Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Feminism...Um Not!


Sometimes you just have to write what you feel. Yesterday, my older girls and I had a wonderful, as in my kids are smarter than I ever was, kind of discussion over feminism. None of us, we decided firmly, want that label for all the causes we feel it does not take up. We feel very strongly that some things are worth fighting for and sadly feminism has left women in the lurch and flailing for their place in today's world.

We decided we are for women's rights:
The right to walk to your car without fear.
The right to not have your head smacked by an abusive boyfriend in an elevator and somehow he does not land in jail.
The right to have women held high in society and not put in their half naked underwear and sold all over the media as your only means to promote yourself.
The right to not be viewed as sexual objects in every facet of society except when you breastfeed in public and then you are in the wrong.
The right to work or stay home and not be bashed by other women for your choice.

Frankly, why more men aren't up in arms over what is happening to women in society stumps me. Every man had a mother and possibly sisters, daughters, a wife. But you know until we women as a group demand respect for ourselves, society will not give it.

If you disagree with me, I am sorry but this is my blog and my thoughts and we have to start standing up for the rights women really deserve.

22 comments:

  1. I agree, Elaine! Well said!

    Denise at Forest Manor

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  2. I agree 100% but that woman tha she
    Was smash in the elevator don't have
    Respect from me she is with him
    Because the mony so that's the problem this day
    Thank you so much for your comment
    XOX

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  3. Excellent post! And I love the way you've rearranged things for a header. Very pretty!

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  4. I so agree. I wish more people did. Glad I'm not a NFL wife.
    It is great that you can have this discussion with your daughters.
    Shame on those that take advantage of women. They sure couldn't live without us.

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  5. I so agree.
    As for demanding respect, more woman are going to have to act like ladies to earn that. When we have women out there like Miley Cyress in the spotlight for acting so trashy, it sets us back to where some men see women as only that.
    I think to change society's thinking, we have to be sure that our sons are taught to respect women. They learn by example so our husbands have to be sure that they see their sons respecting their mothers.
    We may not be able to change the world, but we can help change our little corner of it.

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  6. I agree!
    I do. We as women need to be teaching this to our daughters!
    I believe standing up for ourselves is so important. You made a good point as to the men in the world-- they need to be taught these things too.
    Where do you draw the line though? Women hitting men to gain respect, attention or for their own gain isn't right either.
    Thank you for teaching your daughters well.
    We must teach our sons and daughters these things--to be kind, loving and good.
    we never ever have to teach them to be self righteous and selfish...it is their human nature to be those things. :/
    Glad you wrote this.

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  7. Respect should be earned by both men and women but personal safety is your right no matter what.
    Merle.........

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  8. I totally agree Elaine and it's wonderful that you are talking about it with your daughters!!! And hopefully, they will talk about it with their girlfriends and they'll talk about it with their Moms and girlfriends and now you have the "ripple affect"!!
    BTW- love the picture with your girl's hair french braided!!! I miss braiding my own daughter's hair. They are now 32 and 30!! Both very strong, smart, lovely women! (but will always be my Babies!!)

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  9. Great post! Wonderfully written and oh so true.

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  10. Well said, Elaine! I'm always so happy to see someone else teaching their girls about what's really important. Here in the middle of liberal East Dallas, sometimes I feel like I'm the only one :(

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  11. You know my hubby and I have always
    wondered why all these women's rights
    groups never seem to have a problem
    with women being exploited by pornography and the sex trade, let
    alone the women in other countries
    who are treated scandalously, and
    are mutilated and all kinds of stuff.
    Guess all that matters is if we have
    the right to choose to abort a baby
    or have someone pay for our birth control. Pretty sad!!

    Blessings, Nellie

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  12. Yes indeed Elaine, very well said!

    x

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  13. I agree with you! I'm glad you talk to your daughters about these things. My son and I have a very open and honest relationship and I talk to him about women a lot (and how they should be treated and respected). My husband isn't as verbal as I am, but he is a great "living" example to our son as to how to treat a woman. Unfortunately, some of these women that our son has met obviously do not respect themselves. I've heard some real horror stories. It's very sad.

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  14. ... wonderful post Elaine..
    we are always open about these things in my family .
    I don't like labels and I believe in 'Human" rights...we all deserve respect.
    Hugs and Blessings... Barb xxx

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  15. Sadly many men are raised in households where the women are still treated like property in their homes. The men manage the $$$, make all the big decisions- "don't worry your little brain honey, I've got it". Sad. I raised my 3 girls to know they don't have to have children to be fulfilled, if that's what they want. They don't have to get married at a certain age, that they could get a good education, and that it's ok to out-earn their spouse. They seemed to have been listening :)

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  16. I am late to comment on this but I have to say I totally agree with you. I am old enough to remember how feminism started as a rebellion against being nothing but a sex object, unfortunately girls today are under more pressure than ever to value themselves mainly for how they look. Until we as women respect ourselves enough to not dress and act like our sex is the only thing we have to offer, we won't get the respect we deserve from other people either. Bravo for raising your girls as you do Elaine. You are such a good mother!

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