I'm So Not Scarlett O'Hara

It's been one heck of a long week for me and I'm behind on my feminism postings. I do have a couple other topics I wanted to touch upon, but for now I am tired and preparing to face another week of madness. However, I wanted to clarify my own positions in posting these topics at all. A friend of mine, a girl I've known since we were twelve, thirteen or so, pointed out a couple things in her comments to me that I want to clarify.

First, and most important, I want to make it clear that I'm not man-bashing. But pointing out the strengths of women in general is not showcasing men's shortcomings. And pointing out the present day inequalities that still give women a shorter stick than men should not be taken as anything other than a wake up call to each of us to negotiate for ourselves what our equally positioned but differently-gendered colleagues already receive.

Denise said, "I believe in women's rights (now) and believe that girls should aspire to be whatever they want. ... But I also have to admit that I don't like a lot of the ladies you mentioned ... I really think it's because I don't believe you have to lose your FEMININITY to be a FEMINIST. And I believe that a lot of the "pioneers" of women's rights did just that."

The pioneers of women's rights would celebrate your right to think however you want to about them. They did all of us a service, not expecting approval (for the most part, I assume) since what they were doing was a struggle anyway. Each of those women were fighting a narrow piece of the war for women's rights. There are so many rights we used not to have and I doubt the women fighting for them were concerned about their femininity as it must have been more of a shackle in many ways than it is for today's modern women. Besides, some women just aren't as naturally feminine as you and I are, Denisey-weesey. Remember those girls in gym class? You know which ones. Women, be they girly-girls ala Bree VanDeKamp or guitar-weilding Indigo Girls, have the right to freely be who they are. And when was the last time you saw a group of men discussing which of their ilk was more worthy to get ahead based on their level of masculinity? (ahem, leaving football out of the conversation momentarily.)

This sums up my brief and exhausted ramblings for now. To sum up: I love men, especially my own. And while I'm appreciative of the women of the women's rights movements through the ages, I don't think it's necessary to share their fashion styles.

I declare that mine hair shalt never be cut into a mullet, mine bra shalt never be burnt and mine shoes shalt always have a minimal heel to elongate my shackle-free legs. But seriously, let us as women lift each other up in encouragement, even if you may be encouraging a friend in a dream you cannot share or understand. It's the American woman's way.

In addition, I'm going to be traveling with Rich this week (ah, the glamorous life of a cell-technician) so I may only be in and out sporadically when I happen upon a strong enough wireless signal. I'll check in when I can. Love you all and TAKE CARE