Thought provoking email CONTINUED

NurseDennie · Feb 14, 2002, 07:34 PM

I was one of the women in the women's movement waaayyyy back then. And yep, I agree with you. We blew it.

When I was a kid (ahh, the good old days), if you had more than one car, you were very wealthy. NOBODY had more than one television, and of course all the electronics that we live with now weren't even invented.

But if the Mum had to work.... ooooohh, that was sad. That family was POOR!

So here we are after all that, and we have all the stuff that only the very rich folks had, and yet we live like the very poorest.

I can't speak for the rest of the woman's movement, but what was being talked about when *I* was going to those meetings was women who had devoted their lives to their families and for one reason or another found themselves unable to support themselves in their middle or older ages.

But looking at facts.... What's it all been in support of? When I was an 'activist' women were earning on average about 45% of what men earned. So now it's like 60% of so... Big fat hairy deal.

I still stand by my statement that women who enjoy a career that would have been thought of as a man's job back then, are standing on the shoulders of what we did. But I deeply regret that it's now almost impossible to live on one salary, that people who choose to stay home with their kids feel looked-down-upon. I was only able to stay home with my older daughter for a year and with my younger daughter for two years. And that's MUCH more than what's expected now.

Okay, rant over.... (pant, pant.....) Want to know why *I* left the woman's movement? Two reasons:
1) Remember the old saying "A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle"? They really meant it. There was literature passed around and talk at the meetings that we should not love men at all.

Forget THAT, sister!!

2) I was listening to the great Gloria Steinham at an organizational meeting. It was the big consensus that we needed a strong leadership to keep to the goals and programs. Someone wanted to know what exactly the goals and programs should be. Ummmmm, that was why we needed strong leadership.

I beg your pardon? Okay, I was just leaving anyway.

Okay, toddling off to bed now. I spent the entire day on my feet - I used to do it all day every day but now it hurts more.

Love

Dennie

Sundowner · Feb 14, 2002, 08:21 PM

Well I am glad to see that I am not alone in my thoughts about the lib'ers. I do believe that they had wonderful ideas (except for the man hating thing) but sadly had no idea of the impact it would all have on us now.

Where I am at....if a woman isn't working...and living well she is one lucky lady. If she isn't working and not financially sound, t hen she is looked down upon. Funny isn't it.
My t houghts on the woman who doesnt need to work but does....is simply that she is nuts!

I wonder what other lib'ers think of things now....probably not much seeing that my take on it now, is that the majority of them were lesbians and suffered no ill effects from it all.

Jenny P · Feb 16, 2002, 12:54 AM

Okay, back in the late 60's and 70's, I was a libber and still am but prefer to think of myself as an EQUAL. Why can't we earn the same pay as men? We work just as long, just as hard, and should be paid the same amount for the same work.

Nurse Dennie, I read that women currently earn 78% of a man's salary. That is a far cry better than the 45% we earned back in the 60's. We have made progress; but we still have a long way to go.

My Mom died when I was 8; and my brothers and sisters and I were raised by an Aunt and Uncle (their daughter and Gram lived there too). My Aunt was County Superintendent of Schools for over 25 years; because she was a female, her salary was only 1/3 of the guy in the next county with the same title. My Uncle had a massive MI when I was 10, and my Aunt was the main breadwinner for most of my formative years. We WERE poor; but we didn't know it because of all of our needs being met then. But I shall never forget the injustice of seeing my Aunt work so hard for so little. And when the Co. Superintendents' retirement fund was embezzeled, she went back to work and continued to work as a cook and as a teacher until she was in her 70's because she hadn't had any $$$ to set aside for retirement-- she didn't make enough $$$ for extras-- like retirement!

Sundowner · Feb 16, 2002, 08:13 AM

Sadly,,,i think it is a catch 22.......You have wdowed or single moms needing to make ends meet....and then you have families where both parents have to work.....cant win.

TCW · Feb 16, 2002, 10:45 AM

I was going to post a reply to this thread many times before but I always refrained. I'll admit I have not read the entire post because it's too long and I have too much stuff I should be doing right now.

But anyway, I am appalled that some people assume that those of us that don't go to church are non-believers. I haven't been to church in about 10 years, but let me tell you I read just about any religous book I can get my hands on, I witness to my friends & family IF THEY WANT IT and I live my life the best way that I know how. I stopped going to church because of the whole hypocrisy thing as well as the cliques that I found at the churches I went to. I know there must be some wonderful churches out there, but quite frankly I don't chose to look for them.

When someone dares to ask me if I go to church (because as you know that's between me & God) I don't tell them it's because of the hypocrites there. I tell them it is a personal choice I have made for myself.

To all of you who have found a supportive and loving church...more power to you.

*live4today* · Feb 16, 2002, 11:12 AM

TCW, I stopped attending churches for the same reasons. Today, I go visit churches when I feel like going, and I don't feel ashamed if I don't go. And, BTW, I am DEFINITELY a believer in the Almighty One and Only God!

micro · Feb 16, 2002, 03:39 PM

just posting my opinion here also, besides pm Brian.....before us religious heads take over this bb, what about a spirituality in nursing and etc. forum.......they just might consider it.........

micro · Feb 16, 2002, 03:40 PM

everybody take hoolahans suggestion, and pm brian lets start a forum.....

*live4today* · Feb 16, 2002, 04:16 PM

I second that, micro!

Why don't you get one started, then we will post comments on it???

As for the subject of this post "changing" or getting out of hand again, if you will go back to "post #1", you'll read that this is the post NurseDennie started where she is talking about religious beliefs, churchgoing, etc. pm-mom started talking about kiddies, which is great subject matter cause I love kiddies, too, but she is also sharing her faith on this post with us. So, where along the lines did you think this post changed from being one thing to another thing, micro? Nothings changed to my knowledge. What about it NurseDennie? Have we started talking about something other than what you originally posted???

Micro, Brian also said we could feel free to discuss religion and share our beliefs on the "Off Topic - Just Conversation" forum...which this is. So, everyone posting here on this particular forum is still within the guidelines Brian layed down.

micro · Feb 16, 2002, 04:43 PM

I don't think I can get one started...........by what hoolahan said.......she said let Brian know and he might consider it..............would love.........it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thx Renee

just old micro here............hope it works.................

p.s. micro has learned a long time ago, not to enter into an discussion/argument

don't even get ????????? but that is okay, micro is slow!!!!!!!! ooooooooh!!!!!!!!! sooooooo!!!!!!!!! slooooooww!

one thing to another thinK?????????????????

just old micro here,
just trying to figure out the day to day world let alone the supernatural one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you gotta know micro by know to get this closing,
micro lol