fairdare
  • blog
  • Fairdare
  • ethical brands
  • zero-waste
  • zero-waste meals
  • about

female

10/4/2018

2 Comments

 
Picture
Like so many of us, I've been grappling with how to feel about the state of things most especially these past few weeks. Becoming overwhelmed by anger or spiraling into a state of despair are tempting but ill-advised options when there are daughters to fight for...sons...friends...sisters...fellow humans too. The patriarchy has never so clearly been revealed as the enemy in my awareness as it is right now. This week a man with a lot of power said, "It's a very scary time for young men in America." What an even more scary time it is for young women then. When we identify more with the aggressors than with the victims in any given situation...whether we are thinking of police shootings, systemic racism, white supremacy, rape or assault...we need to question our alignment + motives. (Yep, I understand that he's identifying with who he sees as the (raging) victim...but in this situation that completely ignores the credibility + suffering of Christine Blasey Ford.)

My heart breaks for girls + boys who's perceptions of trust + entitlement are shaken + broken not only by their personal circumstances, but by the news from the very highest positions of power! The messaging is not subtle. You won't be believed. You have to have proof...but only if you are the victim. We don't want to disrupt a white, middle to upper class boy's life. You must have worn the wrong thing, said the wrong thing, drank too much. You can get away with it. Boys will be boys + girls will be trash. Further objectification (rather than the valuing of human worth + enduring love) will be the result. I wonder how to fight it. How do I keep cynicism from taking over the developing minds in my care? How do I nurture hope + compassion in the face of such disregard for all things female?

We give what we do not always get from others.

At the very least women can believe women. We can vote for women. We can run for office or encourage our female friends to do so. We can advocate for women. We can cheer for + support women who make the same decisions as us + for those who make different decisions for themselves. We can love + champion working mamas + work-at-home mamas + single mamas + women who aren't mamas + women who want to be mamas + differently abled women + refugee mamas + immigrant mamas + incarcerated mamas + addicted mamas + sick mamas + pregnant mamas + gay women + dying women + minimum wage earning mamas + poor girls + rich girls + bullied girls + enslaved women + transgender women + raped women + assaulted women + battered women + homeless women + Muslim women + Hindu girls + abandoned girls + orphaned girls + uneducated girls + hungry girls + all of the other kinds of women + girls! We can see girls + women apart from their labels + enveloped in their inherent value. We can raise sons who value girls and stand up with + for girls. We can welcome the men who join us. I have hope, because I know women have great strength + intelligence + creativity + endurance + kindness + love + will + grit. I have hope because I know my daughters.

Love,
Jane

P.S. (10/5/18) This is a great listen.
2 Comments
Kayla link
10/8/2018 06:24:33 pm

Thank you for this. Last week made it very apparent that I needed to cut back on social media, but I still wanted to read from like minds. Your words have brought comfort and encouragement.

Reply
Jane link
10/8/2018 08:13:43 pm

I feel the same. Sometimes the rage out there is just a little too much...and sometimes it makes me feel less alone. It's very nice to know that I've connected with a few like minds. Thank you so much for your kind words, Kayla. :)

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    on a journey toward zero-waste, simplicity, + compassion :: daring to choose fair one choice at a time
    Picture
    Picture


    categories

    All
    Fair Brands
    Fairdare
    Garden
    Made
    Reads
    Simple Budget
    Simple Holidays
    Simple Home
    Simple Wardrobe
    Simply Said
    Sustainable Self
    Wanderings
    Yum
    Zero Waste

    archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    all images by jane unless otherwise noted. copyright 2023.
    subscribe via email

    RSS Feed

    Follow