While I haven't really even begun to delve into the whole concept of feminism as it pertains to women in their 20s(I'm getting there, I promise!), I wanted to take a second to write about an issue that concerns all women - feminist or not. In my previous life as a social studies teacher I did my best to impart to my students how precious the gift of democracy is. I urged them all to register to vote when they turned eighteen and that their vote did in fact matter. I wish I could scream from the rooftops to let everyone know that with this election, it is even more important than ever to get out and vote and make sure your voice is heard.
I go back and forth between being deathly afraid and outrageously angry at the so-called vice presidential pick of Sarah Palin. I am afraid that people will see something in her that they feel will be a positive thing and vote her into office. With all the glaring evidence that screams the opposite, I still fear that people will vote against women and for Sarah Palin.
Just to drive home my fear, let me share some articles that shine the light clearly on what I mean:
Sarah Palin's sex-ed stance
Women paying for own rape kits under Sarah Palin's term as Mayor of Wasilla.
Fiscally irresponsible
and if you need any more convincing, let other Women Against Sarah Palin show you what I mean.
The fact that a woman in office could essential end rights that other women so valiantly fought for scares me. And, like I mentioned before, angers me as well! I have never been this fired up about an election before. I want to encourage others who may be intrigued by Ms. Palin because she's a female candidate to do research and see what she is truly all about. How she is not for women in every sense. Please, read the wise words of Eve Ensler, Gloria Steinem and heck, even Margaret Cho on this one...
Friday, September 19, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
So, where were we?
I wonder if I had a full time job, would I be better able to keep up with this blog?
As it is, I have brief moments of genius where I think of something fabulous and noteworthy I want to blog about, but then I get distracted by EZ tossing a ball at my head, demanding we play or I look up and realize it's almost dinner time and nothing is on the stove. Of course, by the time EZ is tucked away in bed and I have a few moments to write I have completely forgotten what it was that I wanted to write about.
sigh.
As it is, I have brief moments of genius where I think of something fabulous and noteworthy I want to blog about, but then I get distracted by EZ tossing a ball at my head, demanding we play or I look up and realize it's almost dinner time and nothing is on the stove. Of course, by the time EZ is tucked away in bed and I have a few moments to write I have completely forgotten what it was that I wanted to write about.
sigh.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Is there a middle ground?
Not to start a new invasion of the "Mommy Wars" but let's go there anyway...
There have been many battles waged. The premise that working moms were abandoning their children while feminists cried out that women who stayed home were oppressed. Then a wave of women declaring that feminism allowed them to make the *choice* of whether to go to work or stay home and a number of women dropped out of the workplace to raise their families. Although some feminists still suggest that staying home is "the wrong choice" and that the idea of "choice" in the first place is a misnomer. This articlefrom 2005 provides a good overview of this idea.
While interviewing women for my thesis, this was one issue that I saw over and over again. Childless women pondering what will happen when they do have kids - will they leave the workforce and if so is that a slap in the face to the women who have fought to get them to that position in the first place? New mothers wondering if going back to work so quickly was the right choice - were their children hurting from it or learning feminist ideals from it. And then the mothers who stayed home wondering how they could promote feminist ideals while vacuuming the living room and baking peach cobbler.
In my mind I struggle with the question of "How does a stay-at-home mom ensure her feminist ideals shine through?". I'm not asking whether or not it is considered feminist to stay at home or not. Let somebody else fight that one. I consider myself a feminist and I do, in fact, stay at home, so clearly my take on that is clear. But my real concern is how not to slip into the Betty Friedan described fear of the Feminine Mystique.
In true mama fashion, my son has woken up from his nap, so these musings must wait for a little bit...
There have been many battles waged. The premise that working moms were abandoning their children while feminists cried out that women who stayed home were oppressed. Then a wave of women declaring that feminism allowed them to make the *choice* of whether to go to work or stay home and a number of women dropped out of the workplace to raise their families. Although some feminists still suggest that staying home is "the wrong choice" and that the idea of "choice" in the first place is a misnomer. This articlefrom 2005 provides a good overview of this idea.
While interviewing women for my thesis, this was one issue that I saw over and over again. Childless women pondering what will happen when they do have kids - will they leave the workforce and if so is that a slap in the face to the women who have fought to get them to that position in the first place? New mothers wondering if going back to work so quickly was the right choice - were their children hurting from it or learning feminist ideals from it. And then the mothers who stayed home wondering how they could promote feminist ideals while vacuuming the living room and baking peach cobbler.
In my mind I struggle with the question of "How does a stay-at-home mom ensure her feminist ideals shine through?". I'm not asking whether or not it is considered feminist to stay at home or not. Let somebody else fight that one. I consider myself a feminist and I do, in fact, stay at home, so clearly my take on that is clear. But my real concern is how not to slip into the Betty Friedan described fear of the Feminine Mystique.
In true mama fashion, my son has woken up from his nap, so these musings must wait for a little bit...
Monday, September 8, 2008
The 33rd What?
A few weeks after handing in my master's thesis project I delivered my son EZ. Except for graduation, when I spoke to my fellow students, I haven't had much time to think about the work that I did on my final project. Over a year and a half has passed since then, and I find my mind drifting to regurgitate many of the themes I touched on in my thesis.
My thesis, 32 Flavors and Then Some: A Look at Case Studies of “Twenty-Something” Females in Today’s Society started off examining where various 20-something women from around the country saw themselves and ended up being a discussion surrounding feminism and its place for young women of this generation. I had just found out that I was pregnant when I began collecting data and interviewing subjects. I am sure that this colored my research in some manner and I even kept a journal where I could think even further outside the box and connect my research to my own personal life. When I reflect on the data that I gathered and what it all means, I'm still not sure, and that is where this blog comes into play. The title is a spin off on my thesis project title. (since 32flavors.blogspot.com was already taken!). My husband, MD, suggested the name as the "33rd Flavor" could be one of reflection and discussion on the previous 32 flavors...Then he likened it to the 19th hole and as soon as the golf analogies started I tuned out. But, I still like the name!
I'm hoping to revisit some of the theories I began working on in my thesis and flesh them out further, dissect them, and discuss them with all who are interested!
My thesis, 32 Flavors and Then Some: A Look at Case Studies of “Twenty-Something” Females in Today’s Society started off examining where various 20-something women from around the country saw themselves and ended up being a discussion surrounding feminism and its place for young women of this generation. I had just found out that I was pregnant when I began collecting data and interviewing subjects. I am sure that this colored my research in some manner and I even kept a journal where I could think even further outside the box and connect my research to my own personal life. When I reflect on the data that I gathered and what it all means, I'm still not sure, and that is where this blog comes into play. The title is a spin off on my thesis project title. (since 32flavors.blogspot.com was already taken!). My husband, MD, suggested the name as the "33rd Flavor" could be one of reflection and discussion on the previous 32 flavors...Then he likened it to the 19th hole and as soon as the golf analogies started I tuned out. But, I still like the name!
I'm hoping to revisit some of the theories I began working on in my thesis and flesh them out further, dissect them, and discuss them with all who are interested!
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