Is it just me, or does it feel impossible to catch a breath with everything going on in the world lately? Honestly, I try not to get too caught up in the chaos. I’m usually quiet on the sidelines when it comes to politics, but my head is bursting at the moment. Here I am, visiting Paris—wandering its streets, observing the visitors, and listening to the different languages spoken from around the world. It feels like a haven for freedom and self-expression, and I can’t help but reflect on the contrast with what’s happening back home in North America.

What stands out most to me are the women. In Paris, women have freedoms—constitutional rights. The city draws people from every social and economic background, yet somehow, there’s a sense of balance. To be clear, France isn’t perfect at all…

Still, there’s an undeniable autonomy for women here. Reproductive rights are protected, and there’s a collective respect for individual choices. It makes me wonder: how long until freedoms in other parts of the world are threatened, too?

As a Canadian woman, I value my freedoms. But I can’t ignore what’s happening across the border in the U.S. The overturning of Roe v. Wade is a stark reminder of how quickly the rights we take for granted can be stripped away. It’s unsettling to watch a nation grapple with such a fundamental issue, knowing the ripple effects could extend far beyond its borders.

In the meantime, “They voted for him” seems to be the phrase on everyone’s lips, as if it’s only their problem. Right now, it feels like the world is in a collective panic—whether it’s over lost rights, economic instability, or, in Canada’s case, a 25% tariff slapped on trade with the U.S. Yup, they voted for him, and now we’re all paying for it. Funny how that works, isn’t it? It’s hard to feel removed from it all when our worlds are so interconnected.

I don’t have a daughter, but I have sons who may someday start their own families. Without access to comprehensive women’s healthcare and freedom of choice, having a child can feel like playing Russian roulette. What about complications during pregnancy? The heartbreaking “save the mother or the baby” scenarios? It’s unthinkable.

I can’t begin to imagine how harrowing it must be for women in crisis in the U.S. right now. And here in Canada—what does our government truly stand for on this issue? One thing is clear: the idea of men, church, or any government deciding what I can or cannot do with my body is utterly unfathomable. The running joke is The Handmaid’s Tale, but is this our new reality? Are we really regressing to the point where a story like that feels plausible?

If you’re unhappy about this, “Do something about it!” Well, here I am, doing something. Thankfully, we still have freedom of speech—right? Or is that next on the endangered species list, alongside the dodo bird? For now, I’m using the freedom I have—to write, to share, to spark conversations. Because if we don’t stand for our rights, who will?

You don’t have to agree with me—or even say anything at all. This is just a moment of sheer frustration that I needed to get off my chest so I can sleep tonight. I’m a woman—a female—concerned about my own well-being in a world that seems more preoccupied with tariffs and the price of tequila.

Night, Night!

For more information, check out Action Canada, Canadian Women’s Health Network (CWHN), or email Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth.

Photo of Painting – Édouard Manet’s “Olympia” (1863) Musée d’Orsay