Introductions are in Order

This week–like many weeks lately–has been all about navigating a busy hectic world. And often I’m not sure what’s saving me from going insane anymore.

Like what? You don’t have to ask or care. I’m sure your week had its craziness too so I won’t bore you with the mundane details of teaching 8 am classes by driving too far in a car that needs new tires where rocks regularly fall on the roads. Or two kids in elementary school that didn’t want you or your husband on their week long campout anyhow. Or the student who came up and said—’look, I don’t want to work at a grade. I’m happy with a C-.’  Or the cat leaving a giant lizard on its back with its legs clenched and tail missing at your feet.

What I mean is, I meant to introduce myself to you a few weeks ago. But time, priorities, etc seemed to get in the way. So…hi. I’m Margaret and I have more than a few things to say about girls,  bodies, and pride. And I’m trying to bring with me many others I know that have a good deal to say about all of that. It’s an uphill battle–believe me–I teach college students who readily accept the sexism of our world without a fight. It’s a struggle to get them to see that there’s an issue–that’s how ingrained it all is.

At any given time a woman can feel completely proud of herself and her body but it so easily can be a struggle. I wake up feeling fine about me usually–sexy even–on my terms even. And then sometime in the course of a day I’ll hear someone say something—judging an intelligent woman on her looks and what she’s wearing for example. Or tearing down a  20 year old for enjoying sex. And then I ‘ll think grrrrrr we have not evolved damn it!

Like tonight. A bunch of women were discussing a field trip last year at one of the local schools where some kids were caught having sex. I can see where that’s a big deal but I can also see how it’s not a big deal. Um Romeo and Juliet? Thirteen year olds. Puritans in not very merry New England? Fifteen on average.  Most of the folks in the bible? Teenagers. Me? Sixteen. It’s a normal biological imperative. Works best for those under 30 with contraception.

But one of my friends talked in terms of being respectable—to men primarily. I know that’s out there. I know we as a culture feel this silly need for ‘men’ to ‘respect’ us. But what if we stopped caring about that? What if instead of wanting men to respect us for not putting out , we respected ourselves for having lustful appetites and acknowledged our sexuality and our drive?

That’s a conversation I’m wanting to have.

Perhaps it’s that I live in Northern California. Perhaps it’s because I was raised by a pack of wild lesbians (oh I’m just kidding –my lesbian moms are totally boring and not part of a pack–more like part of a mortgage and steady income).  Maybe it’s because the highlight of the fall for me so far is planning out my next tattoo. I’m just not into jumping through any of the hoops unless I want to and the hoops are fun.

So —expect that Girl Body Pride will deliver (hopefully) three times a week, some really fun, interesting and thought provoking posts about these glorious bodies that we inhabit. Let us call out sexism and sex shame when we see it. Let’s remember it’s about our own respect for ourselves and pride in ourselves. And let’s remember that for all of us raising daughters out there, it’s a tough path. That’s what I’m hoping to deliver to you.

And more of Pauline Campos brilliance here too.