And, finally, there is the probably most insidious reason why the average woman cannot or should not feel comfortable in her skin or her body; namely, her treatment as a second class citizen or being, whose validation appears to be predicated upon the 'value' which men have attributed to her.
When it really comes down to it, it is arguable that the male and the female of the human specie have, at some point in their evolution, joined in a conspiracy to make the female, women, a servant of the man. With the woman, put bluntly, playing the more onerous role in the relationship between the two halves; primarily that of home maker, bearer and carer of children, and provider of the man's sexual desire and gratification.
The average woman, arguably, when she considers her identity, whom she is, is probably more likely to think in terms of getting married, being a wife, being the mother and carer of children, her children, and managing her family's home. Of course, it would not be surprising if the average man, asked his view of what the role of a woman is or should be, might well echo that given by the woman.
However abnormal or unjust something might have originally been, given time, familarity and the appropriate conditioning, it can come to be 'accepted as normal', as it and those who maintain it, evolve a 'credible raison d'tre' for its existence. Thus, we can see a certain logic in the 'fact' that women, by virtue of being the half of humankind who actually give birth to children, should also become their primary carers, etc, etc. And so they become physically and emotionally chained to their children, and to their homes, and 'master', the man.
With their autonomy being denied in probably most things that really matter; depending on the evolutionary state of the societies in which they have the privilege or misfortune to live in. Things like how men control and deny them their right to sexual freedom and enjoyment, including through the mutilation of their sexual organs. Things like denying them the right to wear what clothes they want to wear, and the right to establish and develop their own individuality and personalities. Things like denying them the right to decide whether or not they want to marry and, if so, to whom.
In other words, denying them, women, the right to evolve and realise their true potential.
And so, in this collusive conspiracy between men and women, the 'normalised oppression' - yes, a relative oppression, the harshness or 'benignness' of which is dependent on the particular society or country - of women is perpetuated. With probably the majority of both the women and the men, avoiding open and large scale war to put it right. Which could suggest that, like the men, who are clearly benefiting from it, the women, also, might be benefiting from it more than might have been thought.
Or, could it be the case that, not only have women been genetically and socio-culturally conditioned into accepting their oppression by men and society, but they have also been conditioned not to oppose and overthrow it, since is is so obviously the way it ought to be?
No reasonable person could justifiably argue that women - especially in the western hemisphere - have not made great progress in removing some of the shackles of oppression which men, religion, culture and society have chained them to, and have loosened others. However, there is still a long way to go - more so in the Eastern and Islamic countries - before women be able to be mentally and physically free, and become more on par with their other half; men.
Let the struggle for greater freedom for women continue; you deserve it, so keep fighting for it, in your family, your home, your work place, your community and society!
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