On becoming a housewife.
My father always told me, "If you decide to be a teacher, you must be prepared to watch your friends surpass you in future. They will be earning big money as lawyers and engineers and doctors, while you're just a teacher, even though you were smarter than them in school. If you're ok with that, go ahead."
I didn't have a problem with that. In fact, I still think I don't. I like teaching, and it's what I'm best at imo. So no, I don't want to be a pharmacist, or a doctor. I want to interact with students and be amused by their innocence. I want to utilize the public speaking skills I have, and inspire my students to learn. And I get a deep satisfaction out of that. I don't think money can change my mind that I'm best cut out for teaching.
Lately, though, faced with the very real possibility that I might end up a housewife or with no career to speak of for a while - I found myself struggling with something along similar lines.
It's one thing to work, but don't earn as much - it's another to not work at all, or never be a professional. The reason behind it is equally...embarrassing, so to say - I gave it up for love. That's not the main point, though. I think I'm more concerned about what other people think about me. Housewives aren't exactly well-known for being professional or intelligent, and I take issue with that. NOT saying that they aren't, just that honestly speaking, society doesn't recognize them as such, and to a certain degree, stereotypes housewives as "bo suh cho gossip all day" people. So what I'm trying to say is, I'd like to be recognized for my abilities and capability, but that probably won't happen if I just becoming a housewife. And the world would probably think less of me.
Funny how I don't mind earning less as a teacher, as long as I'm not a housewife. Even as I type this, I'm aware that this deeply-rooted perception must have hurt many brilliant, capable women who gave up their careers to raise their kids. I'm NOT saying that I'm brilliant - but I must admit I have an ego and want to prove that I can contribute significantly to society.
C'est la vie.
I didn't have a problem with that. In fact, I still think I don't. I like teaching, and it's what I'm best at imo. So no, I don't want to be a pharmacist, or a doctor. I want to interact with students and be amused by their innocence. I want to utilize the public speaking skills I have, and inspire my students to learn. And I get a deep satisfaction out of that. I don't think money can change my mind that I'm best cut out for teaching.
Lately, though, faced with the very real possibility that I might end up a housewife or with no career to speak of for a while - I found myself struggling with something along similar lines.
It's one thing to work, but don't earn as much - it's another to not work at all, or never be a professional. The reason behind it is equally...embarrassing, so to say - I gave it up for love. That's not the main point, though. I think I'm more concerned about what other people think about me. Housewives aren't exactly well-known for being professional or intelligent, and I take issue with that. NOT saying that they aren't, just that honestly speaking, society doesn't recognize them as such, and to a certain degree, stereotypes housewives as "bo suh cho gossip all day" people. So what I'm trying to say is, I'd like to be recognized for my abilities and capability, but that probably won't happen if I just becoming a housewife. And the world would probably think less of me.
Funny how I don't mind earning less as a teacher, as long as I'm not a housewife. Even as I type this, I'm aware that this deeply-rooted perception must have hurt many brilliant, capable women who gave up their careers to raise their kids. I'm NOT saying that I'm brilliant - but I must admit I have an ego and want to prove that I can contribute significantly to society.
C'est la vie.
Comments
Post a Comment