Two Big Wins For Women of New Jersey This Week

These last two years have been filled with major issues nonstop.

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We've experienced a global pandemic, intense quarantining, being on the brink of war, record-soaring inflation, social injustices and now there is even a debate over abortion.

Can we get a chance to catch our breath?

Well ladies, take a long, deep inhale because I have two pieces of immensely good news to share when it comes to Jersey Girls in the Garden State.

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The first piece of news comes from News12.com. It is being seriously considered to offer paid menstrual leave for women in New Jersey.

A period can incapacitate you in ways some couldn't even imagine. The pain, the bleeding...a law like this is long overdue.

I am just curious how it will work when it comes to paid leave and PTO because it happens once a month unless you are on a certain kind of birth control.

Does this mean there will be a bank of days every month? Or a limit for the overall year?

I did not know this but apparently, paid menstrual leave has been a thing in other countries including Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia.

Japan has had paid menstrual leave since 1947 so clearly, something with this law is working. It is only for difficult situations and companies are not required to offer paid leave.

As of now, this is only in the planning phase.

But things are looking up. According to a poll taken by News12.com, 89% agree with giving paid leave for menstruation.

Corporate America has yet to respond.

Big win, as far as I am concerned because at least we are getting the conversation started.

The second big win has to do with the attempt to overturn Roe vs. Wade which would threaten a woman's right to an abortion.

Our rights may be up for grabs on a federal level, but the state of New Jersey has our backs thus far.

According to Patch.com, Governor Phil Murphy submitted a few proposals and if passed, insurance plans would 100% cover the cost of an abortion in New Jersey.

This plan would also expand the, "potential abortion providers, legal protections against states that outlaw abortion and establishing a fund for medical professionals to provide abortions to uninsured or underinsured patients."

In laments terms, more places will be legally allowed to offer abortions and states who disagree with our rules can't do a thing about it.

"Let me be clear," said Murphy according to Patch.com, "New Jersey will not cooperate with any out-of-state investigation into our health care providers that seeks to punish anyone — patient, provider, counselor, friend or Uber driver — for providing abortion care."

This means that even if Roe vs. Wade is overturned, women in New Jersey would still have access to abortions in the Garden State.

Whether you agree with the idea of abortion or not, I am ecstatic to say that there will be options in New Jersey.

The number of abortions done will not change whether it is considered legal or not. It is just a matter of how safely they are executed.

Kindness. Respect. Equality. Strength.

That is what the women of New Jersey have been and will represent as we move forward with both of these issues.

I am proud to be one of them.

I know these are very intense topics.

So take a deep breathe and let's go get something to eat: