What a Fiday night treat! To sit and read/listen to all the offerings of my fellow ALSSI crew! This is going to become my start of the weekend routine!
I love how Tracy articulated the huge transition it is to embrace feminism, including coming to be treated as untrusted or suspicious in LDS communities (for me, this often means worrying or sensing others are disapproving of me/judging me from afar even if they are not rude to my face). I like how her essay brought up the pressure men put on women and girls to have a certain personality traits and behaviors to please them. This brings back memories for me of men in my life labelling me as quiet and shy (also sometimes too serious!), or making comments about my body, dress, appearance. It's paternal and over functioning, it tears girls down. KC's essay is powerful. What an effective way to break down unequal partnership and patriarchy-- I love how she used the words off to the side. I love how Jenny describes loving the YW leader she serves with but also almost losing composure during her lesson. My daughter has received rude comments at church for not wearing a skirt to events. She used to dress "emo" every Sunday. Jenny's is the kind of YW leadership she needs. I love how Jenny encourages girls to follow their own desires and to show up as themselves instead of conforming to a mold to make others comfortable.
Thank you for your courage to speak up in YW. I'm right there with you. I teach the youth Sunday School class (13/14 yr) and I have had pink, purple, blue, and most recently red hair. I also have multiple piercings and tattoos. Last Sunday, one of my cute girls stayed after class (she is very quiet and shy) and told me that we matched and seemed thrilled about it! She had just gotten her daith's pierced (yes with her mothers permission, she's only 13 :), after suffering with migraines (just like me!). She had been trying to hide it with her hair, but when she saw that I had the same ones, she felt like she didn't have to hide and it was ok show them in church. I told her they were awesome and she looked amazing! Flash that bling darlin! You don't owe anyone any explanations! I loved seeing her smile and animatedly talk about her experience in the piercing chair :) I also loved being that safe person that she could talk to about something she was obviously excited about, but felt ashamed, Iike she shouldn't be. Keep dying your hair ladies and doing what is authentic to you, it may be surprising who needs to see.
Brilliantly performed. I pictured myself waking along a dirt path, moving just fine, enjoying. Then suddenly the trail turns to thick mud and I sink deeper with each step. Ugh. I know that despair.
Thank you thank you thank you. Thank you for telling young girls that they are not responsible for what people think of their bodies. Thank you for being strong in your feminism. Normalize pink (purple, blue) hair!
My insomnia was rewarded by reading this. I am in Salt Lake City for an art event. Everytime I come "home" to Utah, I can't help but reflect on a lifetime of frustration of waiting and hoping and praying for change.
I loved all of these! Thank you for sharing. ❤️
Another great post!
What a Fiday night treat! To sit and read/listen to all the offerings of my fellow ALSSI crew! This is going to become my start of the weekend routine!
I love how Tracy articulated the huge transition it is to embrace feminism, including coming to be treated as untrusted or suspicious in LDS communities (for me, this often means worrying or sensing others are disapproving of me/judging me from afar even if they are not rude to my face). I like how her essay brought up the pressure men put on women and girls to have a certain personality traits and behaviors to please them. This brings back memories for me of men in my life labelling me as quiet and shy (also sometimes too serious!), or making comments about my body, dress, appearance. It's paternal and over functioning, it tears girls down. KC's essay is powerful. What an effective way to break down unequal partnership and patriarchy-- I love how she used the words off to the side. I love how Jenny describes loving the YW leader she serves with but also almost losing composure during her lesson. My daughter has received rude comments at church for not wearing a skirt to events. She used to dress "emo" every Sunday. Jenny's is the kind of YW leadership she needs. I love how Jenny encourages girls to follow their own desires and to show up as themselves instead of conforming to a mold to make others comfortable.
Thank you, Candice! I'm trying really hard to be that kind of leader.
Tracy- I’ve always been too serious and sensitive as well. Thank you for your validation!
Thank you for your courage to speak up in YW. I'm right there with you. I teach the youth Sunday School class (13/14 yr) and I have had pink, purple, blue, and most recently red hair. I also have multiple piercings and tattoos. Last Sunday, one of my cute girls stayed after class (she is very quiet and shy) and told me that we matched and seemed thrilled about it! She had just gotten her daith's pierced (yes with her mothers permission, she's only 13 :), after suffering with migraines (just like me!). She had been trying to hide it with her hair, but when she saw that I had the same ones, she felt like she didn't have to hide and it was ok show them in church. I told her they were awesome and she looked amazing! Flash that bling darlin! You don't owe anyone any explanations! I loved seeing her smile and animatedly talk about her experience in the piercing chair :) I also loved being that safe person that she could talk to about something she was obviously excited about, but felt ashamed, Iike she shouldn't be. Keep dying your hair ladies and doing what is authentic to you, it may be surprising who needs to see.
Thanks, Amanda. You keep speaking up too!
You made a difference for that girl, what a gift.
“What’s really. Going. On.”
Brilliantly performed. I pictured myself waking along a dirt path, moving just fine, enjoying. Then suddenly the trail turns to thick mud and I sink deeper with each step. Ugh. I know that despair.
Thank you thank you thank you. Thank you for telling young girls that they are not responsible for what people think of their bodies. Thank you for being strong in your feminism. Normalize pink (purple, blue) hair!
The temple and “what’s really going on”. I already know it, but that hit with a boom. How sad. And then, yay for blue hair! Pink hair! Purple hair!
My insomnia was rewarded by reading this. I am in Salt Lake City for an art event. Everytime I come "home" to Utah, I can't help but reflect on a lifetime of frustration of waiting and hoping and praying for change.