I’ve been reading comments about Emma Watson’s speech at the UN but I hadn’t seen it yet until today. It moved me and motivated me to share my thoughts on this subject with all of you.
I myself hate the word feminism, not because of what it represents but because of the awful things that people have a attached to it, the beliefs that women who are feminist are man haters, butch, masculine, etc.
Growing up in a mainly Sexist Society that favors men (as almost all Latin american countries are) you would think I have suffered pressure to be like this, to think like this – men come first- but the truth is I haven’t and I owe it all to my mother first then my family.
I come from a big family of women mostly, my grandmother had 3 sisters and 4 brothers, 4 women worshiper brothers who loved their mother and protected their sister at ALL COST. My mother has one sister and one brother and more than 6 female cousins. My immediate cousin is a woman as well, even though my other cousins are mostly male. In conclusion women are more common in my life, even my husband has two sisters and only one brother.
All these men in my life – cousins, uncles, male friends, husband and father- have never, ever made me feel less, on the contrary, they have empowered all of us, they are our biggest fans, our supporters and our most fierce defenders against the world. They are everything to me.
But my mom, she is the one. She raised me -alone- and her job was so amazing and delicate I only wish that when my turn comes I can be half the mother that she is. You would think she raised a man hating pampered girl, but no. She taught me all the wonderful things of housekeeping, the joys found in crafting and plumbing and using a saw, painting and hammering and working really hard at being professional and keeping up with the business world, also how to appreciate and love my father, respect my elders, love my family, my job, my career. She taught me how to be passionate and compassionate, how to be considerate and strong. Problem solving, excel, etc. She taught me everything, NEVER separating one activity from the other because it was masculine of feminine. And that is why I owe here everything.
I never learned feminism or sexism.
I have never been a victim of favoritism.
I have lived an equal life.
I find the same pleasures in fixing up dinner for my husband that I find in working on a presentation for work.
I have lived a very lucky life.
I know this is not the same for all women out there, and THIS is why we have to fight to promote gender equality, so that we can all experience the benefits of receiving equal treatment. We do not need to call ourselves anything, label ourselves as feminist. We are humans that want to be treated as equals, we all deserve to enjoy the same rights and freedoms. Something that I really want to stress is that women also should be kinder to other women, to women who choose to be stay at home mom, or women that choose not to have children and pursue their professional goals, we need to stop bullying and putting down these women.
We also need to respect women and men of different cultures and religions that wish to live their life differently as well.
We have to make sure everyone has the same rights yes, but above all we should respect each human being’s CHOICE.
Pink n' Hot Chocolate 