International Women's Day

So today is International Women's Day. Stephanie wrote a nice post here and it got me thinking.

Many of you will know already that I am a feminist. You'll know that I believe in choice, agency, bodily sovereignty, working outside the home, working inside the home, having children and not having them, being yourself despite and sometimes because of societal gender role expectations. You'll know that I believe women are underpaid, undereducated, underappreciated, overtaxed, and subjected to unnecessary violence every day, around the world.

You'll know that I am a gender non-conformist in a number of ways that are not immediately obvious to others. You'll know that my husband, The Rock of Ages in my life, is a gender non-conformist in ways that are not immediately obvious to others.

You'll know that I believe that American women get thrown under the Congressional bus everyday, even though women as a constituency outnumber men in this country by SEVEN MILLION persons as of the 2000 US Census.

But maybe you won't know why.

Because I believe that women and men deserve equality. As Stephanie states, equality is not sameness. It means equal. Equal is not always the same.

What do you believe?

Finally...

My doctor called last week to give me some bad news. The bad news is that I have a medical condition that needs treating.

The good news is that it's easily treated and explains a laundry list of symptoms but also the complete inability to lose weight.

I am feeling fine. Or will be soon.

The sense of relief is amazing though.

Old white guys....

I am NOT thankful for old white guys today.

Old white guys think that they should be able to get their rocks off with any woman they want.

Old white guys think that they don't need consent to get their rocks off with any woman they want. It's not rape.

Old white guys think that unless a woman fights back hard when they want to get their rocks off with any woman they want, it's not rape

Old white guys think that a woman should not be able to get an abortion if she falls pregnant unless a woman fights back hard when they want to get their rocks off with any woman they want. It's not rape, right?

Old white guys think that society has no responsibility to a woman who falls pregnant unless she fights back hard when they want to get their rocks off with any woman they want. Because it's not rape, right?

Old white guys that think that society has no responsibility to a woman who falls pregnant unless she fight back hard when they want to get their rocks off with any woman they want.....

Got no rocks.

Karma....

After years of working hard, if a bit complacently, I have an opportunity to level up at a great firm with great people in a subject where I have significant expertise. This would be an amazing opportunity.

Then why does it feel like I am being hit by a karma??

Seriously.

Great opportunity, but a huge amount of change.

So today I am grateful for the love and support of friends who get to watch this transformation happen. Pull up a chair and make some popcorn for the show.