An Examined Life - Part 1

As I reflect on other lives and research this subject of “women’s legacy” I ask myself, and my family asks of me “why are you doing this”?  Good question and I wish I had a good answer other than “it seemed like a timely theme” given this maelstrom we call the world today.

But it has given me pause to question my motives beyond that “good idea at the time” quip. I spent the summer writing humorously about my childhood and teenage years while externally I was become more and more angry with the way things were evolving with that whole Ford/Kavanagh incident. By the time I had completed the September theme of “Infamous Diary” I was at a boiling point at the treatment of women today. If I didn’t write about it I thought I would explode somewhere less appropriate. And as “luck” would have it I was watching other programs and hearing other women expressing a lot of the same emotions I was feeling. And along came Rebecca Traister and her book “Good & Mad” which will make any righteous person good and mad at the treatment of women in America. But we can to some extent say this treatment has and is being done around the world although probably not to the disgusting degree it is in America.  Case in point, Marie Curie was never treated with the respect she deserved in her adopted country of France during her lifetime. Only when she was traveling abroad did France realize she was not showing off any French honours (because she didn’t have any) and they suddenly wanted to give her some award or other. She declined. (Good on her). Now if an amazing woman like Marie Curie could not be honoured by the good old boys . . . who the else stands the heck of a chance?

I wrote earlier about women being between a rock and a hard place when it came to their decision to choose between motherhood and a career however when it comes to achievement then women are really between the devil and the deep blue sea. The devil being “man” and the deep blue sea being the chasm of hollowness in any achievement due to the tepid way it is acknowledged by said devil. Women who continue to go their own way are intrepid warriors who have to work harder than any man to be acknowledged in any way; for her to achieve at the highest level she has earned it ten times over. Saying that, and believing it with all my heart, I feel that men ought to go down on their knees in thankfulness, admiration, humility and also in pleading forgiveness.

Dear Readers – to clarify when I say “man” or “they” I am talking about a collective that has the power to make or break a person. I am not picking on “man” in general or “they” in general although those who I AM picking on are anonymous as well despite their power. Media, journalists, academies, professional clubs and so forth remain almost exclusive when it comes to recognition of one kind or another.

“... now I know how to take a deep breath and keep my hand up. I have learned to sit at the table.” Sheryl Sandberg, Lean In pg 38