Here I sit, a week after returning from the Women's March on DC. The disparaging comments and hostility that are oozing and spewing forth from other women in this country, greatly shock and sadden me. I shouldn't be surprised. I am particularly disappointed because I struggle to take the high road in everything I do personally and professionally. These individuals are taking the low road, and loving it!
As a Feminist, the rallying cry of the French Revolution speaks to me strongly during these times: Liberte, Equalite, Fraternite...
...Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.
As important as equality and fraternity are, it has always been the "Liberty"...the FREEDOM that has been most important to me in my life. It is about the freedom to live your life as a woman and make choices about what that life will look like. My life has not taken the path of a "traditional, conventional" woman. I am grateful for my life. I love my life. But, even during my lifetime; being non-traditional and non-conventional was a struggle. There was always someone around to make sure you knew that you were different...not like everyone else...not "okay" according to their definition.
I leave you with a story about a young woman who worked for me back in the '80s. She had just had her first child and her little boy was having problems. I'd gone to visit her at home to see how she they were doing. She was worried about her son and was feeling pressure from family and friends to return to work. She said: "Everyone is telling me that must work and take care of my son too." She had a husband in the picture, so she had the option of staying home with her child during these difficult times. I hated to lose her on my staff, but I told her:
"Sweetie, Feminism is NOT about telling you how you should live your life. Feminism is about being able to make the choices and decisions that are best for you. It doesn't mean that you have to do it all! Don't let anyone push you to do something that isn't best for you."I could see the relief in her eyes. She left the agency and stayed home with her son. I missed her, but knew that she was doing what was right for her and their sweet family.
How sad that there are some women who judge other women's lives and deem them NOT OKAY because they are different from their own. What part of freedom is NOT understood? How sad that there are some women who are unable to stand together with all women and celebrate our differences, while working toward a common cause or goal. What part of fraternity is NOT understood? Without an Equal Rights Amendment, we know that equality is NOT understood! The sadness is overwhelming.
Liberty, Equality, Fraternity...
Feminism=Freedom!
I wore my pink pussycat hat proudly on the day of the March. I've tried to get Sammie Cat a little excited about it, but as you can see...it's a "whatever" from Sam. And of course, she should NOT be forced to wear one if she doesn't want to!
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