Why Women’s “work”?

I suppose the name of this series can be misleading.  The basis of these pieces is not the day to day labor, or responsibilities of women (although it does involve that).  It’s more about the work of being a woman. It’s about the  building of character, holding of standards, questioning position, maintaining social rank–or NOT doing any of these things.  It’s about actively making choices about who we are, who we want to be, and what we are willing to do to get there.  Relationships are work.  All of the common and uncommon attachments involve negotiation, purpose, sacrifice, and selfishness.  Mother to child, woman to lover, boss to employee, colleague to colleague, are all examples of these inadvertent and intentional connections we make that require energy to maintain.  I am asserting that being alive, beyond basic primal existence requires effort and choices, and I believe that those of women are unique.  Thus, the work of being a woman.