my body, my choice: journaling feminism

Journal Entry #18:

Boy, am I excited. The label of being a woman in a business field excites me and put me in the good mood for the rest of the day. This morning, during my advisor meeting, I did not think I would be turning myself into a different person within 30 minutes. But now I feel on track and ready for next semester. I’m ready to do it right now! I want to work for a non-profit and I want to help get funds for Planned Parenthood and I just can’t wait to help women. I’m ready for my future and I have never felt confident enough to say that yet. I hope I do well in these upcoming business courses and I hope I love it as much as I’m ready to dive into it.

Journal Entry #16:

Today, our class discussed the nuclear family. While I did grow up in that standard mother, father, and 2 daughters situation, our family was anything but “normal.” 

Our book explained the statistic that at some point in life, 1/2 of children experience a household ran by a single parent. That point in my life has just happened in the past year and while it is hard, it also breaks apart my childhood vision to maintain living in a nuclear family forever.

Parents break up, siblings hold grudges, people move away or sometimes they stay in the same poisonous environment. It’s important to remember that children do not need to grow up in a “Father Knows Best” household in order to turn out to be a good adult. 

Journal Entry #13

Alison McQuaide’s article “Top 10 Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Attacks on Women’s Rights” reminds me of our everlasting discussion about how women deserve equal access (among themselves) to birth control, safe abortion, and safe pregnancy options. 

Number 5 in the article is forced trans-vaginal ultrasounds. Not only does this totally invade a woman’s privacy but as we have mentioned during class discussions, a woman is forced to make another decision on whether or not she can close or open her eyes DURING the invasive process. A woman may find enough courage to take a step forward and find a safe and legal place for abortion but after dealing with the ultrasound, the woman may find it easier to back down to her own original intention.

There is nothing wrong with choosing abortion but there is something wrong with forcing a woman to see a sonogram beforehand.

Journal Entry #12

About a month ago, my 13 year old sister, Sarah, asked me what aspect of feminism she should focus on for her 8th grade oral presentation. She couldn’t use any media or props, only her voice.

I told her to talk about the misrepresentation of women in media and she loved it. The whole situation made me think back 6 years ago when I hit 13 and thought a good time to get pregnant and married was SIXTEEN. 

Much has changed since then. I’m glad that my opinions on marriage/babies altered and I’m glad my sister didn’t think the same foolish thoughts. The fact that my sister unintentionally follows in my footsteps makes me proud to have such a strong stance about women’s rights. If the only thing I would want to rub off on her is have an opened mind and information to back up her views, then I’m glad she is standing up for her gender.