A Short Blurb On The Right To Say No.
Lately, I've been thinking of how empowering the word no is when one truly owns the word. As a woman, society attempts to condition me to believe that it's wrong for a female to assert herself, to have confidence in her own autonomy, to be an individual. Even feminism, which is supposed to empower women, uses oppressive techniques to get women to act this way and not act that way. Of course, all of it is cloaked in deceptively caring language about "not offending" others, creating safety, fostering security - all buzz words that easily work their charms on the feminine psyche, when the patriarchy has beaten into us the idea that we're supposed to be nurturing and put others needs ahead of our own.
Loud and proud, I will say no. YAAAAAAAAY. NO, I wll not nurse your every wound. NO, I have not done anything wrong when something I write triggers you; it's your PTSD that's to blame. You take the risk of being triggered whenever you read something you haven't read before, so you and you alone are responsible for anything that happens. Your hangups are not my hangups. You handle your crap; I'll handle my crap. NO, I am not required to act as if everything I ever write on the internet is part of a "safe space." NO, I will not allow others to convince me that I'm a nasty person for saying no boldly, with empowerment and tenacity. As a free woman, I have the right to decide against mothering others, be it my own children or nameless folks on the internet.
That felt so good to put all of that out there. I'm all warm and fuzzy inside.