Contextual Feminism

I had the pleasure of attending a ballet over the weekend with my boyfriend’s family. It was absolutely beautiful and I loved it. But delight soon turned to discountenance when I witnessed a segment of the performance depicting a family dinner.

I was surprised by the magnitude of anti-feminism that seemed to permeate the stage. A ballerina, dressed as a housewife, set the table. Then, with the arrival of her husband, she helped him out of his coat and hat, pulled out his chair for him and then went to fetch him a newspaper. And finally, she took up a broom and began to sweep. I assumed that eventually the matronly figure would be relieved of her broom and swept off her feet by her prince charming. I assumed wrong. Not only was she portrayed as happily doing the work of a housewife, she was portrayed as doing it quietly and with very little personality. The feminist in me was revolted by this image, and I struggled with it far after the dancers had left the stage.

Is it wrong to groom young ladies for the role of wife and mother? Or is it entirely acceptable?

Growing up, I was raised in a very traditional Judeo-Christian household, infused with conservative values. However, being the eldest, I’ve always had a rebel streak in me. I remember my freshman year declaring proudly I was a feminist. But now and then I tend to question that. Am I really a genuine feminist? Or will I follow the path that so many women did before me and simply become a stay at home mom? What does it mean, to be a feminist? To care predominately about women’s issues? If that’s the case, then I’m afraid I’m not a feminist. While I do care for women’s issues, passionately, I don’t care for them any more or less than I care for issues that affect humankind as a whole. Or does being a feminist mean pursuing a nontraditional career? I’ve always wanted to do something with my life that would better society, but what if bettering society starts at home, with raising good citizens? Or would that be a waste of my life?

Ultimately, as humans, we should strive for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. So what if being happy means being a stay-at-home mom? Should I begrudge women who find fulfillment in that role? And ultimately, someday, will I discover, against all odds, that I find fulfillment in that role?