Becoming the Person I want to Be

In reviewing chapter 8, I found that I could identify somewhat with Lin's story of not feeling as if she always fit the traditional feminine stereotype, although I did not have quite as extreme experiences as her. I grew up with a twin brother and younger brother, so I was always participating in athletic and outdoor activities as a child. Having to play against my brother in sports really benefitted me in athletics, as I found that most girls did not offer the same competition, and I ended up really excelling in this area. Romantically, I felt as if I was somewhat at a disadvantage as I often viewed guys my as brother figures or really good friends because I spent a lot of time with them in these roles as they were spending time with my brother. My parents generally treated us all the same and I was expected to be as strong, independent, and driven to succeed as my other siblings. When reading through the masculine and feminine stereotypes outlined in the chapter, I identified more with the masculine traits than the feminine ones. Has this really been detrimental to my life so far? I really don't think so, although I did find that boys in high school tended to gravitate to more traditionally feminine girls. I think this changes as men age and they are more comfortable being with women who may challenge them. Regarding the discussion of women and work choices, my career has always been very important to me, and I still struggle with the notion of potentially having to balance a family with my professional goals. Although I'm not a mother and a wife right now, I do think that when I'm in this position again, I may "burden [myself] with the expectation that [I] should perform perfectly as [a] worker, mother, and wife, in short [expecting myself] to be superwoman" (Corey & Corey, 2010, p. 247). I think many women experience similar pressures, which is why so many of us choose one path (either career or family) at the expense of another. Ideally, I hope that I can achieve my own independence and professional success while also having a supportive relationship and family. I like how the book reminds us that real strength allows both men and women to admit that they may need nurturing and support from a significant other while also maintaining their own identity. Corey,G.,& Corey, M.S. (2010). I never knew I had a choice: Explorations in personal growth. (9th ed.). Belmont, California: Brooks/Cole.