WARNING:
1) I'm about to rant, fair warning. If you don't want to hear my opinion, now would be a good time to click the little x on the top of this page.
2) I understand you have your own opinions. These are mine and I understand many of you might not agree with them but that doesn't mean attack mine. If you were writing this, I wouldn't do it to you. That being said, I know some of you might voice your opinion that I'm wrong. If you choose to do so, I just ask you do so nicely and realize this is an opinion and everyone is entitled to their own.
Okay, now here it goes. And I also apologize, I'm kind of bad at words.
Lately I've seen a lot of articles about how sex defines who we are and feminism and I've started to think. (Anybody who knows me, knows that that could be dangerous). So here are my thoughts.
BEING A FEMALE DOESN'T DEFINE ME.
Yes, I, Paige Nicole Schmit, am a female. That's great, but that's not all I am. I'm more than a set of boobs and a vagina with hair and a pretty face. I have a brain and a great work ethic, along with tons of other great qualities that have nothing to with being female. In fact, those qualities mean a hell of a lot more than my boobs and vagina. SORRY, I'M NOT SORRY.
I constantly see and hear things about how gender equality and guess what?!?!?! I'm ALL for it. I guess you could call me a feminist (I'm cool with that) but I wouldn't say I'm a feminazi. Here's my logic:
I'm a female but I don't have to play by the gender stereotypes or roles.
I have every right to be whatever I want to be. If I want to be a hard-working doctor one day, then HELL, I'M GOING TO DO IT. If I want to work a 60 hour work week, I'm doing it. If I want to put work first and put aside the priority of finding a life partner, yup, you can bet I'm doing it.
I'm saying this: I'm a female but I'm not going to play the silly role society tells me to. If I want to be a doctor, I'm doing it. Even if society thinks I shouldn't. If I want to sit at home and watch football all day Saturday and Sunday instead of watching the newest season of The Bachelor (which I'd rather do), then I'm going to do so. AND GUESS WHAT THATS PERFECTLY OKAY.
Society doesn't have to define women. If you want to be a female engineer, go right ahead. You have my full support. If you want to wear the pants of the family and call the shots, MORE POWER TO YOU. If you want to bring home the most bacon…. YOU EAT UP GIRL, YOU EAT UP. You deserve it. But hey, if you want to be a stay at home mom, thats cool. YOU MAKE SURE THOSE KIDS ARE WELL FED AND PREPARED FOR SCHOOL. But listen, if you don't want to, you don't/shouldn't have to. Just because you're a female doesn't mean you have to be a stay at home mom. Nor does that mean you're a terrible wife or mother.
My mother wasn't a stay at home mom, and if I do say so myself, she was a WONDERFUL mom. My sister and I turned out just fine. She dropped us off at school and went to work. When her work day was done, she came home, took care of us and made dinner. She made sure we got where we needed to be, homework was done and that we did everything with her support. She made all of our swim meets and concerts, everything… WHILE WORKING. So yes, it can be done and doesn't make you any less of a woman.
Also I understand a family is about loving and serving but I'm not the only one who can love and serve.
I'm all about being loving, kind and serving one another (people tell me I've one of the nicest people they know, I beg to differ). When I'm someones wife (we can only hope at this point), you can bet I'll make dinner when I can and I'll help with the laundry and I'll help clean the house. See what I did there. It's a two way street. I'll make dinner and what not, don't get me wrong, but whats so wrong with the man doing it when I can't. Or helping or even doing it when I can. WHAT?!?!!? NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. There should be a balanced give and take. If you want a sandwich and I'm in the kitchen, I'll make you a sandwich. NOT BECAUSE I HAVE TO BUT BECAUSE I WANT TO . AND NEXT TIME YOU'RE IN THE KITCHEN AND I ASK FOR A SANDWICH, YOU BETTER MAKE ME ONE.
So I guess thats my opinion.. I don't have to be a stay at home mom because society tells me to or you think its best. I'm going to do what I want and I have that right. I'll do "womanly duties" but I don't have to, the man can do it too. MY DAD COOKS AND DOES LAUNDRY AND CAN CLEAN AND THATS FUCKING AWESOME AND MAKES HIM MORE OF A MAN.
While I'm going to be one hell of a doctor (or nurse, or whatever), I'm also going to be one hell of mom and wife. I'm going to work and so can my husband. I'm fight for equal rights here, not trying to take power away, that just makes me just like the pigs who got us here in the first place (see feminazi comment).
Just be true to who you are as a female. If you want to wear your big ass bows and dresses, you do it. But if I want to wear sweats, I'll do me. Just demand to be equal to men and command the respect you deserve.
In the wise words of Patrick Swayze, may that beautiful man rest in peace:
"No one puts *females* in the corner"
* future husband I hope you took notes* I do what I want
