Feminists

Damn feminists, always going out and being loud and obvious and stuff. No, but I do think that lately there seem to be a lot of new feminist out there blasting their voice (me included). In a way I hope this is not a fad and that it sticks around to make people remember feminism not as the bra-less revolution of the past, but the funny, brash, and obvious version of today (the best thing would be for people to think of it as both things). I recently read a review for another feminist comedy book, and while I'm excited people are writing about it (no, I don't remember what the book was called or who it was by) I feel like we need to branch out and not be stuck in a rut we are getting ourselves into. I still want to be a feminist that decides to bike down a busy road (maybe not during rush hour, because I'm not crazy) just because I know I can, and one who is not afraid to ask for a raise, or for a job, when I know that I deserve it (by the way, I got a JOB!!), or one who is not afraid to volunteer at a construction oriented volunteer site. I enjoy the comedy, and I love and appreciate that they can write it so well, but I am worried that the more people who write these books, the less of an impact the few books out there will have, because they will all be shoved into a corner of their own genre.

So feminists, stay visible, but be unique enough to stand out by yourself, as a woman, and as an individual. And, can we please not talk about vaginas so much?

Jobs

Yesterday, I was placed in an interesting position. I was called in the morning (while at work) and offered a job at a different agency. My bosses at my current job scrambled to get approval to offer me a more permanent position here, and I sat, stressed and distracted about my future while trying to finish work for the projects I have been assigned now. In all of this time, I discussed the possibilities with my friends and family to get input to make my decision. I was told not to trust my current employer if they "promised" me a job, and I was told to take the job that offers more money, and I was told to think about it as potentially only a temporary position, but I was also told "women don't make as much money in the workplace because they aren't pushy, just go into your bosses office and demand that they offer you something".

I agree that women often step back and let the world give them what the world wants to give them, but at what point does pushy become annoying. I feel like I was in the right, I informed my boss of my position and when I have to let the other agency know, and they worked hard to get approval for an offer. I think there really is a good balance between waiting it out to see what you get offered and going in to demand something, but what defines that line, and when does crossing it, or not crossing it really end up giving you the short end of the stick?