Standing in the Doorway

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am troubled by the position many conservatives take on Women Issues.  Several reasons exist for this besides being liberal in my thinking.  I'm have been looking for work for almost a year now and feeling invisible to those hiring.  It is hard to be 60 and not think my age has something to do with it.

The more pressing reason is that I feel as though I have been fighting for equality and autonomy my whole life. I remember standing in the doorway of my grandmother's kitchen watching her, my mother and my aunt prepare, serve and clean up the holiday meals while the men and boys sat watching television before and after the meal.  That doorway became sympolic as I grew.  Filling caught by the traditional roles of the women in my family and yet drawn to the activities and interests of the men.  I loved sports.  I loved mechanical things. I loved science and math.  The world of women seemed filled with more don'ts than the men's. 

So the people who attack a woman's right to choose what to do with her own body touch a sore spot that has existed for a very long time.  That little girl in the doorway watches.

Liberal 90

Two weeks ago in my therapy group, I mentioned how upset I was with Ryan's stance on women issues as well as the general arch-conservative positions.  After venting, I realized that I had been upset over the way women seem to be the target of the tea party since Spring.

I am a liberal on just about everything except parenting.  I believe in pro-choice and think men should just shut up about what a woman can do with her body. But then I think everyone should just shut up about what a woman can do to her body.  If you don't want to have an abortion, then don't have one.  If you don't believe in birth control, don't use it.  Leave the rest of us alone. 

Abortion is legal in this country and the rules/laws that make it increasingly harder to obtain one holds women hostage to their bodies. I don't believe women choose to have an abortion lightly and the government should not make a difficult situation even more difficult. And I don't even want to start on my feelings about the attack on Planned Parenthood.

Women issues aside, I'm also liberal about religion, gay rights, education, health care, immigration, welfare and just about any other social program.  One reason I have such trouble with the very conservative agenda is that I find them so exclusive in their world view while I believe that this country was founded on ideas of inclusiveness. 

HBO's "Newsroom" ended its season with a list of what the tea party stands for and characterized the party as the American Taliban.  It is worth a watch.

Conservative Tenth

Ten percent.  That is how much of me is conservative.  And that ten percent revolves around one topic - child rearing.  I believe children should all have set bedtimes, even teenagers.  I believe children should eat what is prepared for them at meal time. I believe no child under the age of 18 should have a television or computer in her own room. I believe in chores for every child. I believe that starting children in organized activities at 3 or 4 is for the parent's enjoyment and shortens the time that children will have free unscheduled time in their lives.  I don't believe in dropping children off at a mall or the movies. And I believe that if I pay for tickets to anything, my children will sit with me.  I don't believe in running to the store at the last minute for something someone might need for a homework assignment that he decided to do at the last minute. 

As I type this, I'm well aware that the world is changing so fast and the above paragraph dates me.  Children now have smart phones and smart tablets and have them at a younger and younger age. I still believe that many of the problems kids can face with technology and/or the world will be lessen if things are done in the presence of parents.

And that is about all that is conservative in me.

Trying Again

I took a five month vacation from blogging.  Tired of job hunting and news of anti-women laws led to a malaise.  I wasn't sure I could write without my frustration leaching into my words.  So I stopped.  Summer was hard and while I never fell into the abyss of depression, it took most of my energies to stay on the level. 

Now I'm trying again.  I hope to be as brave as my favorite bloggers (cjane leads the list) and write about what truly matters to me.  There is a need for an honest approach to the female narrative in all of its myriad and complex ways.  What I write may not match your experience (presuming I have readers) but it will be truly reflective of my experience.