OH BOY, time for some
honesty: I had no idea what to write about this week. The topics that we
discussed in class are pretty serious ones, and can be very
controversial. I have been thinking a lot about how to approach them, and
I think that I've come to a conclusion. I am simply going to talk about
my personal feelings on the idea of feminism.
This topic is everywhere and
I'm not sure that, at this point in my life, I really understand everything
about it. I don't know all about the history of it or the way that it has
changed over the years. With that being said, I would just like to sum up
my feelings on the matter. I will include some religious beliefs, some
experiences, and a pretty blunt view of how I see things.
My Personal
Experience: I believe that many of
my opinions come from observing my family and others around me. I would
like to introduce you a bit to my parents.
Dad: my dad is named
Scott and he is a great guy! He is a hard worker. Since I was
little, I have never worried that we wouldn't be taken care of or provided
for. He is also an amazing parent; he is there for us and strives to help
us and guide us through our lives.
Mom: my mom, Karen, was
a stay-at-home mom. She taught piano in our home, but she was always
there in the home. She made sure to be there when we left or came home to
see how things were going for us. She has become one of my greatest
sources of comfort in this life!
Why do I think it's
important for you to know this information about my parents? It's because
they are the reason that I believe that men and women have different,
but equally important, roles. So much of the conflict regarding
this topic is trying to put men and women on the exact same level, with the
same responsibilities and roles in society. The truth is, though, that
the things that are inherently natural to men and women come together to make
things work. Without those differences, I really don't think that I would
have had all of my needs as a child met. Each parent, in their own,
unique way, contributed to my growth and development.
My Religious
Beliefs: I am a member of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is the restored Church of
Jesus Christ, and as such, has helped me to believe firmly in the family and
the importance of it. A document called "The Family: A Proclamation to the
World" outlines what we believe about the family. It
teaches that each of us "is a beloved spirit son or
daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and
destiny." It discusses the importance of marriage between a man and
a woman and teaches that fathers should "preside over their families in
love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life
and protection for their families" and that mothers are to care for and
ensure the "nurture of their children." Yes, those
roles are different. But how could anyone say that any of those things
are less important than the others?
The ultimate conclusion
to all of this is one simple phrase: men and women are different, but equal. I am so glad that I am a woman and
for the gifts that I feel like I’ve been blessed with, and I am also so grateful
for the men that are in my life. I don’t
feel either superior or inferior to them; we are all just people who are trying
our very best. We do “our thing” and so
do they! And it all just comes together 😊
-Britt
