Musings: Women

Women make up half the population but we do not have half the votes or half the power that men still have. We have grown and changed thanks to the hard work of many brave women who fought against the patriarchal system. What ever happened to ancestral societies that honoured, revered and respected women and their matriarchal systems? Why can’t we have a balanced system where both sexes or genders are equal and equitable?

I have not even touched the subject of countries or lands or societies outside of modern day ones who continue to discriminate. They are so behind in so many areas of life. Women are enslaved and treated like dirt. They are considered second class citizens or worse and in many cases are not even able to be given participatory equivalents in governing systems. Having said this, modern day societies still continue to discriminate as well in various areas of life.

Being older, I have seen how things have changed through time. I remember running in junior and senior high school. I remember the boys my age being able to do weight lifting to increase their muscle strength and endurance. I wanted to participate too. I wanted to be stronger and a better overall athlete. I was already an excellent runner but I wanted to be even better.

I was not allowed to participate. I was given the awful and misinformed reason that it would adversely affect my reproductive systems and so was denied access. Even it this were true, which it is not, why were the coaches and authorities of the day given this momentous and important decision over my life and what I choose to do with it? It is my body and my choice.

It was only after high school that I was finally introduced to some weight lifting machines and permitted to lift weights. I have continued to do so off and on throughout the years and I have to say that I love it. I love how I feel during and after a good work out with weights.

The point is that whether it is working out with weights or whatever we want to be doing with our lives, we should have the choice and option. I remember many occupations and careers such as firefighting, police work or the military were kept away from women because there would be unrealistic barriers based on physical size and weight or other factors that most women could not reach. We were all painted with the same brush regardless of ability. It is more important that women are given the opportunity to prove themselves. 

There is so much more that I can say as I am definitely a feminist believing in equal rights and opportunities. Perhaps, I will have time in the future to continue my musings about various and similar topics.

Mary Mikawoz
February 16, 2023

#MaryMikawoz #Mikawoz #Muse #Musings #ForYourConsideration #Spirit #Talks #Writing #Thoughts #Spirituality #Consideration #Path #Journey #Reflections

#Women #woman #feminism #feminist #running #weight-lifting #athlete #school #junior high #senior high #police #firefighter #muscles #reproduction #body #equality #patriarchy #matriarchy

Advertisement