History of Feminism

My Dad has fucked up gender expectations for men AND women. He's almost a cartoon. I'm sure his attitudes helped me find my way to feminism, but he also told me that I could never rely on a man, (because they're weren't any "real" men left) and taught me to do little bits of all kinds of things like framing, sheet rocking, roofing and plumbing. I mean he's well and truly a messed up person, but his characterization of gender roles and then the inconsistency with them made room for me to think my way through a lot of society imposed bullshit.

Of course I'm the only one of his three children to survive mentally. My poor brother isn't confused about gender--exactly--he's doing a fairly good job with his kids-- his young son is in Ballet, his daughter does voice and piano and Ballet, but my brother will never be right in the head. Long story.

My sister bought into his gender bullshit and didn't get that he's not just a sexist, he's a misanthropist. She took all kinds of damage and is still paying for it. Even longer story.

I went through a bunch of self-destructive crap, (which is why I have tons of anecdotal stories)and feminism is one of the things that pulled me out and kept me sane. I found reliable albeit sometimes uncomfortable truth, and in truth, security and a way to happiness

So while I completely agree with you, I think of my son in laws, one has only boys, but I bet if my daughter has a girl this time she'll be more so much more than a "princess". My other one has two girls and he's perfectly comfortable with them speaking as persons, not just as tiny, cute little girls.

We'll get there I think. Maybe even faster than we think