Radical Feminists

I am SO tired of radical feminists! My friend Matt and I were talking about this earlier today- and I'm happy to say I've finally found somebody who sees it from my perspective. He was saying his friend was riding his other friend because she'd chosen to stop working and stay at home with her newborn baby. Friend #1's opinion was that this was a giant step back for feminism. Now I don't say people's opinions are wrong often (...that's a lie...I say it all the time!) but this time she actually is.

It is BECAUSE of feminism that Friend #2 has the opportunity to CHOOSE to stay home with her baby. Just because we gained the right to vote and equal wages (which still aren't quite equal) doesn't mean that all the stuff that used to be "women's work" just evaporated into the ether. Children still need loving care, to be taught right and wrong, and to feel connected to their parents (preferably both, but we all know it's harder for men to bond). It's my opinion that if you can't provide your children with these things then you just shouldn't be having children...but that's a whole other issue. What was once "women's work" has now become paying positions for many...but the fact that the feminist movement happened allows us the ability to CHOOSE to stick our child in daycare and pay people to clean our houses and make our dinners, or to CHOOSE to stay home and do all those things ourselves (which in my opinion is the more economical but again, whole other issue!) Choosing one way or the other doesn't make you a worse or better person...it's a choice.

Now, I've been knocked by several people for choosing to work with kids. I've been called backwards and disgrace for not choosing to go out into the world and sit behind a desk all day. What these people fail to see if that children make me happy. I choose to be the one who gives hugs, reads "Counting with Elmo" 1800 times and changes diapers. To me, this is the most important work in the world- nurturing and loving these children while teaching them to become productive adults. I'm so tired of people complaining to me that nobody can control their kids anymore- when it's because they don't put in the time or effort to learn how. I'm by no means anti-feminist, but it's my opinion that with the right to vote and work for equal pay we lost sacred knowledge that's been passed down from generation to generation: that of how to raise kids. It's my choice to take that long forgotten knowledge, learn from it, modernise it a little, and apply it to kids who REALLY need it! And when I have my own children I too will leave my job, and stay at home to raise my son or daughter and any that may come after them. I will, once they get a bit older, take in kids for before/after school or daycare in order to contribute to the household coffer, but again, that's my choice. And I'm no less of "modern woman" because of it!