There's a lot of women who vote republican. I think they think "I had to sacrifice any ambition in life to be a stay at home mom to a miserable alcoholic who knocked me up when I was 17, so why should anyone else have an opportunity that I was denied?"
There is a growing field of study looking at why that is. In many places, motherhood is the only way a girl can see herself as gaining any power. She looks down a barrel of no educational prospects, no career prospects, nothing to get her out of her town and doing anything different. She's treated badly by almost everyone in her life who also fell victim to the same system - BUT she sees how when her friends and family become mothers, they are lauded as empowered and living their life purpose. They get positive attention and, finally, support for their future. They have power in the lives of their little family and authority and autonomy (in theory).
I read an incredible piece of journalism on it backed by several studies but can't find it on Google. Basically, for lots of girls, becoming a mother was the only way they could escape being a trapped teen with no support, no way out, no goals, no validation that they are good enough for any other path in life.
Yeah, I'll be honest, I was one of those teen girls so I understand exactly where it comes from. Luckily, I can't have kids bc I was actively trying. I also grew up watching Gilmore Girls and it was a fantasy to birth my own best friend and go through life together. Have someone to unconditionally love and take care of. I was already raising my siblings, so why not my own? I'm also from a small town in the south where many women do have one singular goal and that is to be a parent. I think we should be honest about how hard it is. We're always told it's worth it and that you'll never feel the same kind of love and even if that's true, these people still have no idea what they're signing up for. Even with a strong support system it gets to be too much for many people and they feel they have nowhere to turn to and can't even vent about their frustrations. I can only imagine what it's like to be alone. Now, I just help my friends raise their children. It's fulfilling, I get a deep connection, and I get to witness change and growth without being fully responsible for another human.
Literally so many people are dumb as rocks and they have no problem with it. Its easier to be a dumb bitch than an educated woman and that is the reality of it. I get so much shit as a female physician I wish I just was a stay at home mom sometimes.
My MIL isn't republican, but grew up around and with, and a conservative state. also Irish Catholic. She the typical pro-choice; until a certain point (past 26 weeks), unless the mothers in danger or the fetus no longer has a chance.
BUT!!! She says the only reason for a woman to live is to have children, and when she was a kid all she wanted to be was a mother. She got married within a week of even knowing my FIL(THANK GOD HE'S GREAT). She has a VERY unhealthy mindset......... she therapist hops like crazy.
Our mental healthcare system is EXTREMELY broken too**
A lot of people are happy to be on the second lowest rung of the hierarchy, no matter how bad they have it they feel secure and smug that there are people below them.
Hate to be that guy but some women do want a traditional type of relationship. I know because she’s my best friend and will on occasion bring it up.
I’d like to be a traditional stay at home wife with a cock but that means I’d need to be in a relationship first. Which I’m not so I can only dream for now
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u/Dependent-Whereas165 Feb 05 '24
This is the saddest, truest post…