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Why I’m Glad to Be a Woman
In no particular order . . .
–I don’t have to worry about being drafted and having to fight on the front lines alongside men. (Not until full equality is achieved, anyway.)
–I got to stay home to raise the kids when they were small and vulnerable and sweet. (It consisted of a lot more than “wiping noses,” nor was it “thankless.”)
–I get to love and enjoy the role of Mom in my grown kids’ lives.
–I live in a culture where a Judeo-Christian outlook shapes beliefs about women’s importance and the way they are to be treated.
–I’m not necessarily expected to carry the responsibility of being the breadwinner for our family.
–There are scores of satisfying career options available to me these days, and I’ve already stumbled in to three of them.
–I live in a time when my contribution at work is welcomed and sought as part of a team effort (and I happen to be working with strong male leadership).
–My job doesn’t consist of hauling, building, or digging all day–stuff I’m not good at.
–I get to be the protectee and providee in a traditional marriage arrangement.
–I live in a time where female participation in many public and private spheres is flourishing (despite those who claim otherwise), and women’s concerns are taken seriously.
–I was not expected to participate in tackle football with the guys, but got to play gentler sports such volleyball. (If an intense game of foursquare did my knee in, what would football have done to me?)
–I get to dress up in feminine colors and styles, and wear make up and enjoy shopping.
–I had access to just as much educational opportunity as my male counterparts–if I wanted to pursue an interest, no one would have thought of trying to stop me.
–I receive small courtesies from men, such as having doors opened for me.
–I get all the perks of being a woman, yet I also get to have as rich an intellectual life as I choose. Books, discussions, courses–they are all available to me.
Published in Culture
The repression you’re experiencing is just boiling below the surface of this post.
I can only speak for us, but the missus and I were pretty sure that no one was more capable of bringing up our boys than her. We were right. And I think most guys want it that way.
We are truly spoiled! I cherish being a mother and wife!
I found a career I loved and was good at but I always secretly wanted to be a housewife. Now I am retired and have my secret wish. Yay me!
It’s just awful. Really.
I would prefer not to be a human. I’m happy that you like what you are.
Does human at least make it into your top ten preferred species?
Sawatdeeka, I was staring at my keyboard this evening, thinking about how to express the degree to which I resent the denigration of manliness, and saw your entirely positive defense of honest human sexuality. Defending either true femininity or true masculinity inherently defends the other as well. As is so often the case where women are concerned, your way of doing it is nicer than what I had in mind.
So thank you.
I was thinking more along the lines of Angels, sentient robots or benevolent fairies. But in terms of actual species let me think.
1) Elephants
2) Orcas
3) Dogs
4) Octopi
5) Bonoboes
6) Alligators (great moms)
7) Penguins
8) Cockatiels
I guess maybe my ninth favorite animal species is human. If I had to include my favorite fungi and or plant species I’m not sure where humans would place.
As I mentioned on another thread Henry, I would never accuse you of writing sober…
This is one of my favorite things. And men so appreciate when women express genuine gratitude for those little courtesies. It’s delightful in every way, and makes both parties feel special and respected.
Some guy got lucky when he married you.
Me and you both, sister. Preach!
Amen to that! One lucky guy!
Thank you so much for this lovely piece- I loved every single word of it and it was so wonderful to hear words of grace and gentility and elegance in the sea of all the opposite qualities we now are living in. However, if I may take the liberty of singling out one particular part, it would be this line, as it so beautifully sums up the way I feel about what is clearly an endangered set of courtesies I, and many if not most in my generation, were taught to show members of the fairer sex. As an example, it is so hard-wired into my very existence to stand when a lady enters the room I am incapable of remaining seated and, these days, I get the feeling–most of the time–that I am thought to be “showing off” or “virtue signaling” when the opposite is true and that is that it is a matter of instinct. A similar example would be that I always at least make an effort to hold a lady’s chair when she sits down; I don’t believe I have ever not done that for My Lady and try to do it for others as well. There have been times when I have held a door open for a lady-especially a young lady- and her reaction is one of something beyond mere surprise as if she maybe thought this was only something one saw in ancient movies like Gone With The Wind. Actually, I find that kind of sad, that so many young women apparently are shown so little of the courtesy these days to which they should be entitled. Once My Lady and I had been in a bank conducting some business and when we left and got to the car, I held the car door open for her, as I usually try to remember to do. On our next visit to the bank, we were treated to exclamations of appreciation from two of the young women who had obviously observed the scene from their window overlooking the parking lot!
I would love to meet you and, more than that, would love for you to meet My Lady, as I have a definite idea you two would really get along!
I would also like to meet your husband to be able to tell him personally what a lucky guy he is.
Thanks for such a refreshing waft of fresh air; so very welcome in our present society.
Sincerely, Jim
Thank you for your kind note. I enjoyed reading that. It would be great to meet you and your wife. If you’re ever in Northwest Montana, we should make a plan.
How I do wish I could get back to your incredibly beautiful state! I spent a summer with my Aunt who was a nurse at one of the hospitals in Billings, very long ago–I vaguely recall I was still in high school and about to enter LSU… it was one of those times in life one never forgets! We had dinner at a restaurant on “The Rim” (hope I remembered that right- it’s been many, many decades!) and I can still remember the sight of the city and all the city lights below.
Thanks again for the post — it was a genuinely rare gem.
Sincerely, Jim