As has been noted, one of ash’s favorite literary devices is to take a correspondent’s phrase and use it in her response, slightly changing the context. Guess which appropriated expression was used by the original writer
A gaffe is defined as telling the truth, or stating an honest opinion, by accident. Recent gaffes have been made by Mississippi Senator Trent Lott, first in suggesting that South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond should have been elected on the segregationist platform in 1948, and more recently in regard to Congress cracking down on lobbyists supplying free meals. In fact, he did so twice, first by rhetorically asking, “Where are they supposed to take us – to McDonald’s?” later amended to a comment involving seeing his wife more often.
Apparently gaffes are not the exclusive province of politicians, as was demonstrated in a letter writer’s unfortunate choice of the words “put[ting] women back in their place.” While modified by the phrases “as concerns abortion” and “in the womb,” the context hardly matters. In selecting an expression reminiscent of feminist oppression, the writer inadvertently revealed the true motivation behind forcing pregnant women to carry to term: male supremacy.
A woman engaged in bearing and rearing children is a woman not engaged in accruing power, influence, or autonomy, or so the thinking goes. Nor is she capable of decisions regarding her life and the impact of children upon it.
When Judgment Day – if there is such a phenomenon – comes, patronizing moralists may be asked to account for their judgment upon women they’ve never met.