Musing: As a Woman

 I wrote this musing on Jan. 29, 2007.  It was prompted by this question: What privileges in society are you afforded that you take for granted?  What privileges are less available to you because of groups to which you belong?

As a woman, I am afforded the privilege of spending time and money on more makeup and clothing than I'll ever use just so that I can look pretty for a day.

As a woman, I am afforded the privilege of being extremely moody and emotional at any time as long as I blame it on PMS.

As a person with white skin, I am afforded the privilege of walking almost anywhere and not being looked at as a threat or out of place.

As a person with white skin, I am afforded the privilege of automatically being stereotyped as a good worker, never lazy and always on time.

As a Christian, I am afforded the privilege of not being persecuted in America for my religious beliefs.

As a woman of size, I am afforded the privilege of not being objectified by men on a constant basis.

As a woman, I am not afforded the privilege of ignoring fashion, beauty and health without my entire character, confidence and beauty being questioned.

As a woman, I am automatically viewed as weaker, more unstable and less intelligent than a man.

As a woman, I am not afforded the privilege of making as much money as a man no matter if we have the same qualifications and degrees.

As a woman, I am not afforded the privilege of getting angry or emotional without being considered a bitch or a cry baby.

As a woman, I am not afforded the privilege of becoming a priest.

As a woman, I am not afforded the privilege of working my way to the top of a company without people contemplating who I slept with in order to get there.

As a person with white skin, I am not afforded the privilege of embracing my culture, heritage and traditions without explaining which European countries it stems from; never is it okay to just be "white".

As a Catholic, my spirituality is questioned by other religions and Christian denominations because I pray to Saints and Mary, as well as God.

As a woman of size, I am not afforded the privilege of being viewed as sexual and sensual at first glance.

As a woman of size, I am not afforded the privilege to buy my clothes at brand name stores or stores that cost less (unless I want to wear "unfashionable" clothing.)

As a white woman of size, I am not afforded the privilege of being considered beautiful by my culture.

As a bisexual woman, I am not afforded the privilege of my sexual identity being something I was born with rather than a negative effect of being sexually abused as a child.

As a bisexual woman, I am not afforded the privilege of expressing my love for a man within the homosexual society without fear of rejection.

As a bisexual woman, I am not afforded the privilege of expressing my love for a woman within the heterosexual society without fear of rejection.

As a bisexual woman, I am not afforded the privilege of talking openly about my relationships within my workplace without fear of termination.

As a bisexual woman, I am not afforded the privilege of marrying a woman.

As a bisexual woman, I am not afforded the privilege of showing a woman affection in public without people looking on in disgust or lust.

As a bisexual, Catholic woman, I am not afforded the privilege of feeling comfortable and accepted for who I am in my church community.

As a liberal, I am not afforded the privilege of being opinionated without being condemned as a sinner who's out to ruin the minds of good, conservative children everywhere.

As a feminist, I am not afforded the privilege of having any values or morals for human life or respect for men.

But as Angela Isola Maria Potticary, I am afforded the privilege of knowing there is no one else out there that can be me better than I can be myself.  And I wouldn't trade that for all the privilege in the world.

This is over 2 years old.  It's amazing to see how much is the same and how much has changed.  I now work in a place where I can be open about my sexuality without fear of termination.  There is now a law in place that allows women to press charges against their employer if they find out that they are being paid less than men in their same position.  I am no longer a Catholic and I found a church where I am loved and affirmed for all aspects of who I am, sexuality included.  And if I decided I wanted to be a pastor in the Presbyterian church, I could.  I also don't have nearly as much fear about being bisexual because I live in a place where there are more than a few like-minded people.  This world is starting to change for the better :)