Sunday, May 8, 2011

My Definition of Modern Woman

Happy Mother's Day, Indonesia! Well, personally I don't celebrate Mother's Day on May 8th but on December 22nd. Comfortable already with the date, especially it's 3 days before Christmas and I have always give my Mom present on that day. She'll wonder why if suddenly I change the anniversary date.

Anyway, about 2 weeks ago we celebrate the Kartini's Day - Happy Kartini's Day again all great Indonesian women! In my English class, my lecturer gave me two articles to read and after that he expected us to write our own opinion, about matter mentioned in those two articles. Taa-daa, writing test day people! The first article was talking about the history of Kartini and how this young (probably woman) student of Economic Faculty in Universitas Indonesia thinks about her in general and some personal opinion of course. It's a feature article not the headline news. Second of all is a news article talking about the fact on modern women and the phenomenon around them this recent years. It's not something new, you know - today's women tend to choose career over marriage and children (they usually emphasize on this). They see children as an obstacle for them to grow in their career because most women retired from their job or career position when they're starting to have children. Makes sense to me actually, you don't want your children to be raised by someone you have no idea how her background and education like, right?

The article mentioned perfectly clear about their definition - probably as much as the general public assessment on modern woman. Young, usually around 20s to 30s. Hard worker, they usually in good shape or probably not because they have to work their ass off no time for others except they have one great fitness center nearby plus they have time and the energy rather to charge their battery with lots of sleeping during weekends. Smoking? Not all of them. But usually they can always drink, they no longer avoid alcohol that much. They use high heels to work. Trust me, for us women, high heels shows level of power and determining level at work. High heels shows high level of confidence and the type of person who gets what she wants. Not by cheating, but through all the hard work she has to do to get to her targets. Ps: these type of girls never set low targets. What else? They walk fast, very dynamic. They don't like talking to much just to chit chat on the phone and never like things that doesn't have any particular aim. They don't look for 'relationship' over social website well they prefer sex friend last time I heard. Question why? No ties and no expectation, they like to keep it simple. They're very smart and critical and they never care whether you're man or woman, she'll debate her arguments until the end. She'll never depressed by the presence of man, never. When she says no, she means it. She probably everybody's friend, smile to everyone and can catch up with everyone but no one ever can really get her inside and out - especially in the work community. She prefer to live in an apartment and choose not to cook by herself - what's the use of instant food technology? And chinese food for sure.

I grinned while reading those articles, how can people make such bad generalization? And so I spend the rest of another 20 minutes to write down my thoughts. And this thought like tears drop falling down, I know I didn't control them - they just like popped out anyway. I just scared that my idea of modern woman is actually my idea of a great woman. Misinterpreted, oh quoting Avril Lavigne, "What the Hell."

I think modern women are they who always look beyond today. They know what they want since the very beginning, they set their targets and set their goals and they - by themselves make the time table for their own. They know what they want and what they don't want. They're the most realistic people on earth. They don't want to be committed to something that they're not sure how to handle it with only two hands, one heart and one brain on the way. Like a cup of coffee in the morning, can be something demanding when you do it with a guy for the next consecutive two to four weeks. They wake up always early, they're the morning people. Who says about waking up early is only woman with family? Stupid. They don't busy browsing the internet to read things that don't matter - like how to make your boyfriend happy, how to keep your image good, etc. She's learning it all by doing it herself. She not always prefer coffee, lots of modern women are concern with their health and the amount of caffeine in their bodies. They prefer salad or bread or fruits to dinner, easier to chew and healthy and keep her weight on the right number to point at the weight scales. Modern women can take care of themselves alone. These great modern women not easily bonding with guys, although she must has bzillions of friends and admirers. She's picky. She puts the brain as the most authentic and charming personality in herself, that's why she's not busy doing hours of shopping or 'cuci mata' around the malls, looking through the window glasses of clothes and shoes and branded stuffs. She knows what she wants and she doesn't want; she's not a branded-minded. If she likes what her eyes catch, she'll get it for her. They dress to impress because after all, the way you bring yourself in your clothes reflect your personality. Their eyes are sharp, people are easily look around when they passed by, just feeling their confidence in walking their steps. They're willing to learn about all of new things in the world, maybe the Greek Gods and Goddesses, how to differ a good wine or beer, how to learn to taste a good food in a fine dining or even by the streets, how to make a great emotional photograph, how to write beautifully - to taste the grace between the lines.

They have passion. Maybe it's sports, maybe it's dancing or singing, maybe it's spending days alone in the library between the smell of old books; maybe it's cooking, maybe it's gardening or even doing social work teaching little children here and there. Who says modern woman hates marriage? Or hates children? They just don't want to get caught in a stupid position, they think marriage is the highest commitment a human can have, sometimes they just don't ready yet, sometimes they haven't find the right one, and sometimes... they're in love with someone they shouldn't in love with. Modern woman put themselves first when their on their own, but they also can make priorities and when the time has come for them - they're just a woman after all.