Halloween is a season at my house, not just a holiday, and we always go all out! But with General Election Day just around the corner, this year has definitely had a darker undercurrent for me. I always try to use my platform to spread awareness on not just causes that impact me, but human rights in general. So in case you missed it, here’s what Halloween 2022 looks like at our house, and a reminder for the upcoming General Elections.
The Halloween Spirit
It’s no secret that we love Halloween at our house! This year, we went to a neighborhood Halloween party and Finn and Wes by far had the best costume duo. Everyone thought I was Little Red Riding Hood but I went as “the future if we don’t vote.” Matt and Cole were party poopers, but we still had a blast anyway.
We always go all-out for our Halloween costumes. So if you haven’t checked out the throwback reel I made of our best Costumes from Halloweens Past, I highly recommend it! And if you’re looking for a last minute movie to watch tonight to close out spooky season, check out our Halloween Watchlist!
Check out our costume throwbacks here!
What’s The Scariest Thing I Can Imagine?
Honestly— living in a world where the Handsmaid’s Tale isn’t fiction. With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, it’s become a powerful symbol for feminism, abortion rights, and bodily autonomy. We’ve seen our Democracy at stake on January 6. LGBTQ and Trans rights going backwards for the first time in decades and expected to become worse with upcoming SCOTUS cases. Most recently, elected officials voting against interracial marriage being legalized.
Despite being a dystopian novel, nothing about the human rights violations in The Handmaid’s Tale are fiction. Margaret Atwood made a point not to include anything human beings hadn’t already experienced, meaning every aspect of Gilead’s culture has already happened at some point in history. If that’s not absolutely terrifying, I don’t know what is.
Women’s rights in the US was just one of many events that inspired the book. The mistreatment of LGBTQ+ individuals, the communist regimes of Ceaușescu and Romania, the staggering maternal mortality rates in the US, especially for Black individuals, and the stolen children from Indigenous Communities also largely inspired the dystopian tale.
Check out our Halloween decor this year
Your Voice Matters
Do you know what’s even scarier? Many of these issues still continue to this day. Black women are 2-6 times more likely to die from pregnancy complications than white women, and first trimester medical care is being limited for all pregnant people in 22 states.
Not to mention, the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) is currently under attack and at risk of being overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court this fall. Passed in 1978, this law protects Native children from forced removal from their families, tribes, and culture. Sound familiar?
It’s crucial now more than ever that we protect each other, ourselves, and our communities. The 2022 statewide General Election is Tuesday, November 8, 2022. So vote like your life depends on it— because it does!
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