Am I still a feminist?

Tuesday, 22 march 2016

Last week I went to a ‘women only’ networking lunch. I’m not sure where I sit with these kinds of events, having always thought myself to be a feminist. I told a male friend of mine I was going and that I had reservations. His response was interesting - he said he was all for equality but only until women can remove a spider from a bath! He has a point. My husband says the same thing about believing in equality, but it is me who cooks and washes up each evening, and him who mows the lawn - have you heard of blue and pink jobs? That’s a rant for another day! As it happened I really enjoyed the networking lunch, met some motivated and inspiring people, and didn’t once think ‘this event is missing some men’. I am seriously considering joining the group, but I am still left wondering if I am the feminist I believed I was in my 20s. As a woman now in my 40s with a family things are different and have I had to compromise my beliefs? Yes I have for the sake of spending quality, never to be had again, time with my precious son. I am lucky I have a husband who can financially help me to do this, but I have had to spend less time on my business which has been a tough transition to make. Personally I think there will always be differences between the sexes as long as women have children, and it is something I think I will always struggle with. Having said that, I do feel lucky and enjoy being a woman.