A Woman's Struggles in a Man's World

As I hear about Sarah Palin, Vice President running mate with Presidential elective John McCain, and her beliefs it brings me to think about what women have been fighting for hundreds of years. My husband commented that she wants to bring women back into the kitchen, bear foot, and pregnant. Although she has never said that her belief system leans us towards that interpretation. But this article isn't political, it's about women; what women face in still a man's world. I'm not saying I believe women should enter the battlefield, but I believe women should have the same rights as a man in education and career even if it is going to battle.

When I first entered my educational adventures I was young and scared. I was a single mom with a baby boy. I was proud when I talked about my son until I realized how old fashioned in views people still had. Many of my instructors didn't believe my place was in college but rather at home being a full- time mom. My male anthropology teacher told me that upon my first class when I was asked to tell about myself. My grade in the class was determined from that day on. I battled with an instructor who gave me an A because I was "cute." I heard it directly from the instructor's mouth. I battled female powered instructors who expected nothing less in my educational performance than their own performance. I tended to only miss about one class each semester due to a sick baby at home. I knew where my priorities stood and if my son needed me I was there for him. One of my female writing teachers told me I should never miss class and if my son was more important than maybe I shouldn't be taking classes. I soon caught on that because I was a woman and because I was a mom; people were going to be judgmental. I quit talking about who I was and about my life.

About ten years later and still taking college classes, I had a math teacher who on the first day asked us to write down if we worked, had children, and information about ourselves. I lied and then left after class when it had finished upset that I had to lie. I had been down that path before and I thought that questions that are going to determine my personal life rather than my education were inappropriate. I didn't want history to repeat itself. Later, in the semester I told her the truth, after she had the chance to know me as a determined woman who worked hard in school. I told her about the threat of my education when my children were mentioned. She understood. She was a woman but had no children and told me that she could understand how that factor would play in determining the student and the teacher's reflection upon the student.

I also had a nutrition teacher who was a mother of a teenager and a baby. I attended every class regularly and was a good student. I asked the instructor if I could miss a day because my pre-schooler had a Thanksgiving party during class hours and I wanted to be there for him. It was a luncheon with children and their parents. She told me it was about priorities. It was about whether I thought that my son was more important than one day of class. Due to the problems I had experienced prior made the decision hard. I ended up missing the class to be with my son. I didn't regret it and at the end of the semester the teacher told me with a smile that I must have made a good decision then.

From that point on, I stood strong about who I was and was more determined to finish my education without hiding behind a misleading life. Women face so many issues in today's society. Many women along with men believe that women should stay home with their children. With the economy declining, people are more understanding about mothers who have to work outside the home but it is still a struggle for a mother to have an education. In my opinion, some men are okay with a woman working only because they know it is nearly mandatory to have a two person income inside a home anymore. Unless the man wants to take on a second job that is just the way it has to be. A woman's education is like a new outfit or hair style its nice to have but it is not a necessity. I believe women are more understanding to another woman working only because more women have to work. It is no longer a choice but a requirement for survival at times.

Women are the backbone of our society. People need to realize this. Most women balance a woman's life and a man's, and all they want is respect. Women know what they need to do in life and they do it. We cook, clean, shop, help with homework, laundry, children school functions, PTA, volunteer, support our families, bring home a salary, and go to college. We hold down the family home and support our communities so why shouldn't we get the support right back?