The Feminist Mommies

Have you ever been at a party or social gathering meeting new people and the common question is always, ‘What do you do for work?’. Or worse yet, instead of asking what you do for work, they ask you what your husband does for work? In our society so driven by patriarchal and hierarchal values, these questions rank and order people and tell us nothing about the quality of someone’s character. And if the latter, it sends the message that women’s accomplishments are not only not interesting but hold no significance in the hierarchy. Has this happened to you? Co-hosts Vanessa and Shannon discuss their experience with this question and why society needs to move away from this rank and order question all together.

You believe in equality and that everybody should have equal rights & opportunities. You are rooted in the view that women should have the same freedoms and advantages as men. But what is everyone talking about when they say “patriarchy”? What does this term entail and how does it affect society? In this episode, co-hosts Vanessa and Shannon discuss what this term means, where it came from and how it is used in society today.
Resources from this episode:
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/jun/22/the-age-of-patriarchy-how-an-unfashionable-idea-became-a-rallying-cry-for-feminism-today

Feminism resonates with individual choice. The choice of one woman is not the same as another. Does the feminist doctrine counter abortion? This is a debate that seems like a conflict of rights: the right of women to control their own bodies and the right for children to be born. Can you be a feminist and pro-life? Co-hosts Shannon and Vanessa dive into how different countries and different individuals view abortion, why some women choose one or the other and whether this is a feminism issue or not.
Resources from this episode
https://www.guttmacher.org/journals/psrh/2005/reasons-us-women-have-abortions-quantitative-and-qualitative-perspectives

Sexual Education is an important topic for our kids. It's not just about teaching anatomy and where babies come from, but early sexual education reduces the risk of abuse, STI's, unwanted teen pregnancies, and also empowers our kids about their bodies. In this episode co-hosts Vanessa and Shannon discuss the book, Beyond Birds and Bees by Bonnie J. Rough and how it changed their approach to discussing this topic with their young kids. Early and open conversations about sex promotes equality and reduces shame. Have you started these conversations with your kids?

It's a Feminist Mommies hot topic - career versus staying home - but in this episode Feminist Mommies co-hosts Shannon and Vanessa discuss the stigma around career pauses. Whether you think career pauses are a good or bad thing they are a reality for millions of women (and men) around the world who need to prioritize staying home with kids. Do career pauses equal an end to your once thriving career? Shannon shares her experience with a 2-year career pause and how long it took her to get back into a fulfilling role.