Why are you a feminist?

[marions ghost]

Obviously this is just an invitation to personal reflections you might want to share.

I became an instant feminist before I ever heard the word. I was about 11-12. I had grown up in a family with a lot of girls, a sweet "Mr. Rogers" dad and a dynamic self-confident mother. I never felt sexual discrimination as a young child. My parents didn't give lessons in "how girls are" or "how boys are."

Anyway I went to play with my best girlfriend (age 12)and her same-age cousin, a boy. We were playing ping-pong rounds and I was beating them both that day (usually it was more even between my friend and me). All of a sudden the boy ran away crying and wouldn't come back. I was bewildered. My more worldly and sophisticated friend took me aside and explained how I had to start losing if we were playing with boys. They always have to win. She said this as though it was the big secret that you have to get familiar with if you're ever going to be a successful woman. Talk about wanting to cry.... But this was an important epiphany. Although I didn't say it to my friend at the time, to myself I said loudly: "THIS is crap!"