Just saying the word freedom stirs up all kinds of emotions in women, from euphoria to anger to sadness. Freedom and human rights for women have been challenged or abused from the beginning of time as we know it The culprits, whether political parties, religious institutions, or individuals were usually on one mission: to gain control, power, or money. Horrific events are still going on today around the world against women, from Chinese baby girls being killed to Middle Eastern women being routinely raped or sexually mutilated. A report issued by the United Nations Development Fund for Women found one in three women globally is likely to be raped, beaten or otherwise abused in her lifetime. All of this seems so far away, however, we need only look out our own back doors to witness freedom of women and girls being challenged every day, right here in America. Bullies in the schoolyards, sexual harassment in the workplace, crimes of hate, protests against gay marriages. These and countless more offenses chip away at freedom like a gold miner