Women of the World Unite

[battlecat]

 

 Please read the whole entry before making comments. Thank-you

 

 

Feminism. To me this word brings one main thing to mind, choices. We now have choices. So why are we attacking each other's way of life and family? We need to stop judging each other's decisions and thinking it has to me MY way. Honestly ladies, there is no absolute when it comes to balancing our own sense of self and our family. Its what works for us as individuals.

    My choice. Well I wasn't really presented with the opportunity to choose but in any case, was to stay home with my child. This doesnt make me less of a feminist or too old fashion or even brain washed by men. I often speak to women who are working mothers, and bless them for being able to do it, who usually look down upon me because I am at home with my daughter. Well, then they find out why I am at home with my daughter, a disability, and suddenly it is okay. Why isn't okay if she is well too ladies? The same goes to the other side. Stay at home mothers sometimes look down upon working mothers. Act like they are neglectful of their children. No. They are not. This is simply what works for their family. They are not less of a mother just as stay at home mothers are not less of an empowered woman.

    I thought we were supposed to stick together ladies. We need to remember what feminism is really about. We have been given the right to choose now and even if only to each other we need to respect each other's decisions. Sometimes as women we expect to much from ourselves in that we have sort of backed ourselves into a corner. We have to have the successful career, the wonderful husband or partner, the perfect children, the lovely clean home, food on the table and we have to look pretty doing all of it. Feminism. An idea that was supposed to break down all the stereotypes of the woman at home with the baby, cooking and cleaning with no brain in her head. We need to remember what our mothers of feminism first set out to do. Free us from all those woman stereotypes. However, we may have in fact created a new one in their place. The idea of having to be able to do it all. We need to love each other ladies and remember we are all made the same way and its okay to ask for help. We need to be able to admit we sometimes cant do it all and not feel like less of a woman because of it. As for me I am off to cook some dinner for my family. My choice.

[MomOnTheEdge]

Jan. 23, 2007 at 6:49 PM

I have been a working mom, a part-time working mom and now a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom, and in six, short years I will be a mom with kids in college.  My philosphy...everything in its time and place.  Working mom...stay-at-home mom...it doesn't matter because we are all Moms trying to do our very best in a very complicated world.

That's my two cents on the subject.

[bobthepepperma]

Jan. 23, 2007 at 6:50 PM

Sing it sister!!!!  You are so right!!!  We feel so much pressure.  But most of the time its pressure we put on ourselves and each other!  Stay home with the kids or work.  Breast feed or bottle feed.  Cloth diapers or disposable...  We could go on and on!  For none of these is there a clear cut right or wrong, just what is right for each of us as an individual.

We should support each other.  We need to help each other, unite.  Together we can do great things. 

battlecat, bravo!

[kirsten1]

Jan. 23, 2007 at 6:51 PM you go girl. i agree 100% i worked until my youngest was 8 months. she's 61|2 now. i love it & am proud.every women has to do what is right for their family.whether you stay home or work you are making sacrifices.

[BeWhatLoveIs]

Feb. 20, 2008 at 1:27 AM

I agree, each has her own path as a mother. There is enough judgement in the world. I think a lot of this judgement of, "she's a bad mom because she stays home" or "shes a bad mom because she works" is just a lack of understanding.

I have stayed home with my kids and my experience has been pretty respectful and positive from people when I tell them, for the most part. I also homeschool and I think I have received more judgement from some people (but also much respect from other people) against me for that choice than for my choice to be a stay home mother. I don't stay home because of any persons idea but my own. I am too set to do what I feel is right for me. I do it because that's where I love to be.

The more experiences we all have I think the less judgemental we tend to be. Probably people judging just don't know, haven't walked in those shoes.

Either way, at home or at work, each requires a special strength and that's the truth.