There's an interesting discussion on feminism going on right now, on on one of the message boards I frequent. Honestly, I'm pretty surprised that in this day and age, so many people actually believe that women still fall into a certain "role," as do men. Although, why I'm surprised is beyond me, considering where I live mostly what I see on a daily basis is submissive women and dominating men. I guess, my surprise is that it's alive and apparently growing stronger in a country like America, with all credit going to the more conservative Christian society. To be honest with you, I don't see much difference between the world I live in, and the ultra conservatives of the west. I suppose the fundamentalist way of life is the fundamentalist way of life, regardless of which religion one belongs to.
Of course, I'm not comparing the far right of the west to the extremism of the east, however, the basics of both religions when looked at from a fundamentalist standpoint are so similar, it's startling.
I'm a feminist, but not one of those "how dare you hold the door open for me" ones. I consider everyone equal, and have never, and never will fall for all the "roles" alloted to men and women by society. I find it demeaning to both genders, that society prevents them from living up to their true potential. I've seen men refuse to work in their own homes, because it's "the woman's job" and I've seen women bow down and treat those men like kings because their "role" requires them to do so. I find it bordering on ridiculous, and I'm not sorry if that really offends anyone, because I feel that if they practice that, then they need to take a good hard look at themselves, and realize that it is, well... ridiculous! Can you tell I'm at a loss for words? It's because I'm sputtering with indignation at the injustices society and religion force on people, and because many people fall for it.
When I was 12 my parents separated. My mother always worked, even before her separation from my father. Then she became a single working mom. I've learned some of the best lessons in my life just watching how she managed hers without any help from my father, or family. So today while I'm a (temporary) SAHM, it's with the utmost confidence that I know it's what I choose to do, not what I think is expected of me as a wife and mother by the dictates of society, religion, lack of religion or anything else.
My children are already learning that everyone is equal. My son will learn that chivalry does not mean domination in any sense, as much as my daughter will learn to appreciate chivalry when she encounters it. And both will learn to live up to their full potential as human beings and to leave this whole "role playing" crap to actors, or if they're in an office management training course.
On a side note, I'd like to thank those of you who've been visiting my blog for the last month and a half, and finding no updates. Life has just been busy with a little bit of this, and a little bit of crap. ;)
