My womanly destiny

What am I here on earth to do?

Surprisingly, my gender has nothing to do with the answer. I just am meant to live and hopefully be happy. Though I realized that if I asked some other people their statements would be quite different(for their lives and mine!!!).

For example, a friend acquaintance old high school buddy someone I knew basically told me that because I am a woman, my destiny in life is to be a loving mother and obedient wife. She gave my "husband" the job of protecting me because I am 'vulnerable' as a woman and basically told me that my only expectation should be being a good mother/wife. So that person was told to "eff off" in nicer terms and later deleted from my Facebook friends list. (I just couldn't get over the fact that someone would tell me what she believes I should do with my life and still be allowed to be my friend...that's not friendly, that's rude.)

Although, I aspire to be a good mother and hopefully a good (read) partner! I have no desire to be just that. I don't think I would be happy or content being just that. I am NOT talking down to stay at home mom's here, or people who are content being an obedient wife. If that is the choice you made and you are happy with it, I am happy for you. Promise. But for my own life, I would rather choose if that is the one for me.

And luckily, thanks to the feminist movement I can choose.

Here are the wonderful things that the past feminists movements help women, men and children do:*

• have a say in our government. Thank you feminists for the right to vote. 
• be our own person. Thank you feminists for helping me be a person and not a piece of property to my father or my husband. 
• fairness in education. Thank you feminists for opening the doors for schooling (which I so love). 
• fairness in sports. Thank you feminists for allowing us the right to enjoy playing sports and have equal access with men to do so. 
• have access and say in their reproductive lives. Thank you feminists for the access of reproductive care, birth control, sexual health education and any other thing that will help us be responsible humans with children. 
• created programs to help victims of so  many types of abuse become survivors. Thank you feminists for working hard for the victims who so often can not speak for themselves. 

So thank you feminism...and no thank you ex-facebook friend for your offer of having me "remember" what I am here on earth for. I'll be in charge of that, thank you. 

*This list is in no way complete or ALL of the work feminists have done in order to protect our lives. But in my life, this is what I benefit from most thanks to feminists. Feel free to add your own. 

Back from Vacation?: I hope so

I have debated whether I want to start writing in this blog or not again. I do miss getting feedback, but more likely I miss being more politically involved. I am going to try to connect my life experiences with feminism and connect it to the big issues in the U.S. (and the world) today.

What have I been doing for the last few months? Good question. I'll sum it up for you.

• I have been pregnant. Yup, another feminist bringing a child in this world. Don't worry GOP, I'll make sure he has a choice to be on your side. I will try not to make him gay for you. (Sarcasm...how I love thee).
• Working, working, working. I have had a full time job this whole summer. First, I started at an amazing feminist non-profit organization. I loved it there, but I wasn't really good at it. And driving to St. Paul everyday was kind of stressful. Luckily, I received a job at another amazing (though not feminist) non-profit that does pay me a bit more and has better hours for a soon to be mom and grad student.
• Reading. I hope to share what I have learned about the death penalty, Pope Joan, being a mama's boy and well, Stephen King. 
• Moving in to my own place (with my supportive partner) and adopting a kitty with disabilities. 

Getting out of that toxic environment that I lived and worked in was definitely something I needed. I am ready to be successful in graduate school with out the drama of trying to figure out why my life was spiraling so much out of control because of work issues. Luckily, I currently have a very healthy atmosphere at work and at home now, so I feel as though I can once again do what I love....which is to learn and share what I learn. 

So is this the end of the year hiatus? I hope so.