3. The “Dependapotamus” Lie
We’ve all heard this word before. It’s a vicious insult that discredits and dehumanizes stay-at-home moms or wives.
We have come such a long way from telling women that they have no other choice than to stay at home, yet now we tell women they’re lazy and stupid if they choose to do so.
As feminists, instead of judging our fellow spouses, it’s time we start supporting their decisions and lifestyles, whether they are in the workforce, at home, or somewhere in-between. An essential part of being a feminist is backing ALL women, even if we don’t necessarily agree with their values or decisions.
After all, we can’t expect women to thrive if we continue to put them down.
4. Relocation and Work
It’s hard enough to find work as a military spouse, but as women, an added challenge is pay equity and discrimination.
According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), women earn less than men in almost every occupation. And the fact that the jobs women gravitate toward pay less than jobs men gravitate toward is no coincidence.
We value engineers or accountants more than we do social workers or teachers, because they’ve traditionally been predominately male jobs, not because they are less important.
Significant sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination in the workplace don’t make finding and keeping a job any easier. As women, we have to voice our frustrations and demand not only equal pay, but also better working conditions, like longer maternity leave with wage compensation, flexible hours, and the ability to occasionally work from home.
By supporting the feminist movement, we can slowly but surely move toward a society where men and women have the SAME opportunities for success.
We don’t all have to agree on the specifics of feminism, but it’s important we stop demonizing the word in order to truly advocate for equality.
As military spouses, we can make a big impact with our voices, so why not join together for a movement that could change the way we live, work and love our military members?
We deserve it.
Read Next: I’m Not JUST A Military Spouse
