETTER: Scott Brown, Ladies Man

Submitted by Dan Quigley, Hopkinton Resident

I’m a feminist, plain and simple. The true meaning of feminism is simply that one believes women and men should be represented and treated as equals. Who would dispute that?

But as many of us know, women are still not being paid the same as men for equal work or being offered the same opportunities to advance their careers. Of course, this is not because women dedicate less to their work, but because of discrimination and business culture. These issues cannot be left for businesses to self-correct, because after centuries of American business, women still make 77 cents to every man’s dollar.

Scott Brown, in addition to opposing multiple jobs bills, voted against the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would help to close the gender gap in wages. He claims that the current law is sufficient and that additional laws would be an unreasonable burden on businesses. But the current laws have been around for so long, we can safely assume that at this point, they aren’t doing enough. And Brown’s dismissal of women’s rights doesn’t just appear in this most recent vote.

Brown co-sponsored the (thankfully) failed “Blunt Amendment,” which would have allowed employers and insurers to deny health benefits to anyone based on “moral” opposition or beliefs. This, as Elizabeth Warren rightly pointed out, would have permitted the denial of contraception as well as other important benefits to women and families. It was written so broadly that it would have allowed for extreme flexibility in denying health coverage.

If you turn on any local channel, you are likely to see a commercial featuring Brown’s family and claims that he “understands women.” Apparently, the Brown campaign believes that simply being near women makes you their champion. I would argue that Elizabeth Warren is the real champion of not only women but all families and individuals in Massachusetts. She not only supports the rights of all groups, but also the safety of the middle class, the fair regulation of wall street, and the fundamental right of everyone to have a good education. I hope Hopkinton and Holliston will support those values, rather than Scott Brown’s appalling voting record.