Laura
I am reading Backlash by Susan Faludi. It was written in the early 90s,
but I am betting that most of it is still true. The only advance that
has been made since then, to my knowledge, is the Family Leave Act. Her
premise is that there is a campaign to counter the women's movement, to
blame the "success" of the women's movement for all of the woes that
women face today. I think she's right. Promise Keepers anyone?
I worked for a Promise Keeper once. He was a very nice man, although
listening to his philosophy made me slightly ill. I got pregnant with my
youngest when I was working for him, and when he found out I was going
to be returning to work after maternity leave, he looked like I was
planning to commit murder.
It is scary; a movement to take back the control over their own lives
that women have fought so hard to gain. We're too worn out from the
burden of working AND raising children, and from having to make
decisions, etc. Let the man make the money, honey, and you stay home and
take care of the kids. Then when he trades you in for a younger model in
twenty years you can be just as bad off as a woman divorced in the 50s -
no work history, no credit rating, no skills. Then you'll have to rely
on the good graces of your ex-spouse until you line up a new money
maker, which of course will be difficult because now you aren't the
spring chicken that you once were. The boobs are sagging, the ass is
flabby, you've got spider veins all over your legs from the four kids,
and dark circles under your eyes from the sleepless nights wondering
what in the hell you're going to do now.
I am a Heartless Bitch because I will not allow such a thing to happen
to me. While my children are important to me, motherhood is not my only
reason for being on this earth. I have no interest in becoming dependent
on any man. I would like to have one in my life, the RIGHT one, but if
he does not come along, being alone is better than being with the wrong
person.
Yes! I want to read more from Real Life Heartless Bitches
|
