What is it like to stand before a legislative committee
and not think about what you’re wearing and
if what you wear is conveying whether or not you’re
approachable enough, believable enough, pretty enough,
mom enough, soft enough?

What is it like to stand before a legislative committee
and look like you’re dressed to go hiking
(read: quite comfortable)
after you minimize a woman’s experiences,
minimize her fear about her child’s safety
refer to her by her first name like you know her,
like you’re familiar enough to call her by her first name?

If you’re wondering, you could ask the
teachers’ union
male staff attorney.