Womens Studies Why I Selected This Person

Womens Studies

Why I Selected This Person

For this project, I am writing a letter to my future daughter or daughter-in-law. The reason why I chose this person as the recipient of my letter is that the biggest theme in the letter is motherhood. I did not have a good relationship with my mother, and do not want my daughter to go through the same things I went through as a child and adolescent. I want my future daughter to know that I had her with the full commitment and dedication it takes to raise a child, rather than giving birth simply because of social pressures to get pregnant. The issues raised in this letter will be about abortion, which I hope will encourage my future daughter to reconsider her choices, be open about her sexual behavior, and never be afraid if she was in trouble and needed me to help her abort an unwanted child.

The Letter

Dear Future Daughter,

I am taking a class called Women's Lives in Context. This class applies feminist theories to practical issues, making theories relevant beyond the arena of academia. I have found this class tremendously helpful in showing how feminist theories are important for changing policies and attitudes toward human rights issues. I believe that all women's issues are general human rights issues. One of the main themes we addressed in this class is related to the role of women as mothers. Motherhood often defines a woman's identity and her role in society. Being a mother can alter one's status in the workplace, and has a strong bearing on how the women lives her life. The theme of motherhood is actually related to other issues in the daily lives of women, including self-esteem and mental health issues. As someone who suffered from an eating disorder, I know how psychological pain can lead to self-destructive behaviors. Females receive a slew of conflicting messages from peers, parents, and the media that confuse young girls about their identity, their bodies, and their sexuality.

For example, Mercurio and Landry discuss objectification theory. Our reading by Fredrickson and Roberts also discusses objectification theory. Objectification theory looks at the ways women have internalized media messages about their bodies. Self-objectification is the tendency for women to see their bodies as being separate entities. Eating disorders are one dysfunctional method of controlling the body, rather than controlling the mind. Self-objectification relates to the feeling of self-consciousness and discomfort many women feel. If you ever feel this discomfort about your body, I want you to tell me so that I can help you. I have been through this myself; I have self-objectified and it has had a strong bearing on my level of happiness, my self-esteem, and my physical health too.

I also want you to know that being childfree is a valid choice. Not all women want children. It is unfortunately a universal truth that women who choose not to have children are stigmatized. Luckily, we are being raised in a society that recognizes that not all women should be defined by their roles as mothers. Gillespie's article teaches how women can own their bodies and their destinies by choosing to be childfree. Think hard about your decisions.