Girls Rock
Dec 4, 2008 Parenting
We’re seeing a bunch of movies playing at the Wexner Center family film festival. Four of them we’re seeing as part of an in-school (for us, homeschool) program but tonight Kristen got us member tickets to Girls Rock. It was fab. I cried off and on through it and I’m sending Madison straight to Rock Camp when she’s eight (quick note: Susie Simpson, local camp founder, was also a HighBall Volunteer and works at Stonewall Columbus –obviously she rocks, too).
Besides making me think of my own growing up and my ex-boyfriend who is apparently dating a founding member of Bikini Kill, (which makes me wonder how he’s changed since he was no feminist back when I knew him), and about Madison’s future especially given her small tantrum before we left because none of her dresses have BOWS and she likes her dresses to be FANCY and have BOWS, it also made me think about Noah.
See, it’s not just girls who get screwed by gender roles and even though boys have the power and the privilege, as the mother of a boy I have to worry about the cost for my son who is currently sweet and kind and gentle (like his father). After all, I’ve seen the hits his dad has taken and my own brother and even that jerk of a boyfriend who may or may not be a nice guy now.
I wish there was a camp for boys that would be less about learning to be loud and take up space (since boys don’t need to be told they can do that) and more about having feelings and owning feelings (since that gets kicked right out of them.) Although I think there’s more leeway for boys to be who they are (and not diet, pluck, shape or cinch themselves into something else), I do think they get wedged into other roles that can feel if not as dangerous certainly stultifying.
I feel an urgency for both my kids. This stuff is pretty easy when they’re little but as the teen years loom, I can sense how much trickier it gets to be. But the movie made me feel hopeful. I feel like there’s a lot we can do as parents if we keep our eyes (and our minds) open.
Tags: boyfriend, Columbus, feminist, gender, homeschool, Madison, Noah, Wexner
A very small post
Jun 8, 2008 The Story of My Life
I’ve got a speaking thing to do tomorrow and then my on-site gig in the afternoon. I took the last couple of days off but I’m down here today to do some catch up work so that next week won’t be too crazy. The kids are off with Brett to see the Bone exhibit at Wexner and then we’re heading to my dad’s for a BBQ.
There are some people out in real life and in the blogosphere who are having a tough time. I’m thinking of them. Feeling a little helpless about it all but they’re in my thoughts.
That’s all I really came on here to say.
Tags: Bone, Jeff Smith, my dad, Wexner, work
