I am woman, hear me blog.

I was reading The New York Times a couple weeks ago, and I came across a column by Maureen Dowd. The column, “Blue is the New Black,” discussed the phenomenon of women losing their sense of self as they sacrifice more and more to become the “perfect.” woman.

Dowd danced around the conclusion that since the feminist movement, women have become less satisfied with their lives.

As a woman, I couldn’t help but be concerned about my own feminine psyche. Has my potential stalled due to a half century of women fighting for my rights? I often hear women complaining about all that is expected of them, but I have never thought that this caused them to be less productive

The modern woman is equipped with endless potential but this boundless opportunity seems to have the converse effect on women. It has created a chasm between what is expected and what is possible.

This divide has resulted in a retreat to the easy, the comfortable, due to the fear of failure that eternally vexes the female condition.

I pondered this issue as I loitered on campus a couple weeks ago; to my surprise, the very issue plaguing my psyche planted itself within my earshot.

“Yeah, I’m just taking generals right now so that when I get married I can drop out,” said unsuspecting eavesdropee number one.

“Oh good plan,” said unsuspecting eavesdropee number two.

After writing Susan B. Anthony an apology note from my generation, I picked my jaw up from the floor and walked to my next class. I didn’t even wait for a man to come and escort me.
I can’t comprehend where girls have picked up this concept that marriage and education are mutually exclusive. The 2010 woman has a universe of choice available, but somehow this often has the opposite effect and women have become overwhelmed and give up.

In the Fall 2008 general Relief Society broadcast, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf addressed the inadequacy that women occasionally feel.

“To me it appears that our splendid sisters sometimes undervalue their abilities,” President Uchtdorf said. “They focus on what is lacking or imperfect rather than what has been accomplished and who they
really are.”

Even if all my education amounts to is folding laundry, I hope I can at least hold an engaging conversation about politics while doing so. If I never present my thoughts to a board of investors but instead to a primary class it will be just as consequential.

Barbie is now a doctor and lawyer, not just a princess.

We not only can do it all, but it is our responsibility to discard these feelings of insecurity that thwart our ultimate potential.