Labor can mean different things to different people.  Especially women.  Women go into labor at the end of pregnancy but it doesn’t end there.  Two words for you, laboring mothers.  For much of the twentieth century, it was more or less unheard of for a woman to be out in the workforce.  Young girls were brought up to be young ladies, to marry and bear children.  Caring for children and doing house work can be challenging too.  On top of that, she was expected to have a warm meal ready for her husband when he got home from bringing home the bacon as it were.  Apart from teachers, nurses, and secretaries, women stayed home until a little after the second half of the twentieth century or so.  

Nowadays, it isn’t at all uncommon for both parents to be in the workforce but don’t let that fool you into thinking that women get paid the same or treated the same as men.  Of course not, that would be absurd! (sarcasm)  If that isn’t enough, there is also the problem of having to worry about sexual harassment in the workplace.  It’s not fair but for some reason, society just accepts it as if it were some kind of right of passage.  When women are sexually harassed in the workplace, we are supposed to take it in stride or even take it as a COMPLIMENT?? If we say something, we are made out to be bitches who “can’t take a joke”.  This is something that happens more than one might think because most women don’t report because we decide it’s not worth it or because we have seen other women crucified for speaking up.  

Gloria Allred was a single mother for most of her daughter’s life.  She maintained a career and raised a daughter all without a man and she is one of, if not the most respected women’s rights activists.  But not without struggles.  For example, everything she did was scrutinized by men because she was a female lawyer in a man’s world.  She is just one example of how amazing and capable women are.  We can do more than play the role of the 1950’s housewife.  

In recent years, I have noticed many women don’t want to have children.  I am one of those women.  You know those people who really shouldn’t be parents but are?  I’m one of the ones that should not be a parent but I am aware of it.  I don’t want to be a mother, I shouldn’t be a mother.  No child should have to grow up knowing they weren’t wanted.  I always say the biggest favor I could do a child is not be its mother.   I am too selfish and I know and accept this.  To be a good parent, one must be selfless and be willing to sacrifice a great deal.  I would rather put my energy into a career and only have to worry about taking care of myself.  That’s another thing– I can’t cook.  The kid would starve to death.  I am in awe of all women who make something of themselves, mothers or not.