Also men having an expert conversation on menstruation is one I would like to go and listen to.
How does one become a woman, to become part of a gender that is specific, recognizable, is to know what are the things people of that gender do and what they look like, are about. What are women about then? The problem of being part of a pure idea, a perfect ideal to live by can be binding, womanhood which is controlled and firmly obedient to tradition. Obedience is strongly expected of young women as it is for children. Women who act against the rules have something wrong with them. There is something wrong with her, she is not right, she is trouble, she is wild, she is a warning sign. Women who do not fit in, do not fill up given criteria, do not appeal, please and do right are punished, silenced, killed, abandoned, isolated, stigmatized etc. Means are many and they are in use all over the world. Men do the talking for women, have opinion on women’s issues, lives, looks, decisions, education, rights and prohibitions.
One becomes a woman realizing there are fewer options for women than for men. She understands she is not allowed to do the same things as men are, she utterly sees how different her life is compared to men and it is very difficult to change that situation. This is one way to womanhood, comprehending it. To be a woman is to learn to defend oneself, defend children, defend childhood, take care of others, be emotional, be what you are expected to be and still be more, do otherwise than you are expected, do what you want to do and face the consequences. Caring, kind, speaking softly, not speaking, not daring, avoiding dark alleys, strangers, avoid stigma of any kind, or you can have your own way and face the consequences.
A never-ending mirroring of your body and image. Hey beautiful how are you feeling?
First you get yourself a pair of tits, you start to think about how you feel, how transformation made you feel from girl to a woman from man to a woman. You are not happy the way you look, you are not happy who you are? You feel bad, you feel good. You are an emotional body figuring out how to be a woman and what a woman does.
You think are your breasts big enough and how they look, how they should look and whose breasts you idolize and think look good and sexy, how your belly looks and is it flat enough. Images in your head. Are you legs long and firm enough, how much skin can you show, how your ass looks and can you wear tight clothing. What kind of response do you want from those who look at you and are you interested in what other people think. How depended women are on other people’s opinion and judgment?
Majakollektiivi Timanttimetsä 