Home » » Healthy Eating » Are you safe?

Are you safe?

© Betty O. Spangle

Last week I wrote about who made you fat. This week I want to write about who makes you feel safe, and who makes you feel alone.

Often, as women, we are afraid to show our real emotions, because we were taught at a very early age that certain emotions were unacceptable. Anger, depression, unhappiness, pride, confidence, self-assurance. Sound dramatic? Unfortunately it also sounds true.

Little girls are taught that they should be bright, cheerful, demure, semi-intelligent (not TOO intelligent), meek, slightly off center without a man, and weak. Why our society wants women to feel inferior has always mystified me. So, I read about it, I learned about it, and now I write about it.

Don’t misunderstand me, I do know that women are in a much better place today than they were even 20 years ago. However, the stereo-typing and expectations are still not where they should be. When is the last time women were told that they should be proud about being good mothers? Isn’t that what we are supposed to be? Isn’t it natural that a man is stronger than a woman?

Well, as a woman who has given birth to babies 10 and 11 lbs +, with no anesthesia, I think I can vouch for a woman’s strength. We have it, we are just not allowed to flaunt it. Why? Does it intimidate men? Does it intimidate other women? Why the belief that women are fragile and not too bright?

I don’t know. I could lie, and spout my own opinions, but that would be all they were, opinions, and not facts. I do know, however, for a fact, that girls are not taught to be self-reliant, even in this, the year 2001. Women are still taught that the husband should make more money, and that the husband should be the head of the house. Actually, I agree with the last one.

Shocked? Don’t be. I believe that the man should be the head of the house when he deserves to be so. When a man is reliable, trustworthy, unselfish, and truly deserving, he should be allowed to be the head of the family house. (Did you catch the allowed part?) Women are no less strong if their husband is the final say in home matters. However, if you are not even being asked for your opinion, something is wrong. A man should listen to his wife, and take her advice. (And if he doesn’t, and it turns out bad, he should be reminded once a week for the rest of his life)

The copyright of the article Are you safe? in Healthy Eating is owned by Betty O. Spangle. Permission to republish Are you safe? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.