I've been stewing this for a while and have come back to this blog many times to delete and re-write the whole thing... but today I saw an article about a garden centre which removed two products because they were 'sexist and insulting'.
A customer complained that these signs were 'patronising and insulting' and insisted that
"I don't want people telling my granddaughter what she should do to be a proper girl like painting her nails and baking cupcakes while boys are climbing trees, building forts, and going on adventures and doing all the exciting things in life."
...as though 'boys' activities are better. That 'girls' activities are not as good - are boring and unexciting.
As a woman, I love to sew and bake and plant flowers. I enjoy hosting and cooking and singing. Call me old fashioned, but I love these things - they bring joy and colour into my life and whilst you might find it insulting that a girl would be encouraged to do these things, I find it insulting that someone might see my femininity as invaluable enough to be an insult.
Don't get me wrong - I appreciate that people are different, and I'm all for girls doing the stereotypical 'boy' things too - I also love climbing trees and hanging upside down from monkey bars (yes, even at the grand old age of 23!). I love to go running and camping and sausages are always best on an open fire! (...and if boys want to do the stereotypical 'girl' things, I have no problem with that either!)
I am all for equal opportunities and all that... But I am also a woman who actually likes to do the 'stereotypical' female things, and it feels like society is getting so caught up in feminism that we're starting to shame femininity.
I am a woman.
I am valuable - no more or less than a man.
I am incredibly fortunate to live in a country where I have opportunities and choices - no more or less than a man.
...But whilst I fully support equality of value regardless of gender, I also choose to embrace femininity... so I will bake and sew and have tea parties to my heart's content, and you're welcome any time!
