So you’re telling me I’m supposed to have kids?
Although stereotypes and gender
roles have improved, some still need work. What I’m referring to is how women
are “supposed” to have children. In the past couple of decades yes, all women
had children and those who didn't were looked down upon. Times have changed
however.
In earlier times, most
women would go to school, meet a man (or if not, be set up with one), get
married and then have babies. Not anymore! Nowadays many women are more career
oriented and do more than just be simple housewives. This doesn't change the
fact that many of us are still being pressured into them though.
I’m half Greek and half
Lebanese. Both cultures are known for having big, loud and crazy families. I’m
a very cultured individual and love my heritage. I’m the oldest girl of all my
cousins so naturally everyone expects me to get married and have children
first. My grandmother talks about it all the time and my younger cousins always
ask if my current boyfriend and I are getting married.
I feel for the other
women who go through the same things as I do but actually don’t want children. What
really grinds my gears is when people tell a female who doesn't want children that
she will change her mind. Don’t make assumptions for other people! Not having
kids isn't the end of the world. If your parents want grandchildren that bad,
buy them a cat or something.
If the world wants to
know my personal choice on the matter, yes, I do want to eventually be married
and have children. My choice wasn't made because my family wants me to, it’s
because I made it. I’m twenty-one now
and there are still things I want to do and experience! I want to have an
established career and buy my own place before even thinking of having children. That’s just me.
The reason why older family members tell 21 year old women, "You'll change your mind" is because in their experience and collective memory -- they frequently do. There's even an expression for it -- "baby rabies".
ReplyDeleteI totally see where you're coming from and I understand the pressure families can put on their kids about their future. However, I come from the opposite side of your situation. I love kids and being a mom is all I've ever wanted to do since I was little. My mother was a stay at home mom and my dad worked long days and usually came home to a home cooked meal made by my mother. School has never been one of the things I was best at and I've never had any strong career goals, but my parents and the rest of my family pushed college on me even though it wasn't something I wanted to do. While I agree with you that there is not equality between men and women career wise, I think that now a days there is also a stigma against women who don't work and are stay at home moms and I think that this is also a problem.
ReplyDeleteRadical feminists are all about a woman's right to choose -- unless the woman wishes to make a choice (like staying at home and raising kids) that the radical feminists disapprove of.
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