When I write something like my last post, I feel a little concerned that I'm coming off like a bully. I don't want to bully anybody into feeling the way I feel or making the choices that I make.
It's hard because, for me, these kinds of issues - women's roles, self-image, places in society, a pejorative standard of femininity... they're so crystal clear in my mind. I feel like, if people would just think about what's happening in the world, they would see that being made into something homogenized and consumable is bad. I feel like I'm an ordinary woman living an ordinary life, and it's so obvious to me that I'm worth more than I'm told. It's obvious that I'm being pressured to feel badly about myself so that I'll be more easily convinced to stay in my place and buy something.
When I talk about these things, it's not because I'm trying to buck the system or start a revolution. I just want the women in my life, and in everybody's lives, to believe that they are as amazing, capable and important as they are.
I do understand that not everybody is receptive to me and my ideas. I understand that there are many prejudices in place so that when I start talking about feminism and what it means to be a woman in society, some people will be turned off. Ideas about what women are worth are so closely embedded with ongoing political, religious and societal arguments that it is really impossible for me to moderate the way I'm being perceived by an individual person.
So, if I've made you feel alienated, pressured or harangued, I apologize. I never intend to make any person feel picked on or harassed. Just as I expect that my readers will understand that I'm not pushing an agenda, rather that I'm simply interested in preserving positivity... I hope that you can count on me to be fair to people.
Anyway, thank you for being here for me and with me. I really have gotten so much out of the experience of sharing my thoughts and life with you.
i don't think there's anything wrong with starting a revolution. ;) i love reading your posts on feminism. i know so many women who are on total opposite extremes of the spectrum, but you have a much more balanced perspective of womanhood.
ReplyDeleteAll is well with your opinions, they are yours, and if we didn't want to read them simple enough not too. Your take on feminism is refreshing but there are a lot of us who walked your path many years ago. We continue to hold the same beliefs that we had in the '60's and 70's, our platform was just different. I love that you mix so many aspects of your life, and so glad that you are willing to share them with us.
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