Monday 16 July 2012

No offence meant

So my laptop is away getting worked on hence the absence of photos. But I have been thinking more about my last post and I was worried that my words perhaps upset or alienated people. My sentence about Simple Abundance where I said that not everyone is fulfilled by gardening cooking etc could do with more explanation. I am all for reclaiming the home and indeed take great pleasure in much of the domestic activity that goes on therein. It's just that I am all about reclaiming the workplace, the streets, Westminster as well (and many more unequal areas of women's lives). It is still an unequal world and our complex modern lives consist of seeking fulfilment, but also the struggle to get there, reconciling work and home. My own place in the world is a foot in both the domestic and the world of work. The book is also, though well intentioned not one for all women and it's solutions and activities are predominantly middle class I feel. I hope this explains more of what I meant and that I didn't make you feel diminished or offended. Sorry if that happened. It's all just my personal interpretation and yours will differ- for that I am sure. And that difference, the words it inspires is what brings me back to your blogs, just as much as the similarities.

7 comments:

  1. Hello, I wasn't offended by your post at all :-) And I agree, the world can be a difficult place to navigate as a woman. I find this more since becoming a mum. I was really horrified by the way my boss (a woman) reacted to my pregnancy. But that's a story for another day. Anyway, I digress :-) x

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    1. Thanks Col, I really appreciate your comment. I just re- read what I had written and thought it sounded a bit dismissive. I believe passionately in choice for women, particularly in how they decide to structure their lives after having children. I work a few days a week just now and it works for me. Solidarity between women is something I value and want to reflect here. It just nagged away at me that my words could read negatively when that wasn't meant at all. Take care and as ever I appreciate you visiting, jx

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    2. And your situation with your boss sounds terrible. I'm really sorry you had to deal with that, jx

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  2. No offence here either! I agree with Col, motherhood changed a lot of how I felt as a woman, espeically as I am currently at home full time. It took me a long time to be ok with that, and not feel the need to justify it all the time. What suits one woman doesn't necessarily suit another, but so long as we all support each other's choices and opinions then there is hope! x

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  3. Thanks so much Gillian, for taking the time to comment and for visiting me here. I agree with you that you are damned if you do stay home and damned if you work. Both options are loaded with guilt, just about different things. I worked a lot of hours when my son was little and felt terrible, every single day. I changed that in time and I think I have the balance just about right now, for the children, my partner and I. I guess that is all we can hope for, make sure we support each other and importantly talk about it. Thanks for sharing your own
    situation. Take care jxx

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  4. Jo, I very much agree. I doubt anyone was offended. And you are right. We need to take what is rightfully ours in ALL areas.

    (I am both a feminist and a socialist. I am totally with you. Let's do it.)

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    1. Thanks Lisa-Marie, I am really glad you agree. Between gender and class it is still a bit of a battlefield for women and don't even get me started on the 'Heat' generation! Being supportive and understanding of each others choices is the starting point and I am grateful for your support here. I hope you are having a great weekend, Jo xc

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