I borrowed the title from John Oliver's "Last Week Tonight" broadcast on HBO. I don't really know what it means, but it sure is funny when it is mentioned.
I honestly don't know if I qualify as a "feminist" or not. I know I've held some beliefs, or rather, harbored opinions or maybe, understood other's justifications for sexist beliefs. I don't know if those opinions or understandings have ever made me biased against women at any point in my life.
When I was growing up, trying to figure things out, I noticed that in the animal kingdom, females of the species weren't less regarded than their male counterparts. In relation to the males, most females were just as feared and respected as other males. Really, would it matter if a female lion was gnawing on your leg vs a male lion? It would be equally horrid.
And I wanted female attention. I like being around them. In high school, I wasn't comfortable around women until my senior year. I really liked my senior year. In college, I realized how much I liked being around smart women. I loved making them smile. I relished the idea that I could make these smart women smile. That was a bit of an ego boost for me. I really didn't have anything to offer these girls, other than my company, my wit, and my presence. And I could make them smile, even laugh sometimes.
I also thought that most of these women were smarter than me. I wasn't very good at peopling. I looked up to them for being able to navigate life better than I could. I was jealous of them and their goals. I wanted to know what they planned with their lives. I still do.
So I've a wife of almost 30 years. I have a daughter that I want to excel in every way possible. I have a sister that I've always deeply respected. I have friends, coworkers that are female, women of outstanding character. I want them all to achieve what they want to, regardless of our society's predilection to deny them freedom of action and voice.
I came across Cracked's podcast this morning, The Bizarre Hassles Women Face in a World Designed for Men. Interesting.
John Oliver's International Women's Day take.
I honestly don't know if I qualify as a "feminist" or not. I know I've held some beliefs, or rather, harbored opinions or maybe, understood other's justifications for sexist beliefs. I don't know if those opinions or understandings have ever made me biased against women at any point in my life.
When I was growing up, trying to figure things out, I noticed that in the animal kingdom, females of the species weren't less regarded than their male counterparts. In relation to the males, most females were just as feared and respected as other males. Really, would it matter if a female lion was gnawing on your leg vs a male lion? It would be equally horrid.
And I wanted female attention. I like being around them. In high school, I wasn't comfortable around women until my senior year. I really liked my senior year. In college, I realized how much I liked being around smart women. I loved making them smile. I relished the idea that I could make these smart women smile. That was a bit of an ego boost for me. I really didn't have anything to offer these girls, other than my company, my wit, and my presence. And I could make them smile, even laugh sometimes.
I also thought that most of these women were smarter than me. I wasn't very good at peopling. I looked up to them for being able to navigate life better than I could. I was jealous of them and their goals. I wanted to know what they planned with their lives. I still do.
So I've a wife of almost 30 years. I have a daughter that I want to excel in every way possible. I have a sister that I've always deeply respected. I have friends, coworkers that are female, women of outstanding character. I want them all to achieve what they want to, regardless of our society's predilection to deny them freedom of action and voice.
I came across Cracked's podcast this morning, The Bizarre Hassles Women Face in a World Designed for Men. Interesting.
John Oliver's International Women's Day take.
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