It wasn't very long ago that I realized some specific ways that I have been influenced by the cultural bias and media influence of my youth and young adulthood in a way that I had not considered. I consider myself a person who is capable of thinking for myself and not buying into the cultural biases unless I also agree with them. It seems that I bought the message of my time that throughout history and in many other cultures Women have been suppressed. I no longer accept that as a fact. I am sure that in certain circumstances that could be true and still is true, but I no longer believe that concept is generally true. We think that we have come a long way as women in claiming our equality with men. Major strides have been made in the areas of equal pay for equal work, equal opportunities, equal voices of influence, etc.
I however for a long time have wondered why are we, as women, trying to compete with the men. It seems to me that we do not value our own femininity, power, areas of influence, etc. I was just talking with my daughter- in-law yesterday and she was sharing how much she enjoys watching her son discover the world for the first time and how it influences her to look anew with wonder at the world. And then we got talking about the fathers that don't get to be there to experience those same joys. Also, we talked about the women who miss out, either by choice or circumstance, those same things because they work outside of the home. What greater value can there be in the world than the opportunity of being a parent. Why would anyone by choice give up spending as much time as possible with the precious children?
Yet we have our cultural bias that puts money as the greatest value and power. Then with that perspective we view our own value and power, and our history, and other cultures. But what if our perspective put children and family as the greatest value? How does that change the way we view women (it seems that men are the ones missing out)? What does that perspective do to our view of history, other cultures, etc.?
It seems to me that contrary to popular cultural bias that instead of gaining power and value, we as women have lost much of our value and power and by our own misguided choices.
If we look at the time line of history, it is only in the recent past that the men because of the industrial age have missed out on that valuable time with the family. Before the industrial age, men, women, and children all worked together to support the family and also enjoyed the support of the family. Now men, women, and children all miss out on the joys and support of those family connections. Yet there is tremendous hope for the future with the advancement of technology. It becomes more and more possible to work at home once again in diverse opportunities. We may yet again be able to experience the joys of togetherness in the family unit with father, mother, and children, each carrying out their responsibilities.
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