California Dreaming
O
n January 1st, a series of new laws took effect in the state of California, laws which pave a path that the entirety of America should eventually take. The newly enacted laws include the legalization of recreational marijuana, free access to tampons at schools, installation of diaper-changing stations in men’s restrooms and banning employers from asking about an applicant’s prior salary. These laws may seem simple on the surface, but they will have significant outcomes that shift us closer to equality for people of all races, genders, sexual orientations and other identities.
While Jeff Sessions immediately countered the legalization of recreational weed with the threat of enforcing federal marijuana laws, California is already fighting back to defend its voter-approved law. By doing so, it is also fighting the terrible effects of something else: the war on drugs. First officially declared by President Nixon, the war has seen hundreds of thousands of citizens incarcerated for possessing drugs such as marijuana. Despite the fact that statistics show that the level of drug usage between black and white people is around the same, people of color are the most affected by this “war.” This racial disparity in policing is a disgrace to America, and has been a great contributor to the issue of mass incarceration; one in three black men will experience prison in their lifetime. As marijuana is legalized, the problem of racially based policing on drugs will be greatly reduced, as people of color can no longer be arrested for smoking or possessing marijuana.
Gender equality is another issue that will be affected by the introduction of California’s new laws. Free access to feminine hygiene products should have always been the norm; if our roles were reversed and males had periods instead of females, maybe that would already be the case. While talking about periods is still considered taboo in many settings, its effects are very real. Studies show that a lack of access to tampons and pads for low-income students has a negative impact on their education. If girls are not able to obtain feminine hygiene products, how are they supposed to be on the same educational playing field as boys? Many young girls already struggle to deal with their periods, so they shouldn’t have to grapple with the issue of whether or not they are able to afford feminine hygiene products.
By installing changing stations in men’s bathrooms, fathers will be encouraged to bring their children to public bathrooms, and thus challenge sexist stereotypes. Only having diaper-changing stations in female restrooms not only is unfair and inconvenient to dads who take care of their children, but it also supports the stereotype that women are supposed to be the only caretakers of their children. This new law will begin to chip away at an old sexist stereotype and normalize both parents taking care of their child. If you think about it, this notion of equal responsibility for children isn’t that ridiculous of a thought.
Finally, banning employers from asking about a job applicant’s previous salary is a step towards ending the gender wage gap once and for all. This law prohibits employers from basing an employee’s new salary on a possibly unequal previous one, and thereby allows the employee to start afresh at a new job. This new requirement has the possibility to create major change, as the current status quo dictates that your pay at a new job is heavily based on the salary from your previous job.
California has always been a pioneer when it comes to progress in America, with the rest of the country taking more time to follow in its footsteps. This is a great sign as to what will happen in America’s future; genuine equality is a goal that is becoming more and more within reach.