Am I a Feminist?

Ever since I can remember I have felt that I can and should be allowed to do whatever the boys can do.

I always wanted to learn and be trusted to hop on the horses and ride the four-wheelers whenever I wanted and my bucket list included learning to drive a boat and pull a trailer.

I felt capable and didn't think it was fair to be left out of the fun because I am a girl.

So this semester I filmed a caricature about girls not being allowed to do boy things.  While discussing our ideas in class about the videos we were making, my teacher asked if I had researched feminist ideas.

I have never would have thought to use that word to describe myself though.
Am I a feminist?

When I think of feminists, I think of crazy women who don't want to have a family or get married because they only want to have a serious and super successful career and would never want to destroy their perfect body with a pregnancy.

I also think of the women in the church that want to wear pants to church, serve 2 year missions and hold the priesthood just to prove a point.  I do not agree with questioning the church because sometime in your life a man treated you unfairly.

My "feminist" ideas do not cross over the line of my religious beliefs because to me God is perfect and knows how to run His church.  I follow what God reveals and know he does things in His way and in His time.  I understand God's given roles for both men and women in order to make His plan work. However, man is not perfect.  In the "secular" world I believe in society treating women (or any human) with equal respect.

This brings me to my second question of why do I want a bachelors degree so badly?

Every time I complain about school Kyle asks me that very question.

Do I want one to prove to everyone that I am capable?

I like to think that I have a better reason than that.

I want a degree so I don't have to worry about getting one if I need it later in life.  Things happen.  After having 3 kids my mom had to go back to school to finish her degree that she never got the first time that she went to college.

I believe that getting an education is important.  Continuing to learn is important, whether it is in a formal college setting or not.

I don't want to "stop progressing" after I become a mother even though I do believe that motherhood is one of the greatest, most important and rewarding thing a woman could do.

I want to teach my children first hand the importance of getting additional education, finishing what you start and be able to sympathize with them when they tell me how frustrating college is!

I am so excited to be a mother one day.  I choose to be a mother instead of pursuing a serious career because I want to.  Not because it seems easier than going to school and working or because I don't think I would be successful working.

I plan to give my life to the nurture of my children and helping them grow in the gospel.

I believe what I learned on my mission is to help me be a better mother.

However, even though nurturing is my primary responsibility, it is not my sole responsibility.  Parents are obligated to help one another with their responsibilities as equal partners.  I get to help Kyle provide, preside and protect and he in turn will help me nurture.
Understanding roles of men and women in God's plan is what makes life in a family so perfect, but it doesn't mean I can't play in the mud or get dirty once in a while :)
I want to experience everything I can in life!