I met someone recently who said she was born a feminist. Not that she knew what the term was nine decades ago, but she had five brothers and she wasn’t going to be pushed around by them. Her mom taught her sons to be gentlemen, for sure, but this gal wasn’t going be overshadowed by her brothers, gentlemen or not.
She met her future husband in Grade 3 and said she ‘hated him at first sight’. He was just another boy to contend with. They didn’t meet again until after the second World War. He didn’t know what to make of her, but knew she was different and liked what he saw. They were married within four months. She kept working after marriage, and even after having a baby. She liked to work. They both eventually retired and have no regrets as they enter their later years. They still smile, have their humor, and the love they share is evident, even if she sticks her tongue out at him. She doesn’t let him get away with things and likes to be in on every little decision even as her health is declining. And he adores her, knowing he found a partner to share life with, someone at his side.
It made me think of my own life and, having three older brothers, how I could relate to what she said. I would never have thought I was born a feminist, and even today I don’t think to call myself a feminist. However, I grew up always having a sense of wanting to keep up. My mom often has said that my motto as a child was “anything the boys can do, I can do too”. I knew that on a physical level, it was hard to compete as they were much bigger than I. So I learned early on that I had to use my brain to figure out how to compete and win with them.
In later years, I wasn’t ever afraid or intimidated in male-dominated industries. I was willing to compete. I certainly didn’t win every time but I tried, and when I did win, it felt good. When I didn’t win, I could still congratulate and respect the winner. I never worried about walking alone at night or getting to my car after dark in a parking lot. It often surprised me when other women would ask if I was okay to go by myself …. “Aren’t you afraid?” To be honest, I never gave it a thought. I didn’t tend to gauge myself by gender, but just believed I could deal with things as situations arose.
I don’t think I was born a feminist, but I was a little sister to three boys. Today, as I think back, I realize how having those three boys in my life played a big role in who I am today. Thanks boys.
Cheri Crause, CPCA, Residential REALTOR ®
Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
1933 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria, BC V8R 1C8
Phone: 250-592-4422
email: ccrause@shaw.ca
website: www.victoriarealtyteam.ca
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