the feminist mystique
Growing up I was never told I couldn't do something because I was a girl.
There were no sex based double standards that I could detect in my home. My brother wasn't allowed to date at the age of 13 and lauded for sexual prowess and neither was I.
My father worked hard to make ends meet for our family.
My mother worked hard to make ends meet for our family.
That's how it went.
As a child I don't think I grasped the importance of what I was being given. I don't think I had any way of knowing that I was being raised to value the role of women in society every bit as much as I valued the role of men. I had no idea what an amazing job my parents were doing to ensure that I grew up believing in my own equality.
I was raised to be comfortable in my own skin. To believe that people are beautiful for who they are not for being a 90 pound super model or a muscle laden playboy.
To know that I could do anything that I
to do...
Despite this, or maybe because of it, feminism is not something I gave a lot of thought to until my daughter was born.
Don't get me wrong I poured over women's liberation movement history with astonishment and awe... it's just that it's easy to sit on your laurels knowing that you're right and letting history and activists do the hard work trail blazing for everyone...
But now with K in this world I'm more aware. I want to be more involved and I'm proud to proclaim that
. So is K. So is her father... and we'll work hard to pass on to her what my parents gave to me.
The certain knowledge that she can be herself
do anything she chooses.
Last week lilacspecs wrote an inspiring piece: Proudly Proclaiming, I am a Feminist. She encouraged people across the internet to join her and when I read what she and Holly and Missburrows had written on the topic I wanted to join in too.
Of course I missed the part where I was supposed to post on April 3rd (the day I actually read the posts) so I'm a bit late to the party but I'm posting it anyway because I figure there is always time for a good dose of reality.
Speaking of women... I'd like to take just one more moment of your time as I wish someone very special to our family a very happy birthday. Sadimac, you've been an important part of this family for the last 6 years. Happy Birthday. I love you.
