A Woman's Nation - Divided

The posts over the last couple days addressing the Shriver Report on A Woman's Nation has drawn a number of diverse comments (primarily on my Facebook page). It concerns me, because it is evidence that there is still a huge divide on women's issues; and the divide is between the women.

I'm not sure if the divide centers on women with children and women without children or women with careers and women without careers or single woman and married woman. Both groups on each issue need each other's support. Each of us have made choices in our lives and each of us should address those choices with responsibility and acceptance.

The Women's Movement provided us all with choice. If it wasn't for the movement, many of us would not have had the opportunity to build our careers. Had we made the choice not to marry and not to have children before the movement, we would have been confined to pink collar jobs and low wages; literally eating cat food in our old age.

The Women's Movement sanctioned women with children working out of the home. It gave increased opportunity to single mothers to provide for their children. Mothers, married and single, have every opportunity to pursue education, career and relationships because of the movement. The children are no longer an excuse not to do something.

Some of us may believe that if you choose to have a child, that you should stay home and raise the child. Some women do not have that choice. Some of us believe that woman who pursue careers, without children are selfish. These are the judgements that create the divide.

Do not judge unless you walk in those shoes. We were given choices, but the choice we make are still a result of our personalities and value system. The cornerstone of the foundation of the movement was "acceptance"; acceptance of choices to fulfill our dreams.

Some women raise three children on their own, work full-time, volunteer in their community, go to the gym regularly and spend quality time with family and friends. That full schedule may be too much for other woman. Some women are married with children, stay home and keep house; and that is a full enough schedule for them. Both are right. Both made a choice.

We should not feel the need to make excuses for why we do or don't do more or less in our lives. You answer only to yourself.

We cry for diversity in the workplace, in education and within political policy. Why can't we achieve diversity and acceptance within our own gender? No more excuses. Just know you have choices thanks to many women before you.