Equal

Equal?  What exactly does that mean?  From dictionary.com:

"A person or thing considered to be the same as another in status or quality."

I've been reading a book lately about adolescent girls and the change that takes place to their personalities in their teen years (Thank you, Margie, for the recommendation).  I'm only a few chapters in, but I think it's interesting that the author has mentioned a number of girls with problems and only one without.  The only thread that I can see that's different between the one and the many is that the one has a mom who stays home.  Coincidence?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  I don't know.  I just thought it was an interesting point to consider.

Instead of noticing this difference, the author goes on and on about women's rights.  It's very interesting because it doesn't seem to fit the rest of the chapter yet she goes on for pages about it.

She had some very valid points--women aren't mentioned much in history books that girls read in school, women are, more often than not, made sexually desirable by the media, etc., etc.  You know, all the stuff we already know.  I have to admit that I nodded my head quite a bit during this.

It really got my brain thinking on this.

The next morning, it was still on my mind.  So much so, that it became part of my morning prayer--not on purpose because it really wasn't that big of a deal to me, but I was impressed with the impression I received....

To have "equal rights" doesn't mean that we have to be the same.  It doesn't mean I have to become a man or do what a man does to be equal with him.  Which is a really good answer to receive because I really do like being a woman.  It does however mean that I can be just as good as or as powerful as a man in what I do best.

I have a body that makes other human beings.  It does that.  It's pretty cool.  A man can't do that.  No matter how much I wish the Warden would get that opportunity, so he could understand better, we all know that will never happen.  DARN!  But because I have that power, I also have the ability to nurture that life.  Therein lies my power.  I can be compassionate and understanding and fair.  I can advocate for myself, my children, my family and all other mom's, children, and families.  I can do these things equal in strength to how my husband does what he does.  In strengthening myself in these areas, I strengthen our family as individuals and as a group.

All of this raises a question, though.  I've heard the argument that women who choose to stay at home and raise their kids aren't "contributing" to their families.  Do people really believe this?

As I read this book and see the author go to bat for more women's rights, it makes me wonder....Might she be heading in the wrong direction?  Is she advocating for the wrong thing for these girls?  Does a teenage girl need more rights (yes, I think so), but maybe what she really needs is the nurturing only her mother can give her?  I know I did during those years.

Maybe it's time we fought against society and helped our daughters see the importance of our real role as women.  They need to see the power that lies within them to nurture and bless the lives of others.  Why did society start telling us that this was bad?  What greater contribution could there be?  It's time to stop trying to be the same and just work at being equal in strength and enthusiasm for our role as women.

**Climbs off of soapbox**