My challenge is this: why aren’t we women defining society? We understand, we acknowledge the different faces of the human condition. As women, we should be defining the societal structures of being human in America. It’s ok to be weak, it’s ok to be sick, it’s ok to be ignorant, why add insult to injury and shame those less capable than the strong?
This strength thing has become its own illness, in the sense that lots of people say and think, “I don’t need anyone and I don’t need anything.” This can go past the point of wisdom and could even cause self harm. Look at those who die after refusing medical help, or women who are murdered by a husband or boyfriend because they refuse to go to the police?
This norm of strength is fostered by our society. Perhaps it is the pushback from the way people are treated when they are in economic need. Our society is not very nice to the poverty stricken, but again that is because we all believe in this notion that strength is enough to overcome anything.
Needy people are normally put down, made fun of, ostracized and of course, they are deprived of very real and very normal opportunities. This can become a hamster wheel of frustration along with denial that keeps those in need – in need.
How do we balance all of this out? Strength and weakness, need and satisfaction? How do we ensure equality in spite of the fact that not all humans are strong? Those that are strong, what price do they pay to exhibit that strength?
