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B*#@h? Or Just Headstrong and Honest?
Saturday, August 04, 2012 by Stef Daniel from Mom, Myself, & I
I admit, I am guilty.
There is a woman I know who I used to think was a complete, utter and total b*tch. She really was. I saw her as loud and obnoxious, and constantly trying to get her way with things. She always appeared to be complaining about something. Since she and I have a daughter the same age, I would run into her a lot at school, and every time I saw her I thought to myself, "What a b*tch!!!" (Because you NEVER actually say something like that to a woman that is b*tchy, lest you become her target, right?)
Then, much to my dismay - I was 'stuck' with this woman during a recent out-of-town softball tournament.
And I came face to face (AGAIN) with one of the biggest misconceptions about women known to, well...women!
A woman is not a b*tch - because she knows what she wants. A mother is not horrid because she stands up for her kid, or voices her opinion. A woman who complains when something is wrong in the hopes of blowing in the winds of change is not automatically a witch with a bad attitude.
Why is it that an assertive man, who gets things done, who voices his opinion, who disagrees outwardly with others at times is considered a go-getter while a woman doing the same is considered a b*tch?
Again, I am guilty of the same preconceived notion. So much so, that I often SETTLE for less rather than 'cause a scene' or 'speak my mind.'
I realized after spending a few days with this mama, that she wasn’t awful, at all. Not one single bit.
In fact, she got things accomplished. When we had major problems with our hotel rooms - SHE is the one that got things fixed for ALL of us, while the rest of us sat back and complained amongst ourselves.
Had it not been for her, we other moms would have been resentful and angry because we didn’t have the guts to stand up for what was right; for what we deserved as customers of the hotel. All because we were afraid of what people would think of us, or label us!
I saw that while I grumbled, or became privately disgruntled with my thoughts of wrong-doing - SHE was actually making a difference.
And I was jealous. I have always wanted to be more like that.
I hate that I am the type of person who has all sorts of witty comebacks, and good things to say, and righteous arguments to make - but always sinks back into the confines of my mind rather than risk being seen as a troublemaker, or dare I say....b*tch.
I learned a little something about myself from a woman I once considered my arch nemesis (and I even thanked her and APOLOGIZED for my previous presumptions about her).
And, more importantly, I took this opportunity to decide that the time has come to teach my daughters that it is okay to stand up for yourself, to speak your mind; and that holding your convictions and sticking to them - however unpopular – is the best way to satisfy yourself and remain true and authentic. And I plan to teach them this, by showing them firsthand that a woman can be assertive, strong minded, and speak her mind WITHOUT being labeled as a b*tch.
What do you think? Do you find the double standard troubling? Do you speak your mind when necessary or do you back down to avoid being seen as something you are not?
Stef Daniel
Stef Daniel is the 40ish year old, experienced (meaning crazy already)
mother of count ‘em…4 daughters (yes, she takes prayers) who have taught
her nearly E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G she needs to know about raising kids and staying
sane.
She hails from ...Read More
