This past Wednesday, the New York Post published a cartoon likening the author of the stimulus bill, perhaps President Barack Obama, to a deranged chimpanzee. It caused an outrage. Al Sharpton led a protest march in front of the New York Post headquarters in New York City and asked people to boycott the newspaper. His concern took hold.

It wasn’t just Al Sharpton who found this cartoon unacceptable. A multitude of voices from major cable and talk radio stations hit the airwaves in a coordinated effort to declare: ENOUGH! If it quacks like racism, it will not be tolerated.

While I felt a sense of pride that so many stood up against the New York Post’s cartoon, I could not help but wonder if the chimpanzee had been female, would there have been such outrage? Who would have led the protest? Do women have a cohesive voice that advocates for their interests?

A few days before the New York Post cartoon was published, the famed singer, Rihanna, was allegedly beaten so badly by her boyfriend and singer, Chris Brown, that she was taken to the hospital with multiple contusions. Soon afterwards People Magazine interviewed Brown’s father who said, “This is unfortunate, this stumble, this situation.” He added that he was concerned how the music industry might react to his son’s alleged conduct. “This music industry is very unforgiving when it comes to having indiscretions,” the senior Brown said.( http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20259160,00.html)

indiscretions? Battery of a woman is just an “indiscretion?” When are women going to team together and say: ENOUGH?

Here is one of many issues over which I wish women would unite in protest.

In most states, including my home state of Connecticut, insurance companies charge women more for individual policies than men even when both have the same risk profile. This practice is considered discriminatory in group policies and needs to be stopped for individual policies as well. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/us/30insure.html?scp=1&sq=women%20healthcare%20robert%20pear%20october%202008&st=cse)

So Let’s take to the streets or the blogosphere and express outrage against discriminatory or degrading practices. Women are the majority and it’s time we take a cue from Al Sharpton and find our voice.