Reply #1: What a thoughtful and thought-provoking post.

[LisaLynne]

I read it, then had to go think about it. Always a sign of a good post, IMHO. :)

It's hard to imagine not being a feminist because I started to pick up on the whole patriarchy thing pretty early, although I didn't know what to call it. Because I was raised in such a restrictive, Fundamentalist Christian religion, I really didn't have much choice but to rebel. I was forced to face the fact that there are those who think men are inherently better than women. Why didn't I accept it and let myself be beaten down? So many other women have ... so many of my friends from childhood did, although there have been wonderful exceptions to that. Anyway, I don't know. I've tried to figure that out and I just can't.

Anyway, I suppose if I wouldn't have had that break-out reaction, I would have ended up married by 17, had some kids (maybe -- not sure that would have been physically possible, even back then, but that's another story), and probably ... just gone crazy at some point. Seriously. I wouldn't have the pretty cool job I have now, wouldn't have gone to college, wouldn't have the group of friends I have, wouldn't have done all the traveling I've done ... It would have been a very limiting life, even though I suppose if I could have turned into the sort of glazed-over person that I saw around me growing up, I might have been blissfully ignorant and thought everything was just peachy. Honesty, though, I can't really see myself ever being that way. I would have gone along and done all the right things and wondered why I was so unhappy.

Gosh, this is getting depressing!

Except that it didn't happen! But, no, my life is nothing like I would have thought it would be when I was younger, but it's really turned out to be a whole lot more interesting. :)