Women and Children

It seems averyone in society thinks that if you are female, then you automatically want to have children. If a man says that he doesn't want children he is not looked at as being less of a man, but if a woman says it then we think there is something wrong with her. Maybe she is a lesbian, or she is just strange. Either way a woman is expected to want children. Parents and Grandparents put far more pressure on females to have children and carry on the family name. Men simply do not share the same responsibility or receive the same pressure from society.

I spoke with a friend the other day about how she feels about having children. She has decided to adopt a child from China instead of having her own biological child. Her friends and family have been extremely unsupportive of her decision. Her friends don't understand why she would not want to have a child of her own. She wants to give a child that never had a chance a loving home. I respect that far more than a woman that would give into peer pressure just to go with the flow of society.

I have also had to deal with some pressure from family and friends. I have decided to wait to have children until I have completed my degree. Most people are understanding, but a few people seem to think I am wasting my time with an education.

I am not telling anyone what is is right or wrong, I just want women and men to have the choice to do what is right for them.

Women's Health Concerns

This week I asked three different women what their individual concerns regarding were. This subject hit close to home, since my grandmother was rushed to the hospital yesterday.

I asked my mom what her health concerns were, and I was rather suprised by her answer. She is 59 years old and suffers from authritis. Her main concern was being able to play with her grandchildren. She also is afraid of suffering from dementia like her mother. She is also concerned about taking off a few pounds to fit into her old skinny clothes.

My sister was the second victim in my survey. She is 39 years old and is concerned about being over weight and possibly becoming diabetic. Her other concern is the uncertanty of being able to have a child. She still has not found her perfect mate and she has always wanted children. She feels like she is running out of time.

Today is my best friend, Amy's birthday. She is turning 26. Amy is also concerned about being able to have children. She works out several times a week and has lost a considerable amount of weight to increase her chances of having children and also to be in good physical condition.

I also wonder if I will be able to have children, but I know that is not something I am ready for any time in the near future. I worry about keeping my EBV(Epstien-Barr Virus) under control and eating a healthy diet. I enjoy physical exercise and being active.

No matter what the age, it seems women are focused on their weight. The majority of new year resolutions support this conclusion. Maybe the time of year contributed to my results, but I feel that this is always in the back of our minds, especially with women.