I love a good joke. Last night {at craft night} I was talking to my new friend Kate about feminism and when I was growing up that guys would tell jokes with punchlines the likes of, "why is she out of the kitchen?" or "so they match the appliances" and most of the girls in my peer group would get offended while I'd be laughing raucously along with the boys. Why? I don't know. I'm not easily upset by this kind of humor. I have a man's sense of humor, for sure! (for shame?)
{Just ask my husband - he'll say I'm much more crude than he is.}It must be tough to be a feminist and be a member of the Church. I'm not, so I won't even pretend to understand the feelings one might have, but I can get an idea of the line of questioning: priesthood, authority, etc.
But I just don't get it. It's not me.
When growing up I would always respond to the question of what I wanted to be with one word: mom. That's it. That's it? That's not it, though. Don't you understand how many jobs a mom would have? I do, and I'm not one. So really, I guess I don't.
{I should ask my sister. She's a great mom and in this world, she does a good job of it. Her kids might be a little spoiled, but they're kind and thoughtful and they know their parents love them. And did you get a parenting manual with your newborn? Yeah...no judgements.}
I love the ideals of a 50s housewife. Hell, I'm kind of living the modern version of that: no kids, no job, great husband, nice home. I'm truly blessed. {But I'm messy and I hate cleaning and I'm disorganized} I don't take it for granted, believe me. Or maybe I do sometimes. No one is perfect.
But! This is the life I chose for myself. This is what I wanted. What I want. I don't care if you want to work for a living. I appreciate that sense of fulfillment from a job well-done. I just don't HAVE that desire to work outside of the home.
So back to what started this line of thought. This video:
I LOVE IT. There. Disagree if you will.
Isn't it great when a stereotype is exaggerated! I'm not going to list the few that I just started typing out, but you know what I'm talking about, right?
I went to BYU. I lived in that bubble. I knew/know girls who are like that. I probably was one. I had self-esteem issues that I nursed with an overactive lipservice. I married my hometeacher. {he wasn't at the time and I don't remember him as my hometeacher, but he swears he was} I met Rooster at a ward opening social. It was lust at first sight and all that.
But here's what's funny. This little spoof/parody, if you will, has created so many back and forth comments on other LDS women's blogs. Some girls are pissed about how grossly misrepresented mormon girls are. Some laugh hysterically and recognize the sarcasm. {chalk me up}
It makes me remember the days of seminary when I was the only girl laughing.
And I kind of miss those days.
10 comments:
It is funny--for me, sarcastically funny.
Never lived in the bubble though---and dang glad I never did. But, for those whom are LDS--and have never even lived near UT--this could help explain the "bubble" to them perhaps...
Thanks for sharing!
Mary P.
People are pissed about it? Geesh! It is obviously meant to be an exaggeration (or maybe not) and to poke humor...
People are really pissed at this? Although this particular one may be exaggerated, there's a reason why stereotypes exist. I'm on your side, Chels. I loved it. :)
And I'm with you -- I have absolutely no desire to work outside the home. :) Do I have the desire to be productive and make a difference in my community, my church, and my family? Yes. You don't have to have a 9-5 job in a cubicle to do that.
I don't feel like the bubble is necessarily a bad thing, like I don't believe being outside the bubble is a bad thing. It's not that black and white-- there are benefits to either one.
Yeah, there are things about being in the bubble that are odd (like the assumption that every black person is from Africa-- two stereotypes collide!), but when I talk to people in my professional life about my desire to work for as little time as possible so I can be home with my kid(s), the judgment dripping from their faces is not something you'd find in the bubble, where staying home is the norm.
And now that I have Eddy, I'm a total sMother, where I just want to keep in in a proverbial bubble where nothing bad happens and the Church is true for everyone and everything is fair and wonderful and natural consequences are universal! But of course, that will be shattered the first time he's mentally aware and notices a billboard/commercial/magazine cover/newspaper. What's so wrong with wanting to stay within an ideal, a utopia, for as long as possible? And if you can create that world, why not?
Yes, growth and experience and all that jazz is necessary for development, but I feel like the bubble (or any bubble) allows you more control over how those experiences happen, rather than having it shoved into your face as you're walking down the street or sitting in an elementary school classroom.
This is the longest comment ever. But I love you. And if there were some way to arrange for it, I'd implant you into 1986 and make you MY mom, because I know you're going to be/already are an amazing mom.
And... I want your blog wallpaper to be my bedroom wallpaper. Year round.
I love love love it!!! We all know girls similar to these, just have to laugh!
wow this is the first time ive been here and the first time ive seen someone describe exactly how i feel! im originally from the midwest,i wonder if that has anything to do with it lol
P.S. I would TOTALLY LoVE to stay at home--forever--and be a mom. Forever. It's what I dreamed of--as well as getting my degree--and working to put my husband through school--so he could work forever and let me do the nurturing/raising.
I Cannot describe how incredibly hard it is to not be able to do this--how heartbreaking it is--even though I love, am passionate, and ambitious about what I do--my "job" has never just been a "job"--it's a mission for me--a life mission---
But--when I'm dragging myself to another meeting I don't want to go to, facing the reality of work life, and so forth--all I want to do is curl up under warm blankets with 3-8 little ones, read books, watch funny movies, and love it!
Sometimes we don't get what we dream of....
But--I can still laugh at this video. Believe me, Logan wasn't that far off from Provo either!
Mary (and yes--my card is coming soon. And yes--I feel the same way you do about Christmas cards!)
i'm SO there with you!!
Oh, Chelsea. I LOVED this video. Thank you for sharing! I find it absolutely hilarious. And I was one of the girls laughing, too. :)
I am right there with you on this one - I have a guy's sense of humour and I think this is hilarious. I greatly enjoyed this video - that doesn't mean that I don't think women should vote - I just know that there are certain things that make men and women different. Anyway, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Also, the girl who wrote/starred in this video is originally from the area I live in now and is in my Ward when she comes home. So I kinda know a celebrity! Lol.
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