When did I start thinking like this?

On tonight's episode of The Current Lifestyle, When did I start thinking like this?

This post has taken some thought and time. I really have no idea how to start it. At first I was going to title it, when did I start thinking more like a feminist? However, I'm not sure I completely agree with every single point feminists stand for. So, I guess when did I start thinking like this? Even though it was more broad, it didn't single me out one way or another.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have noticed, as well as my husband, that I have been increasingly argumentative when it comes to any topic on human rights. I may not always be right or win the argument, but the passion behind it is real enough. I then can turn anything into a wrong doing against women.

 For example, after my husband had left for work one morning, I was cleaning up my daughter after her breakfast. While I do this I like to listen to NPR. NPR had reported that two male university students from country A (because I can't remember the country I'll call it that) had traveled to country B and had been sexually assaulted. Country A was now getting involved with country B for mistreating it's two male citizens. (I tried to find this article online so that I could use it as a resource, however, I can't remember the title.) Because this assault had taken place in the middle east, and this had happened right around the time India was taking up a big rape case for the first time in defense of a woman, I was pissed, for lack of a better word. Country A and country B, I'm glad they got involved to help their citizens. No one, male or female deserves to be sexually assaulted. However, knowing the history of those two countries, I was angered by the thought that had those students been female, those countries might have killed them, beat them, or it might have gone unreported out of fear. (Also assuming the females were permitted to go to school in the first place)


So, later on that evening when my husband returned home, and we were lying in bed, he happilly showed me a picture on FB. Now, I can laugh at jokes, but this day I wasn't laughing.

This was the FB post

I immediately became defensive and responded, well, our friend so and so is a vegetarian and he doesn't have a vagina. I think he's pretty manly. Then I kept going with, why does the worst insult to a guy have to be something that is feminine? Why can't you just call him an ass? Everyone has one, male or female. My husband responded with, because "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach, unless he's a vegetarian then you can get there through his ass??? Doesn't sound right." Now, I'm not trying to make you as the reader hate my husband, he has a point, no, it's not as funny, but it still bothered me.
I started to tell him about how this morning news story bothered me. That's when he said, "what or where has this all come from?" I angerly responded what the hell do you mean? It's just not right, and even though it's far away, similar things happen like that here in the states too. Women get paid less then men in the work force, female sports aren't broadcast anywhere near to the extent of male sports, much less are the athletes paid like them, look at the difference in medical care, our government has to decide if to "make" companies cover birth control, abortion (enough said), maternity leave in this country vs lets say Canada, female parts are either made to be dirty or slutty in our society, and I'm sick of hearing the phrase, "you hit like a girl...or you do such and such like a girl!" Why do we do that to our females? Then we also on the same token wonder why girls have self esteem issues.

The argument heated up further when my husband concluded that the source of all of this anger was from an ad I had also seen on FB from the company, Always. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjJQBjWYDTs

(Click the link above to view) I thought it was a powerful ad and tastefully done.We eventually were able to get our points across and we had to agree to disagree on some issues.

Now some of you would point out that I'm a feminist. The definition of feminist is advocating social, political, legal, and economic rights for women equal to those of men. Yes, by the definition, I could be labeled as such, however, I'm now a stay at home mom and I'm not out their physically advocating for equal rights. I also like my job at home. I clean and cook and believe it or not, I like it! I depend on my husbands income to survive. When I was working as a teacher and brought home a paycheck, that made my claims stronger, however, we as a family chose for me to stay home with our daughter. Also, I believe there needs to be a healthy balance advocating for equal rights. Most feminists today, are being shamed for what critics are saying, that feminists want special treatment. I don't believe that true feminists want special treatment. 

So, back to my real question, when did I start thinking like this? Was it when I had my daughter? Was it when I turned 30, or did I finally grow up? Maybe a combination of all including thinking for myself. Maybe my husband was right, the Always ad might have sparked a little flame in me. Let's say that is so, then I thank you Always. Because now, I ask the questions. I ask WHY. This country needs to seriously take a look at it's people. We are all people. From the racism issues to the equality for GLBT community, to disability equal rights to gender rights, our country needs to take a step back. We need to fix our county on the inside before going off and changing other countries. Just like a doctor tells you, you can't help others with out helping yourself first. How are you going to take care of someone when you can not take care of yourself? (In no way is this insensitive to those men and women serving this country. I have family in the military too. Without them, I couldn't even bitch about this topic without my some sort of punishment. Thank you for fighting for my first Amendment rights among other freedoms.)

I believe our country can be better than it is today. I want that for my daughter. I know this post is nothing like my previous posts, however, I needed to get that out. Feel free to comment and agree or disagree. I'm not bothered. I can handle it.

Want to discuss another topic that pushes my buttons? Ask me about sexual abuse.
 

 Please leave a comment. Make sure it's tasteful though, because otherwise, I wont read it.




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