Five Things Feminism Gave Me

In response to Annie's post:

http://knownturf.blogspot.com/2006/10/five-things-feminism-has-done-for-me.html

Very difficult to carve out just 5 of the innumerable things i am indebted to feminism for...but trying it anyway...

1) As a child feminism gave me Ma, who because she was not born in an era when feminism was strong enough, did not enjoy the things I do now…but because she grew up questioning her own upbringing and watching the change around her fought for my education, my right as a female to stay away from the kitchen, my rights to wear what I pleased, not be treated as an untouchable when I had my periods, not be asked to shut up, go ahead and get a degree in theatre for which I often had to stay away from home till at night, go ahead and get any degree I chose to, to look at brothers and male peers as equals, to look at sisters with sympathy and understanding, to keep a level head above my shoulders, to be ambitious without being unkind, to accept responsibility, to…
There is too much I owe to her and her fight for my rights as a daughter…

2) As a student it gave me the right to compete at an equal footing…it gave me girlfriends who are my companions and guides, who are intelligent and smart, friends who are filled with adventure, with fun…such friends as only feminists can be…

3) As a citizen it gave me the right to vote, to have political opinions and ambitions, to have a passport detached from father or husband, to travel…

4) As a wife it gave me a husband who understands the meaning of equality, who debates with me, with whom I can experiment with sex without guilt or shame, who shares responsibility, who I know will take turns staying up at night when children enter the picture, whose financial handlings are not a mystery to me, who is not ashamed of cooking and cleaning and arranging the furniture, who would protect and fight for any woman’s rights, who does not have problems with having female bosses at his workplace…to whom I am married not because marriage gives me economic stability, social status and raw material for procreation, or because I am afraid or subjugated or don’t know any other way to live…but simply because I can love him as an absolute equal.

5) Feminism gave me the right to question seemingly set parameters like social codes and religious beliefs. Feminism has taught me to appreciate people who have made my life so much simpler than it had been for those before me. It has proved to me that a just fight has just rewards. It has challenged me to continue the questioning and the struggle so the generations after me can be stronger than I am.

Am tagging The Mad Momma http://themadmomma.blogspot.com/
and anyone else who has something to say.