The Good Earth. Read it. Call me. We'll talk. It tells the life story of a Chinese farmer, beginning when he first purchases his wife and starts his life as a man. It (beautifully, tragically) illustrates their successes and failures over a lifetime, and overall is a brilliant representation of the Pride Cycle: Asia. It is extremely well written.
Something kept creeping back to the forefront of my brain as I read, though. And while it was not actually the theme of the book, I couldn't help but ponder it more. The thought is this:
Women's rights have certainly come a long way.
I'm not saying it is perfect, but when you look back on history and you see how things actually were... Wow. It is MUCH better.
But what I realized, as I read, was that in my past enthusiasms to appreciate the women who paved the path for equal gender rights (Alice Paul, Joan of Arc, Rosalind Franklin, Mother Teresa, Harriet Tubman, "Rosie the Riveter", Emma Smith, Eleanor Roosevelt, and, yes, including Hillary Rodham Clinton... the list goes on and on), I have completely neglected an essential group in that undertaking.
Tonight,
I am incredibly grateful for the MEN who are feminists.
As I read The Good Earth, it occurred to me that men are completely underappreciated when it comes to this subject. Ironically, men are often ignored or assumed to be arrogant/anti/apathetic in regard to women's rights... which is precisely the OPPOSITE of equal rights. #fail
So here is a small tribute to the MEN in this world who truly see women as equals. This is a shout-out to the MEN who value women's opinions because they see them as intelligent, capable contributors to society. Thank you to the MEN who value the inside of a woman (brain, heart, courage) more than the outside. Most of all, thank you to the MEN who fought and continue to fight alongside women for equal rights to spread to the whole world!
It is so easy to support women's rights as a woman. I mean... hullo!! It is a cause that can only improve a woman's life. To not would be ... silly, actually. Too many similes are coming to mind, and it's late, so I can't figure out which to pick... I was thinking "to not would be like insisting on a VHS when a Blu-ray DVD is available", but that is a lame example. Especially because I am so movie-illiterate that I had to look up how to spell Blu-ray. Use your imagination.
It is not so easy to support women's rights as a man. If anything, it could be downright hard. Look at the progression from a man's perspective: man loses servitude in a wife, gets more competition in the workplace, has to learn to compromise/communicate instead of holding the only opinion... etc. That could be a hard pill to swallow!
If you ask me, a man who is a feminist is incredibly unselfish. And smart. But mostly unselfish.
So while we are SOOOOOOOO SOO SOO grateful for the wonderful, smart, brave, heroic women in the world... let's also be grateful for the MEN who stand alongside them. For the men who don't stunt progress or ignore solutions because it was a woman's work. For the men who aren't chauvinistic, bigoted prigs. And not just the men whose only contribution to equal rights is simply not preventing it from happening...
I am talking about the men who intentionally inspire women to keep going! They are there to clear out gunk and weeds and HELP pave the way for future generations as well! Like Atticus and Jem to Scout; like Rudy and Max and Hans to Liesel; like Gordon to Marjorie.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are in this together, so let us WORK TOGETHER!
I am grateful that I have not only been "allowed" to educate myself, but that I have been encouraged to do so! I am grateful that my opinion is my opinion. I am grateful for all those men and women throughout my life who have inspired me to reach my dreams. Even though I'm a girl. :)
#wherewouldwomenbewithoutmen
#wherewouldmenbewithoutwomen
#womensrights
#thegoodearthwasreallyamazingandyoushouldreadit
#thepeoplethatreadtogetherfeedtogethersoweshouldhavelunchwhenyoudo
