My Mom: An Appreciation

[usernamenumber]

x_bluerose_x recently posted an article on her blog about women in science fiction, and while I am glad to know as many counter-examples to as many stereotypes as I do, it got me thinking about my mom in particular. I posted a reply there that I'm moved to include here as well, since I like the way it came out.

This post makes me really appreciate my mom (well, not that I didn’t already, but…) a Master’s in immunology, two black belts, plus she’s singularly responsible for my introduction to Star Wars and Star Trek, viewings of the latter having been practically a ritual every Thursday night while TNG was on the air. And for all that, she never tried to "be a man”, or anything but who she was in the process, and she was never afraid to be Mom when her kids needed her in that capacity.

Not trying to downplay any of your points at all, despite all of the above I know I’m not free of the constant social manipulations of expectation and stereotype, but for what it’s worth, there are good role-models out there and they are making a difference, by raising boys who grew up playing with Mommy’s wooden swords, if nothing else. ;)

*sniff*


...well, ok, one explanatory comment: I'm afraid the bit about "trying to 'be a man'" might not sit quite right, so let me clarify what I mean by that. Particularly during the period when I was growing up, the "strong female" character in media tended to be a woman who acted like a stereotypical man, as if that's all of what it means to be strong. Vasquez from Aliens comes to mind (...then again, it occurs to me that one might say the most obvious counter-example to what I'm describing is Ripley, but bear with me). My mom was not (well, is not-- but this is largely about childhood recollection) like that. She cries openly, is patient and gentle, and could kick my ass with one hand tied behind her back. I think that's pretty awesome.