Am I Really in Existence... .

As a black young adult woman in today's society there are days I wonder if I am really in existence. Black women in society today have so many societal statistics. These issues make me oppressed. I am oppressed simply because I am first a educated black person and secondly because I am a woman. I am oppressed from not only the outside would but my very on black community. There are always stereotypical, idealistic views of how the life of a black woman should be lived. There are some days I hear that I am in the privileged group of the black community because I have not had children yet. There is the rumor that black women bare children before finishing their education. That very thing can sometimes make me feel oppressed because I am in the privileged group. Another oppressed feeling is attending a predominantly white institution. In some situations I feel that I have to work harder to prove my position is just as important as then next student. 

As educated people in society I think that, yes, we do have a duty to mitigate many of the privileged and oppressed situations happening around us. Most educated people are admired or idolized in their communities, if we are the people taking the stand changing society one small step at a time then who? I try to find myself not thinking negatively of others to help mitigate some of the oppressed feelings I have on a daily basis. In my everyday life I could talk to people, find myself encouraging others that some of the preposterous ideas we think are just may not be right. Life should not always be about how privileged we are according to the next person but try to focus on helping each other become better. The first step to becoming better always starts within you first!

Gender Bending at its Best..

Lately we have been talking about the roles gender play in society. Patriarchy is the blindly written rules of in essence male dominance. Reading through all the different articles and seeing how Patriarchy is viewed by different people I see that it is very clear that I was a prime example of a home where these rules were set into play. I myself was taught that femininity was very important aspects of a girl, at the same time don’t be ashamed to show your independence. As a young girl I was bought dolls, an easy bake oven, kitchen sets and other domestic toys to help show me the roles I should play when I became a woman. As I stated I was taught the importance of femininity but also how to stand on my own. There are very few times where I challenged the roles of gender. For a short period of time, I was brought up in a single parent home. I was used to seeing my mom take on the role of a father and mother. It made me realize that a woman is just as powerful and knowledge to make it without a man. When my stepdad started coming around there were things he felt that I should not do. One small incident that I can recall in particular is when he found I was a part of a softball team. He felt as if it was a sport where I would become hurt or injury could be caused. Not long after he found out, I tried out for the cheerleading squad, he found no threat to that. I found that oddly ironic because I can get hurt doing either. The idea of running around and acting masculine while playing softball was his only issue. He felt as if cheerleading was meant for girls. This situation is more sexist than anything but it just one of the few times I can remember gender roles playing apart in my life. 

Feminism.. .

Since I have started this class I have been asking my boyfriend his views on Feminism. Once the class got to talking I noticed there are not only very different views among women but there are absolutely differences of opinion when it comes to men and women. When I asked my boyfriend did he know what feminism was, he gave me a puzzling look. He had no clue where I was going with that question. I explained to him I was taking a Women’s Studies class and our past class meetings have focused on our take on feminism. After he had an understanding of the question I began asking him some of the questions we had to answer one Wednesday. I quickly learned that he was an example of what I may refer to as a “somewhat of a feminist”. During the conversation I realized that some of the views we had were very different. I was not at all disturbed by the disagreement. I found it interesting to find out that he never really understood the term feminism. I, myself am not totally certain on what the term truly means. Everyone seems to have their own standpoint of the word.  I think with any type of “ism” there will always be controversy simply because no two people think alike or perceive information the same. Take into account the famous “telephone game”. Where you sit in a circle, one person says a statement, it is then passed from person to person and finally the last person states what they heard. Most times when this game is played the initial statement does not make it to the end. Therefore I feel that information is always altered. Feminism to me is the movement of bringing people together and joining forces that there is not a sense of superiority.  

"A Mother's Love Never Ages.."

        What is a mother? Any woman can have a child, not every woman can be a mother. A mother is a care giver, supporter, fighter, leader, lover, and so much more. There is no one word to describe all the characteristics of a great mother. I myself love and cherish my own mother with all my heart. My mother's name is Lizzie. My mother spent most of her life in Columbus, MS where she was raised most of her life by her own mother. She lost her father at a very young age due to a heart attack. She graduated from high school in 1981 where she continued her education at Mississippi University for Women. There she received a Bachelor's in Home Economics. My mother then moved away from home. She pursued a career in teaching. She has been in the school system now for over 20 years. As of now, my mother is a Counselor in the Columbus Municipal School District.

       What makes my mother stand out? Out of the twenty-two years I have been on this earth I have never once doubted the love and support that she shows me each and every day. She is a woman of dignity, honor, prestige, achievement and spiritual well-being. My mother is a strong believer in Christ. Every day I thank God for having a prayerful mother. She is the woman I aspire to become. There has been multiple times where she has told me "I want you to be better than me." In my eyes that is just not possible. I see her as a woman of power. She is a woman who makes things happen. Whenever something needs to be done, my mother is the one for the job. She has taught me so much even though still today she thinks that I did not listen to the advice or many lectures she gave to me. She is my inspiration. I look at her and hope that one day I can show my daughter the same love.