The word feminism seems to invoke fear in some men and women. It used to scare me too. It would conjure up images of bra burning women holding NOW signs for me. As I have matured (Well, I'm hoping I have.) I view it as something different.
To me, feminism is a woman's right to choose ....who she is and what she wants to do with her life, without the imposed roles that society or religion might try to put on her. I also think this applies to men. So, Maybe I'm more equalitarian. Regardless... Choosing who I want to be and what I want to do with my life should not be threatening to other people. I was a stay-at-home-mom (for the most part... some preschool teaching, and some college classes.) for 16 years. I wanted to be. That was my choice. Sadly, I felt pressure from some extened family to "get a job and contribute." It didn't occur to these people how much daycare costs and how much I would actually make would be a wash. So, I stood my ground. I also had 6 babies in the process. Can you imagine the daycare costs?! Astronomical!!
I also know women who have worked full-time and have a family. They have done a beautiful job with their children, and are perfectly happy with their choices. Yet, They also have felt the pressure from others in their lives to quit their jobs and go home.
It makes me sad and a little angry. Why can't we just let others live by their own conscience? Why do we feel the need to try and decide for others what is best for them? Why do we think we know everything about a person's life when we are only privy to snippets? Why can't we all just get along?! Lol!
This is the first year all of my kids are in school full-time. FREEDOM!!!! Ha! Not really. I can already hear some of our extended family screaming.... GO GET A JOB! Sorry.... I'm going to school instead. I know, complete and utter waste of time when I could be out in this fabulous economy making some cold hard cash. Do they know what my schedule is like most days? No... CLUELESS!! I'll give you a snippet of a typical day... just for fun!
5:40 Up and at 'em!!! Take S1 to seminary.
6:00 Shower, eat breakfast by myself :), get ready.
7:00 Get up the rest of the troops. Make their breakfast. Get them ready.
7:45 Drop them off at school.
8:15 Head home, start laundry, do dishes, clean
9:00 Leave for class.
9:30 Intro to Psych
11:00 Head back home
11:30 Do more laundry, eat lunch, clean, study, do homework, mow lawn, run errands, workout if I have time.
3:00 Go pick up the kids from school
3:30 Help them with their homework, catch up on their day.
4:00 Start dinner, yes this early because we have soccer from 5-7:30 on two different sides of town at the same time.
4:30 Eat dinner
4:50 Go to soccer practice.. do homework or study during their practice
7:30 home again, showers, do more laundry, clean up again.
8:30 kids bedtime that streches into 9:00 because they are little turkeys!
9:00 Finish folding and putting away clothes. Maybe study more. Chat with the teenagers. Help them with homework if they had a game & got home late.
10:00 ZONE OUT! Read, watch some TV, get on FB, scrounge some chocolate, read my scriptures, write in my journal.
11:00 Down for the count...
That is pretty much my usual day. I suppose I could squeeze in a few hours at a job between class & picking the kids up from school. Or maybe get a night job as someone suggested to me.... home just in time to get them up for school, go to my classes, do homework, laundry, clean, maybe sleep for an hour or so pick them up again, take them to soccer, and go back to work. And that is if I could even find a job in this town of 12% unemployment.
I'm not complaining. I like my life. I have great kids. I love going to school again. I'm looking forward to the day when my schooling is done, and I can find a good well-paying job with benefits. I'm excited to use my skills and life experiences to help and bless the people in my community as well as my family. To create the life I want to live is a priviledge because of where I was born. I know that. I know some people, especially women, in the world have no choices about their futures. It's decided for them by their society and/or religion. I know that God wants me to be educated, happy, fullfilled, and a complete person. I think He expects it. I understand now that I have to take care of myself also. I can't deplete every resource inside of me trying to make others happy. One, It stripped me of my identity. Two, It's impossible to please everyone.
So, In the face of critcism, judgements, and shame I say.... SUCK IT!!
Now... Off to burn my bra! (But not the Vicoria's Secret ones bacause they were expensive and they're pretty.) ;)
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