Alabama Liberation Front puts together a collection of links -- and some pointed commentary -- on the topic of a pair of breasts in the company of the former President of the United States.
There's all this talk, from both sides of the political fence, about feminism and its place (or lack thereof) in society today.
Well, it may still be a hangover from my days of yoot, but I consider myself to be a feminist. It's not the first word I use to describe myself, but it falls in the top ten, politically and socially.
But then, I'm not a foaming, man-hating, bra-burning libber, either. For starters, I can't afford to burn my bra. Those things aren't cheap -- especially once you get above a C-cup, and I'm most decidedly past that. Which brings me to the other reason I won't be burning that cotton-lycra band of support. I lose the bra, I end up with bruised knees every time I walk.
Okay, slight exaggeration. It's the hips I worry about.
But the real difference isn't in the foundation garments. Tits, their coverage, and their uses are the least of it. I get the sense that I'm not that much of an exception, as feminists go, except that I call myself a feminist where other women would not:
I am a feminist who believes that you can toss your God-given talents about for whatever advantage they gain you. Just remember, the old adage that "clothes make the man" isn't about scarecrows. It reflects interpersonal communications. Your wardrobe -- and the frame you hang it on -- advertises you, as you would sell yourself. Look in the mirror before you go out, and decide what image you project. A skin-tight sweater which leaves little to the imagination says "professional", all right. Or, at least, "enthusiastic amateur." Is that what you want people to see? If so, groovy. If not, blame yourself for not paying attention to your own nonverbal cues.
I am a feminist who believes we can have female friends outside our own specific interests, and that a woman you do not know who offers critical observations is not necessarily being a snotty, meddling, know-it-all b*tch. She may simply be thinking out loud. Or, she may actually have a point. If you play your cards right, she could become a darned good ally to have watching your six.
I am a feminist who believes that it benefits women, children, and even men, for us to live in friendly companionship with men. I like men. We should all get to know at least a few of them of varying backgrounds and interests and physical attributes before we go judging them and finding fault with any of them.
Boys are nice, boys are fun.
Thank you, God, for every one.
I am a feminist who believes that the only equality we should be guaranteed is equality of educational opportunity, and that, beyond that, we're on our own. If you can't or won't do your homework when you're 13, don't expect to earn millions annually as CEO of some multinational conglomerate, and don't blame the guy who became said CEO. If some jackass or jenny refuses to hire you based on perceived deficiencies due to chromosome-leg variances, go get yourself a job at the competition & work your way up the ranks -- or start your own company -- then do your darnedest to wipe the offending company off the face of the financial pages, and let the board of that company know that the reason they are failing is because their personnel department's horse-mule hybrid was too stupid to hire you. Don't seethe and whine. You'll just prove his/her point.
I am a feminist who believes that, regardless of political party, we should be considering the well-being of other women worldwide, and do what little each of us can do to help others in need. We should stand up and do our best to see that the Taleban does not regain its power to destroy the lives of women in Afghanistan. We should stand and make our leaders take responsibility for helping women in Iraq, so that they never again have to face rape squads, never have to see their children gassed for the sake of one man's vanity. We should demand our leaders act to help women in Darfur, in Somalia, in the Arab world, in China.... wherever women are treated, by law or custom, as chattel. And, we should stand against those women and men who support despots who continue to oppress women... in Cuba, in Venezuela, etc. (yes, that's one helluva sentence. But a true feminist would show intolerance toward those who oppress. Period. And a true feminist would know the difference between a man who believes in freedom and a man who hates freedom, simply by how many of his own people are jailed and/or shot for speaking against him, or for suffering from AIDS. Compare/contrast actual data, not vitriol.)
I am a feminist who believes that a woman has the right to choose... whether or not to pursue a career. And so does her husband, if she has one. So long as they are satisfied with the results, and it's not costing anybody else a thing, it should be nobody else's business.
I am a feminist who believes that a woman has the right to choose... whether or not to have sex, and if yes, then whether or not to have/raise a baby. But with those choices, there must be at least a second person included in that decision. Both require joint responsibility.
I am a feminist who believes that protection of life is always preferable to termination of it. There is always somebody who wants to love the child you don't want or can't raise. There is always a chance that the patient might recover, in this age of medical miracles. We shouldn't discard a single precious heartbeat.
I could go on all day, but suffice it to say, I don't fall into that old militant leftwing NOW feminist camp. However, even if you do, that doesn't make you any less of a feminist. The best thing about a true feminism movement is that it means we are all allowed to be and think differently -- black, white, yellow, red, rich, poor, buxom, naifish and all points in between. Even male and female.
The French at least had one thing right: vive la difference!
No comments:
Post a Comment