It's that Time of the Month

So in the last several years I have been reading more about gender equality. For me it started with my faith and the idea that because of my gender I wasn't allowed to be in a leadership role in the church. As I began to become more aware of the bias against women, I was drawn to the way general media, music, and movies portrayed women. I have found myself wrestling through what I see portrayed verses who I am. I have started keeping track of these moments. Here are a few imagines and writings that have left an imprint.

                                             TV.Shows (a young woman forming her own ideas about life.)

"Sometimes it seems like we are all living in some kind of
prison. And the crime is how much we hate ourselves. It's
good to get really dressed up every once and a while and
admit the truth. That when you really look closely people
are really strange and so complicated that they're actually
beautiful...possibly even me."
Angela Chase

                                 Paintings

Christina's World by Andrew Wyeth

                 

                                Books 

• Gender and Grace by Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen
• Women in the Church by Stanley Grenz and Denise Muir Kjesbo
• The Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd
• Here all Dwell Free by Gertrud Nelson Mueller
• A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown
• The Road of Innocence by Somaly Mam
• Take this Bread by Sara Miles
• All about Love by Bell Hooks                                          

                                 Sports

Soon I hope to visit Birmingham's own Tragic City Rollers.

In the face of these images, I am reminded that women are more than a sex symbols or an images to sell products. We are complex beings with hopes and dreams to change the world, and we crave to find and share our voices despite repeated messages that we are at best usable and at worst disposable. Women are both strong and tender, and I appreciate struggling alongside others to be freed from this subtle oppression. I love being a woman.