Femininity and Equality Go Hand in Hand by Pat Garcia
October 14, 1949, I came into the world. Growing up as a child in a rural area, it was
unnatural for me to dodge all the home economic responsibilities girls were
supposed to learn, but I did. Being my
father's first born, and sandwiched between my mother's first child brought
into their marriage and my brother who was their second child, the rebel in me
took gestalt and grew. An acorn of persistence and resistance mixed with the
desire to achieve made me the young, feisty girl that I was, a person adults
were uncomfortable being around, and the feminist in me was born. Thus,
feminism was a part of me before the National Organization for Women, (NOW)
existed.
I could not understand back then why female education had to
be deferred because of the male species. Everyone hoped I would grow out of
this, what they called 'Stubborn Phase'
when I fell in love. However, this was not the case. Not that, I didn't fall in
love, I fell in love dozens of times, but falling in love did not quiet the
soul of a young woman who wanted to be treated equally.
Femininity and equality go hand in hand, in my opinion. It
is the acceptance that each individual, regardless of gender, has the right to
excel and to live with whatever consequences accompany his or her quest. There are no special bonuses for either sex.
Therefore, I believe the war between the genders could be
eradicated if we acknowledge that men and women are created equal and are
endowed with certain inalienable rights. That this has not happened lies with
our inability to accept responsibility for our own inadequacies, and it provides
us with a scapegoat to maintain the status quo of inequality.
Fabulous post! If more people took responsibility for their inadequacies and their own lack of determination the world would be an entirely different place...
ReplyDeleteMy Dear Tami,
DeleteI so agree with you. Unfortunately, we so often look for the mistakes in others before looking at ourselves and this causes avoidance, in my opinion, that allows us to pass the scepter of responsibility to someone else.
Thank you so much for commenting. It is always a joy meeting you the journey.
Ciao,
Patti
This comment was submitted by PAT YAEGER, who hasn't been able to enter it herself:
ReplyDeleteHere's to two remarkable women who know who they are. Thanks Patti for your honest, intelligent, and open comment. The confidence you exude is inspiring.
Blessings,
Pat Yeager
Good morning Pat,
DeleteThank you and I must say the same for you. It is a pleasure knowing you and watching you stretch your wings and fly. Keep up the good work, Lady.
Ciao,
Patti
Love your thoughts Pat! Thank you for sharing! We've come a long ways through the years, but still have a ways to go.
ReplyDeleteMy Dear Lori,
DeleteThank you. You are so right. We have come a long way, and yes there is still a way to go, but I believe that a few people both male and female are beginning to understand what this is all about. I see change in the air. I feel hope, and I hope it keeps moving towards its destination.
Once again thanks for commenting and I was happy to see you here.
Have a great week.
Ciao,
Patti
Our corner of the world is just a little bit better, sweeter, finer because you never accepted limitations, Patti. There is a Latin motto Per aspera ad astra which used to be translated 'Through bolts and bars we reach the stars.' I have always remembered this and find it applies to the lives of many of us. If we want to do great things, we must fight to succeed. You just had a little more to fight than some of us. Well done, my writing, singing, philosophiszing friend!
ReplyDeleteMy Dear Elaine,
DeleteI read your comments and I got goose bumps. You can never imagine how great it feels to meet a fellow traveler on the way and realize they understand. They have been there. You and I are so much alike. We see obstacles in our lives as mountains to be conquered. We see them as challenges that can be mastered. Sometimes we have to sit back and think about the processes, and sometimes we make mistakes, but we pick ourselves up and keep going.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for being my friend.
Ciao,
Patti
Well said.
ReplyDeleteMy Dear Jim,
DeleteThose two words coming from someone who is adroit in expressing himself and defending the rights of others made me feel honored.
Thank you and I mean that from my heart.
Ciao,
Patti
I think you were predestined to succeed, Pat. God has always had a plan for you, and you are living it now, whether it is what you had expected, desired, or not. I believe that your heart beats for Christ alone, and no equality of this world would have brought you to this beautiful place in your life. You are walking the walk you were made for, doing much more for others than you could have by getting equality in society. No, I find you far above the equality line. You, my dear, are very special, very rich, and will remain prosperous for everything you touch is blessed of the Lord. What we all struggle for in this world is not what is important, but our status in the Kingdom is our goal, to walk there every day without concern if someone else is better than us, because that is impossible, as God is no respecter of persons. You are on equal level with Moses, Esther, and yes, our Savior Himself! God loves you with the same zeal as His Son! I love you, Pat, and I know that your struggles in this life have never been in vain. Your reward is awesome, and I know that you know it too, because you are already reaping the blessings here on this earth!
ReplyDeleteMy Dear Deirdre,
DeleteYour words are a prophecy that humble me. You see so many things that I do not see but when you say them my spirit jumps in joy and rejoices at your words. So, I thank you dear heart for your faithfulness and willingness to step out and be the prophet that you were call to be.
I love you Deirdre and I thank you once again for giving me a small view of my journey.
Ciao,
Patti
Thank you for sharing, Pat - equality is taken for granted as having been sort of arrived at in most cases I believe, but continuing inequalities become starkly apparent in particular circumstances at certain times - perhaps more insidious for their subtlety. Thank you for sharing your most interesting and candid thoughts on this important subject.
ReplyDeleteMy Dear PJ,
ReplyDeleteI thank you for reading my article. You are so right about the inequalities that become starkly apparent in particular circumstances at certain times. I believe that the inequalities and injustices done to women on some continents are becoming more apparent as the veil of pretended equality is exposed. India is a good example of women who have suffered even though they have had two female Prime Ministers, I believe, who led their country, and it is rewarding to see the women in that country stand up and stand out in dangerous times.
Ciao,
Patti
This remnds me a ilttle of your Walk On series.
ReplyDeleteI can see that stubbroness or feistiness still in you. It has clearly served you well.
Men and women are created equally - but differently. And that is just fine.
My Dear Larry,
DeleteThank you. You are very observant, and I applaud you for that. Yes, my Walk On series is a reflection of myself. Before I started that series, I wondered about the struggles of women throughout the ages. It seems as if each century women take on ideas where they think they were the first. I found out through the Walk On series that each century builds upon another and that those women that we have long forgotten about laid foundations that catapult women into successful roles today.
I believe in equality but I also applaud the differences between men and women. I have no problems with strong men. My problems deal with the weak men and women who through their own insecurities try to keep back the men and women with strength.
Strength is not who is the toughest, or who has the most weapon power, or who can hit the hardest. Strength is also not found in dictatorship, marxism, socialism or capitalism. The strength that I speak of is the strength to follow the dreams of your mind and evolve into your purpose. And that is for both men and women. I believe if that were to happen, we would have a much happier planet earth.
Ciao,
Patti
It was a pleasure to read this blog post. Your passion shone through. I loved this sentence...
ReplyDelete"falling in love did not quiet the soul of a young woman who wanted to be treated equally."
When our soul has something for us to do that is part of our destiny nothing will quiet it down except living it. That was an important lesson life taught me.
My Dear Diane,
DeleteThank you. Your statement is so true, with one exception for me, I would have stated it as, when I let the purpose of God for my life flow through me, then nothing will quiet it down except living it. An tormented soul is a sign of not living in your purpose. You see, I believe that each individual who comes in this world has a purpose. We all start out with a different deck of cards. Some of us may be hampered by a disability, others may be rich, some poor and the list of aliments and deficiencies go on, but we all have a purpose and what we need to fulfill that purpose is within us. The question is, are we willing to take the risk and defy all that is trying to hold us back and find our purpose. Falling in love with another individual does not free me from finding my purpose and living it, and any love that smothers my purpose and puts out the fire within me has terminated my inner will to live and when that happens, I only exist.
Once again thank you. It was nice espousing with you for a few minutes on some of my own thoughts and experiences.
Ciao,
Patti
My gratitude to Pat Garcia and to all of you who stopped by, read her article, and left a comment. This is what makes this space rich, and confirms my decision to give fellow writers an extra opportunity to shine.
ReplyDelete