I’ve changed my name.
January 17, 2014
I have to say that this journey has been cathartic.
Looking back at who I was two years ago and the reasons for starting this blog – to hopefully find answers to the questions I had for myself about this life, why it was the way it was and how I was to navigate through it – along with my daughters, husband, family, friends and the big wide world – it’s quite incredible; I am quite a different person today.
My journey has seen me connect with such an extraordinary cross-section of inspirational and brave feminists – all with their unique angle of what the issues are for women and girls in this world and who work tirelessly to create some positive change.
I feel humbled to have met you all – you have had a profound impact on me.
So here I am – having just had my unoriginal epiphany about the chronic and habitual gender roles both women and men are assigned from birth – and I realised that I had a problem with the name of this blog.
Why did I name the blog Questions for Women? Because at the time, I understood women (and men) to be in categories. I myself (still) participate in it, although some shackles – like how I perceive beauty in myself and all those around me – have been dropped.
But who are these ‘women’ I want answers from, exactly?
Since posting my last question – What IS a woman? (yes, we all know it’s a female adult, I mean in terms of the label) – it became abundantly apparent that, really, there’s no such thing.
So this blog will now be known as: Questions for Us – questionsforus.com
The future can only be changed through our children / younger generation – by Us.
Being the ‘grown-ups’ of the equation means we have to step up – do much more than we are now.
Most of us adults are too far gone in our deeply-rooted mantras and practices to completely change the narrow gender moulds we’ve designed (and keep whittling at into smaller and smaller representations) but kids are different; essentially they are a clean slate.
Today, however, they’re a clean slate surrounded by a world selling them something sinister in its core and wallpapering their existence with it.
Question #197: Can we now embrace the phrase, ‘It takes a village to raise a Child’?
In my heart of hearts, I bloody hope so! We need it now – more than ever.
I sincerely hope to have you on board in discussions, as I don’t have all the answers – but I’m not blind to what I see and will question it.
Deep Breath.
x
Questions for Us 
I know this expression ‘It takes a village to raise a Child’, but it doesn’t make much sense to me. But I’d like to hear your take on what that expression means to you.
My opinion on it is that if we don’t beat them over the head with physical abuse, verbal abuse, indoctrination or constant projection, children can grow up pretty much by themselves. It seems to me that if we decide that a child is a human being, worthy of human rights and freedom, not a partial human being worth of partial human rights and partial freedom, or a depraved animal only worthy of punishment, then it would seem to me that “a village” would just get in the way. It is only because we push children into dependency that they grow up that way.
Great question, Francois.
The way I interpret this statement is in terms of the ‘village’ being a global one. I think you’re spot on in that we need to teach children (without harm) to be effective members of society, who can take their place in the world and be self-sufficient. However, it has become a skewed and toxic environment (hyper-sexualisation of women and girls, violence against women, rape culture, gender bias etc etc) and it’s up to the adults of the global ‘village’ to change things around by still teaching children the rights you mentioned but also dropping the shackles of gender roles and stereotypes.
It’s all been created to make money – media saturates us with the messages – and it has become a monster.
Thanks heaps for your question.
😀
Unfortunately that can only happen if we acknowledge that we all have a part of responsibility for the way society influences children.
That’s right. It’s going to be a long journey.
Helloooooo! Hope you are well? Just wanted to say a HUGE thank you for your amazing blog – we love reading it! Just wondered if you’d be interested in taking part in our new video, about self acceptance? We’d credit you and the blog on there of course…. it would be a real honour to have you involved 🙂 Here’s some more info: http://unsunglilly.com/2014/01/18/feature-in-our-video-about-self-acceptance/
xx
AMAZING! Woooo Hoooo!! I would LOVE to be a part of the video. The honour would be mine.
I will do my absolute best to get something to you. I’m still being a mum in school holiday mode and have something on every day (including going back to work on Thursday) before your due date. The perils of motherhood! Hahaha!
Thank you for your very kind words.
Lots of love to you, Sera. xx