hmmm, just got an interesting email link to a feminist article (http://www.boundless.org/regulars/kaufman/a0000947.html)and i thought that i should at least respond to it as someone who always responds to sexist coments is compelled to do...: i agree fully.
Seriously, i would not consider myself anything less than a feminist in that i expect equal opportunities to be given to men and women of the same calibre. I do however feel strongly about the issue of ability. Women and Men are created differently with different thought patterns, emotions and physicality. Nobody in their right minds would contest that point i don't think. This means that women and men are able to do different things better.... ie: should women be firefighters and police(wo)men? DEFINATELY. IF they are able to do the job as well as their male counterparts. Seriously... how would you feel trapped in a burning building if the female firefighter couldn't do anything her male partners could do because she simply doesn't have the physical strength??? I think i would be pretty disapointed as my house fell in around me and my hair caught on fire. Its like saying to a preschool teacher that they should design and build a bridge, simply because they are interested in civil engineering and have vast experience with Lego. Of course, they have the choice and possibly the ability, but i would like them to be able to prove themselves in a civil engineering exam before i drive over their bridge, adn if they can't pass the exam, i don't want them in that position. its not discriminatory... its common sense!
The whole thing with being created differently leads to different desires and expectations from life. Most people of both genders expect to someday be married/ find a partner with whom to share their lives, and most plan homes and jobs and kids with that. Biologically women are obviously given the choice to reproduce, and even though it sometimes comes at the sacrifice of career or other things in life, pregnancy in itself is a choice.
SO we continue to throw around the catch phrase of the century "CHOICE". it really is a foundation of feminism, and as Matt Kaufman points out - choice means the opportunity to do one of many options. Feminists knock stay-at-home moms for not getting out there to work.... maybe they haven't considered that what Susan B Anthony, Emily Murphy and co were fighting for wasn't to go out and work or go and take over politics or anything like that, but simply to be equals in society. They were really fighting for abolition and temperance and the right to vote, along with other social issues that were affecting women's opportunities to live in equality with men. I mean it was a big deal when Emily Murphy won the battle in 1929,to have England’s Privy Council declared that the term ‘person’ must include women. In my postfeminist view on the world i expect that women and men be given the same chance to opportunities, and may the best qualified and suitable person win. Women do have the chance to get out there and work if they want to, but they are also given the most wonderful opportunity to stay at home with their kids. Now, i'm not advocating for or agianst stay at home moms - i definately want my career to make a difference in the world... but i do think that we're privileged in our society to have the option to stay home if we want it. A year of mat leave? For either parent? REVOLUTIONARY CHOICE FOR BOTH GENDERS! The only difference is that the woman usually gets to use that time to be with her child while her partner has to get out there and make the cash. Who said life was fair? Pain of childbirth vs never being able to give birth yourself? I don't know, pretty powerful. It must feel like you're being excluded from a private mother-child party some days as a dad.
As for not contributing to society... i'm 100% with kaufman on this one... isn't raising children a vital contribution to society? Children will learn what they are taught, and if they're taught that their parent chose to stay at home with them, even at financial loss to her/himself, is that not the most powerful lesson on CHOICE and freedom and love?
Going back to my origional and somewhat sidetracked point about God creating women and men differently, is that God has given women the instict to want to concieve, give birth and create a home for her children, and he has given men the instinct to want to provide for his family. This doesn't mean that they are confining roles - i know some stay at home dads who have raised incredible children and who have seized the opportunity while their wives have chosen to go to work. Either way though, both parents have made the choice, and just as in the work place - may the best parent "win" the chance to be at work or with their kids.
i have so much more to say and think about this topic, but i need to sleep and consider some more. Maybe tomorrow will bring some new insight.
For now... dreamland awaits.
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