The NY Times, Feminism, and Supporting Each Other
ByI have always considered myself to be a feminist. When I was five years old I was irate when I discovered that boys could run around with their shirts off. But me? I could not. That was just the beginning. I believe in supporting women and encouraging young girls. I believe in creating communities and promoting women. For if we don’t stick together we can never make waves. I don’t know about you but I want to make waves.
When women decided to join the workforce rather than staying at home there was talk. People criticized these women. Other women criticized these women. Maybe they feared they were giving up their families. Who know. But looking back? It seems insane that you would criticize a woman for working outside of the home. Men go to work. Women can go to work. And so the world changed.
Enter the world of “mommy blogging.” It has a silly name, maybe that is why it is so highly criticized. How about this? Women in media (who happen to have children). Sounds pretty fancy right?
The New York Times recently wrote an article being highly critical of mommy bloggers and their conferences. Even the title is condescending “Honey don’t bother mommy. I’m too busy building my brand.” As if building your career is the ultimate sin? As if furthering yourself while raising children is silly and petty? I’m really unsure of what their point it.
We are not cricitcizing men on the web. Noone is tearing down Chris Brogan or Gary Vaynerchuck for staying home and building their brand. Is it because they are not moms? If you have a child you agree to sign up for public criticism? I really don’t know. But it pains me to read.
We need to support each other. It is essential that we support each other.
“Women suffer from a duality of consciousness, as do the members of all oppressed groups. That is, we have internalized the image that males have created of “the woman,” and this is in constant conflict with our authentically striving selves. One of the side effects of this duality is a kind of paralysis of the will. This is sometimes experienced as fear or ridicule, or of being considered abnormal, or-more basically-simply of being rejected, unwanted, unloved. Other effects of this dual consciousness are self-depreciation and emotional dependence. All of this is expressed in feminine antifeminism-the direction by women of our self-hatred toward each other.”
(I am in no way portraying hatred towards men. This was just the context of the quote which seemed fitting in showing how women treat each other.)
I am very happy to see the community stepping up and supporting each other. We need to keep the support going. All women. In every walk of life. Supporting each other.
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