Off the cuff.

Today I interviewed for a job that is steeped so strongly in a culture of sexism that the interviewers felt it necessary to warn me; making certain I understood what I might be getting myself into.

My response was that I was aware and that,
"I know how to treat myself with respect."

A surprising and peculiar statement, I thought.
It being my natural response felt pretty good because though it doesn't necessarily change the culture, it is probably the best way for me (as a human being, not sex object) to handle it.

I do wonder if they thought I didn't understand the question.

Not so proud.

So that afternoon, while he was reading in a chair in our living room, I curled up next to him and made my announcement.  ‘Daddy, guess what?  I figured out what I want to be when I grow up.  I want to be a preacher just like you.’  I remember how his face looked as he thought about his answer, like he was arranging the words in his mind before he let them out.  His pause was my first inclination that he wasn't as thrilled as I expected him to be at the announcement that I would be following in his footsteps.  When the words came out, though, they were worse than the silence.  ‘Well, honey,’ he said very slowly, ‘In most churches, women aren't allowed to be pastors.  You could be a children's director or something like that, but not a pastor."


--- Liz Myrick with “Screaming From the Pew”