The feminist movement has done a lot to change the world. Today, more than ever before women have a say in the world. Prior to the feminist movement women were not allowed in most universities, women could not vote and women could not hold many jobs. From reading the bible, it seems like women were often treated more like possessions. That seemed to slowly change in the western nations. Until just a little over 100 years ago when women were given the right to vote, and then things began changing rapidly for women. 100 years ago the women working for woman's sufferage did a lot of good. I am grateful that I can vote and wear pants, and that I could go to college and improve my mind. These things are good things. These things have helped women. But today, feminism is not just about becoming educated, voting, and wearing pants. Today feminism is not good.
Today feminist women reject their very nature. The very idea of being a wife and a mother are scorned. As a result women who give up careers to stay home with their children are looked down upon. Being a mother is second to almost anything else. Many of my high school friends chose not to become parents until they had post graduate degrees, a house, a savings account, a beautiful nursery and full time career and were over 30 years of age. Those who started families younger seem happier.
Media portrays women as being strong warriors (take Tangled for example) that can fight better than men. Women are portrayed as being the smartest and the best problem solvers. These same smart, warrior women are very sexualized. Their bodies are there on display. Media also portrays women as promiscuous. In media women are shown sleeping around and showing off their bodies. Billboards all around my city show women in underwear and bikinis advertising plastic surgery. This is the image my daughters are growing up with. They are expected to be sexy warriors and corporate geniuses who desire to give their bodies to anyone.
In general, media leaves the roll of motherhood to the stupid, the unambitious, the dull and old fashioned. Children are considered a burden and both husband and children are only trophies for later in life-- later, after college and career and plenty of promiscuity. This has become a part of common thinking. I have had people see my children and ask me why I ruined my life. My oldest daughter has argued that she knows women are better athletes, and warriors because of what she has learned in the movies and at school. Even watching the Olympics does not change that perspective for her.
From all of this, feminism has robbed women of what is most joyful and fulfilling. Staying home and raising children, cleaning home and making things beautiful, cooking and cleaning for your one and only true love are all good and part of the very nature of women. In The Family: A Proclamation to the World, it states, "Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children." This is not just because women are better at nurturing, but because it is the very nature of a woman to nurture. Most little girls don't dream of becoming great warriors or corporate geniuses. Most little girls hold their dolls and dream of becoming a wife and a mother. Little girls seem to be born dreaming about and looking for their true love. Feminism, while good when it gave women freedom to become educated is now bad in that it takes away from women what will most make them happy.
4 comments:
well said :)
It's interesting and a little sad isn't it? In one of my art critiquing classes we talked about a particular show in a museum in NY... when a lady found out that there weren't any lady artists in that particular show she bullied her way into it saying that it was for feminism.
Feminism for freedom. Good. Feminism for getting what ever you want. Bad.
And I will add this. I come from a long line of very strong and strong willed women. Both my mom and grandma worked as nurses but in the end they try to focus on their children. I've discovered that you can be a strong and confident woman that focuses on home and family... the world just doesn't see that in a normal light. You can clean and cook and not enjoy it and thrive on it... but then when you're taking care of these sweet charges you clean and cook for them... because you love them. (Even some of my "hardest" friends have become "soft" when a child enters their lives.) It's amazing what more you can become when you DEDICATE yourself to taking care of others, especially your family.
If I may interject, I'd like to leave you with perhaps another take on the subject: one that you may like to carry with you, or one you cast aside. Either is, of course, your choice.
Feminism is defined as the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes. At it's core, TRUE feminism isn't about foregoing the wonderful experience of raising a family, or that women are the superior sex, or even that those who choose to stay home and raise a family are foolish for doing so. True feminism is about equality between men and women, something that should be encouraged in all people. If someone is degrading you for choosing to be a wife and mother to your children, he or she is not a feminist, they are an idiot.
You don't have to be a 30-something unmarried female brain surgeon with no children to be considered a feminist. The ideal that marriage should be an equal partnership is a feminist ideal. The ideal that women should not be treated with disrespect by men (as well as that men should not be disrespected by women!) is a feminist ideal.
Feminism in the workplace is not be about a woman giving up on raising a family, it's about the fact that women deserve to be paid the same amount as men who are doing the exact same job, and that job slots should not be closed to any specific candidate based solely upon their gender.
Equality is what feminism is all about: but not just for women, for men as well! Feminism is about the removal of the "inferior sex" label all together, and celebrating the fact that women in this day and age are free to do just about whatever they want to do: including being a wife and mother.
As far as the struggle between your daughters and the media I would like to offer some advice: encourage them to be who and what they want, be it a homemaker or a brain surgeon, and to never allow anyone to tell them that they are not good enough or smart enough. Guide them as a mother, and nourish their dreams. Encourage your daughters to develop a love for their outer beauty as well as their inner beauty, and never allow them to forget their own self worth: and encourage your husband to do the same! As convoluted as it sounds, a strong male role model can do a lot for a girl in her teen years. I was raised in a two parent home by two feminists: both my mother and my father with steady careers in their chosen fields. The support of both of them when it came to my identity as a woman is something I don't think I could've done without.
I hope that I haven't offended you in any way, nor over stepped any boundaries as far as family is concerned, as neither were my intention. My only wish was to throw my two cents into ring, and let you know that those "feminists" calling you out on your life choices are just self-satisfied hypocrites who forgot what the movement was all about.
-K
If I may interject, I'd like to leave you with perhaps another take on the subject: one that you may like to carry with you, or one you cast aside. Either is, of course, your choice.
Feminism is defined as the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes. At it's core, TRUE feminism isn't about foregoing the wonderful experience of raising a family, or that women are the superior sex, or even that those who choose to stay home and raise a family are foolish for doing so. True feminism is about equality between men and women, something that should be encouraged in all people. If someone is degrading you for choosing to be a wife and mother to your children, he or she is not a feminist, they are an idiot.
You don't have to be a 30-something unmarried female brain surgeon with no children to be considered a feminist. The ideal that marriage should be an equal partnership is a feminist ideal. The ideal that women should not be treated with disrespect by men (as well as that men should not be disrespected by women!) is a feminist ideal.
Feminism in the workplace is not be about a woman giving up on raising a family, it's about the fact that women deserve to be paid the same amount as men who are doing the exact same job, and that job slots should not be closed to any specific candidate based solely upon their gender.
Equality is what feminism is all about: but not just for women, for men as well! Feminism is about the removal of the "inferior sex" label all together, and celebrating the fact that women in this day and age are free to do just about whatever they want to do: including being a wife and mother.
As far as the struggle between your daughters and the media I would like to offer some advice: encourage them to be who and what they want, be it a homemaker or a brain surgeon, and to never allow anyone to tell them that they are not good enough or smart enough. Guide them as a mother, and nourish their dreams. Encourage your daughters to develop a love for their outer beauty as well as their inner beauty, and never allow them to forget their own self worth: and encourage your husband to do the same! As convoluted as it sounds, a strong male role model can do a lot for a girl in her teen years. I was raised in a two parent home by two feminists: both my mother and my father with steady careers in their chosen fields. The support of both of them when it came to my identity as a woman is something I don't think I could've done without.
I hope that I haven't offended you in any way, nor over stepped any boundaries as far as family is concerned, as neither were my intention. My only wish was to throw my two cents into ring, and let you know that those "feminists" calling you out on your life choices are just self-satisfied hypocrites who forgot what the movement was all about.
-K
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