There are a lot of stereotypical images of women these days, the high powered ruthless business woman with no emotions who refuses to let anyone be above her, the self involved spoilt brat with a shopping obsession who won't go outside without perfect hair and make-up, the stressed out single young mum with a brood of unruly toddlers who smokes and drinks in an effort to stay sane, and so on. But looking past the stereotypes and the expectations of society, what does it take to be a woman in a world that is still male dominated in most areas?
As a woman, it is an uphill struggle to be taken seriously in the world of work, manage the home, make time to enjoy the children, find a partner who isn't still under the impression that washing up and cooking is "woman's work", and still have enough time and energy left to enjoy our friends and hobbies. Multitasking is a mandatory skill, as is being able to prioritise tasks and balance effort between all of the things that are important. You need to be able to be cooking dinner, cleaning up, checking homework, listening to your partner and planning your evening all at the same time.
Women have to take on several roles in life all at once. We're often playing the role of a mother, career woman, and wife, whilst trying to maintain an identity for ourselves that includes our friends, social and recreational activities, and relaxation and "me time". Whilst men are often able to keep their roles separate by working only at work, having family time at home and socialising outside of the home, women tend to have to combine their roles. Socialising with other mothers whilst the children play, working from home to fit in around the children's schedules and so on is common. It can become difficult to differentiate between the different roles we take on, and it can be difficult to separate our identity from one of our roles, particularly the role of mother.
Many of the roles we take on in life are harder because we're female. Many careers are still very male oriented, women often don't earn as much as men for doing the same job, and it's harder for women to get promoted past a certain level. It can be especially difficult if we're pregnant or raising a young family. A lot of sports are still male only, especially at the professional level. It's more difficult for women to complain about something, as we're often not taken as seriously as a man complaining about the same thing. We're often considered to be an easy target and less intelligent than men, so we're more likely to be exploited, we get bad deals from mechanics because we're bound to know nothing about cars for example. Sometimes being a woman can be really hard.
Whilst there is a lot for us to manage and juggle, women also have a lot to offer our fellow human beings. As a woman, we play the nurturing role within the family. While the traditional view of a woman's place being in the home or kitchen is no longer held by the majority of society, responsibility for feeding the family usually still falls upon the woman, as does bringing up the children, and comforting anyone who is upset. This is because while a man's masculine energy serves to provide and protect, the feminine energy of a woman is much gentler and serves to nurture and comfort those we care about.
Listening is an important part of being a woman. We are able to listen to and understand other people's problems without judging them. We listen to our children's homework problems, our partner unloading the stress of his hard day at work, our friends' man trouble, our mothers telling us where we're going wrong, and a vast array of other people's problems. We have to be able to listen without losing interest, to accept without judging, to understand without questioning, and to empathise without pitying. Unlike when men are faced with a problem and they feel the need to do something about it, it's not important whether or not women can solve the other person's problems, we just have to listen so that they can unburden themselves and feel better.
Women are often creative and expressive people who enjoying sharing their emotions through some form of artistic activity. Pastimes such as knitting, sewing, quilting, cooking and baking, creative writing, poetry, home decorating, painting, and many other creative persuits are viewed as feminine pastimes, whilst masculine pastimes include more practical activities such as building, repairing and maintaining computers, structures and vehicles, and lazy activities such as watching tv and drinking beer, which are also relatively practical in that they allow him to relax after his hard work. This feminine creativity is just one manifestation of women sharing themselves with the rest of the world.
Sharing our emotions is another way women interact with other people that is characteristically feminine. Although being emotional is often regarded as a negative thing involving tearful outbursts, it is in fact a very positive thing. Women are able to express how we feel, enabling us to make deep connections with other people that men may miss out on because of their need to be seen as being masculine and strong whatever the situation. Expressing our emotions rather than keeping them under wraps enables us to understand ourselves better, and to experience the world in a totally different way depending on how we feel.
Another amazing thing about being a woman is that we're able to bring another person into the world. Although it does require a man to start off the process, we're able to grow another human being inside our bodies, give birth to a whole new person, and watch that person grow into a unique individual with their own thoughts and opinions and their own path to follow through life.
As well as sharing ourselves with the world, being a woman is also about sharing yourself with that one special person, allowing yourself to be completely vulnerable, yet totally safe in the knowledge that your man will protect you and love you, even when he's seen all your hopes and fears, all your thoughts and dreams, and all the crazy stuff that makes you who you are. Curling up in his arms and forgetting about the stress of trying to balance all the things in your life, feeling it all just melt away as he strokes your hair and tells you how amazing you are. Those moments when it all just falls into place and becomes so easy.
Being a woman can be difficult at times, but there are so many positive aspects to femininity that it is definitely worth it. I wouldn't give up being female for anything in the world.
This entry was posted 2 months ago
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