My, Stop-Just-Being-Happy-With-What-You-Get Manifesto
...ations of women, many North American women, for the first time, have begun to be given options that confer freedoms of autonomous expression of self-determination. However, too often women are forfeiting these opportunities. For all to truly be free and autonomous we must demand respect and take chances at self-determination when the opportunity arises. It is not right that we have been led to believe that our existence is validated only by how well we provide comfort to others. If we do not disagree every chance we get with the idea that our usefulness is to be supportive to others (men, children, community…etc.), then by default we agree that we are objects to be utilized by other humans. No one deserves to have her or his value decided for by anyone but herself or himself. If we continue to forfeit opportunities to establish and protect our rights to autonomy then we support the idea that we do not want the responsibility for our own self-determination. I propose that to forfeit an opportunity at self-determination for one’s self is to forfeit the opportunity for self-determination for your entire community. Too many women know their potential has been underestimated or under-appreciated at work, school, or even home. Nevertheless, even though now more than ever, support, counseling, legal and financial assistance for reconciling these problems is available, these women do nothing because they are afraid of how their expression of discomfort it will be perceived by others*. Not just for themselves, but for all women, I implore these women to find their voices and speak-up against these misperceptions or unfair treatment of themselves. Don’t believe the ...