The Beauty and Horror of Feminism
I've been repeatedly accused of feminism. So for once, I'd like to approach the subject directly. I'm a what?“Nobody objects to a woman being a good writer or sculptor or geneticist if at the same time she manages to be a good wife, good mother, good looking, good tempered, well groomed and unaggressive”- Leslie McIntyre
"I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a door mat or a prostitute." -Rebecca West
"I'm tough, I'm ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay." - Madonna Ciccone"You don't have to be anti-man to be pro-woman." - Jane Galvin Lewis
"Feminism refers to political, cultural, and economic movements
seeking greater, equal, or, among a minority, superior rights and
participation in society for women and girls. These rights and means of
participation include legal protection and inclusion in politics,
business, and scholarship, and recognition and building of women's
cultures and power... Feminist activists have campaigned for women's rights—such as in
contract, property, and voting—while also promoting women's rights to bodily integrity and autonomy and reproductive rights. They have opposed domestic violence, sexual harassment, and sexual assault. In economics, they have advocated for workplace rights, including equal pay and opportunities for careers and to start businesses." -Wikipedia Wisdom
Well that was shocking and horrible (not). I could never really understand why being called a feminist is a sort of insult. Yes, I believe that the absence of one or another reproductive organ does and should not handicap a person in any area of life. Why is that bad? Why does saying that imply that I should be stamped FEMINIST on the forehead, be expected to shave my head and run around the streets screaming?
We can't really talk about women, men, feminist, whatever the male equivalent of that is, and power without talking about sexuality. After all, that is the only thing that draws the line between us.
Yes, in (most) religions women are the source of all sin. But in the same religions we are taught that God is love and that He loves all of his creations. And that we must love one another.
Yes, original sin, etc etc. The devil uses women to tempt and distract men. Whatever. If men are weak enough to take the bait, then who exactly is the stronger sex? If women are strong enough to completely confuse and devour the hearts and souls of men... then, just logically thinking here, shouldn't we be considered the higher power?
Simply speaking, Adam ate the damn apple himself. Eve did not, as I recall in the story, shove it down his throat. Decisions, decisions.
And actually, it wasn't always so. At about 30,000 B.C., people believed the female sexual organ to be the sole source of life. It was carved into stone, as a symbol of life, and the gateway to God. Now, there is food for thought.
Don't panic. Not calling for the establishment of a matriarchy or anything. I'm a firm believer in peace and equality.
And more than anything, equal standards.
Why are women expected to be super beings? Combine housework, career success, mens' playboy fantasies, and womens' ideas of beauty and perfection? While it's perfectly accepted in society for a guy of 30 to be balding and have a beer belly.
The same goes for behavior. Accoring to AskMen.com: "Men interrogate, women are concerned, Men are whipped, women are clingy, Men are glorified, women are ostracized, Men are chivalrous, women are catty, Men are dysfunctional, women need better lovers." These are the top 5 double standards in dating. Agree? I think they have a point.
Some differences it seems have been and always be. But some, I do believe can be improved and compromised. If we stop being so afraid of the concept of equality and, oh my, feminism.
We're not wild animals, that, if you open the cage door, will jump out, bite you and pee on the carpet. We, too, are intelligent, sophisticated creatures, just trying to find a place in the world, sometimes more so than men. So let's give each other a bit of break.
Peace?
References:
http://files.nireblog.com/blogs4/blog-barbiegirls/files/barbie-girl.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_human_sexuality
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminism
http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/wdc/137792491.html
http://rfamilypuzzle.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/2008_1206Puzzle20078.354110355.JPG
http://www.oceansbridge.com/paintings/collections/old-masters-collection/big/Jan_Gossaert_Called_MabusexxAdam_and_Eve.jpg
http://uk.askmen.com/top_10/dating_60/70b_dating_list.html
"Sexual intelligence", by Kim Cattrall.
Your love is my drug
"There's a lot of research showing that laughter has an impact on illness. It releases endorphins and relieves pain." ~Janice Hein
"As to you, your scent – it's like a drug to me. You're like my own personal brand of heroin." ~Edward Cullen, Twilight"Romantic love is an addiction," said Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist. "My guess is that our modern addictions -- nicotine, drugs, sex, gambling -- are simply hijacking this ancient brain pathway that evolved millions of years ago, that evolved for romantic love. ... The brain system evolved to focus your energy on an individual and start the mating process."
What are endorphins and what do they do?
They
chemicals that are released in your brain under certain conditions.
Endorphins are an opiate, and effect your brain in the same way that
morphine
does. It is the chemical
responsible for "natural high".
More
commonly it is known as the ''feel-good'' chemical, the reason we feel
happy. But there are many different ways of influencing the level of
endorphins in our bodies, some healthy, and some not so much. You might
be surprised...
Healthy ones: Exercise, sex, playing with pets, favorite colors, activities, sunlight, spending time with friends and family, repetitive motions
(such as knitting or sewing), singing, dancing, bath, eating spicy food, nature, laughing, crying, tickling, vibrations.
Unhealthy: Arguing, reliving
confrontations over and
over in your head, picking at hangnails,
pimples, scabs, excessive exercise, repetitive obsessive
compulsive behavior, sugar,
caffeine,
alcohol, causing yourself
physical pain, being late, rushing to meet a deadline.
Sound
familiar? If you are engaging in any of these, it is
because the endorphin chemicals in your brain are low,
and
you are subconsciously trying to increase it. Our bodies
know what they need, but they do not always know the right way to get
it.
The term endorphin rush
has been adopted in popular speech to refer to feelings of exhilaration
brought on by pain, danger, or stress. Immediately after injury,
endorphins allow animals to feel a sense of power and control over
themselves that allows them to persist with activity for an extended
time.
Now that we got that part out of the way, let's think.
If
endorphins are a natural drug in our bodies, why is the fact that we
can get addicted to it so surprising? Almost any of the activities I
mentioned above is open to addiction. Anything overdone, even the most
healthiest thing ever, can become harmful. Love, sex, exercise, coffee
to name a few obvious ones.
As for exercise, intense workouts cause an increase in endorphin levels. Our bodies make endorphins whenever we exert ourselves, and the higher levels probably help us better tolerate physical pain and discomfort, perhaps they help with emotional pain, too?
What about love addictions?
From looking at the brain scans of the broken-hearted, researchers found
that recovering from a break-up is like a kicking an addiction to a
drug.
"Nobody gets out of love alive," Fisher said. "You turn into a menace or
a pest when you've been rejected. That's when people stalk or commit
suicide. ... There's a very powerful brain system that has a dramatic
effect on your entire life."
It
seems quite interesting that such opposite emotions such as love and
anger, generate the same chemical response in our body? Curious.
So
which emotion do we seek? Love is complicated. It carries
responsibilities, fears, expectations. But its opposite? Fast, easy. And
has the same effect. Curious. It is always easier to go for the lower
emotion. Always easier to kneel down than to reach up.
Let's
not confuse between what is right and what is easy. Let's not be lazy
and always reach for the top. And learn how to find happiness in its
most natural and pure ways.
http://www.recoverfromdepression.com/endorphins.htm
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/addicted-love-brain/story?id=11110866&page=2
http://www.sexual-addiction.net/what_is_sexual_addiction.php
http://www.womenfitness.net/exercise_addiction.htm
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/addicted-love-brain/story?id=11110866
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