What is the state of the world when one woman can’t help another woman who has a seriously ill child because she is frightened of being beaten by her husband?   

The sisterly/motherly/daugherly and everythingly relationship between women is being systematically destroyed all over the world by petty political disputes.  This is really bad.  However, right here, where I am and there, where you are, it’s happening too.  Our western society (apologies to anyone living outside of Western Europe!) plays a game of pseudo-inclusion that is meant to think that women have it good.  Well, sorry mates, we don’t!  Men probably don’t either, but right now, I don’t care! 

What am I talking about?  Firstly, an example from my life.  Yesterday I cancelled my attendance at a conference in April.  It wasn’t majorly important but would have been interesting.  I can’t go because my husband is away doing something we decided was more important.  Sounds fine...until you think...why is there never, ever, ever, ever, ever a crèche at a major conference?  Why are all the women attending conferences constantly on their mobiles arranging childcare?  Because women’s needs aren’t taken seriously, that’s why. 

Another example: someone I know has a major problem with her mother.  She was unloving, a cow, exploited her (female) children, worked them like slaves, was constantly miserable etc etc.  She had 7 children who are now between 60 and 70.  I pointed out to her daughter that, even though her childhood was undoubtedly horrible, there was a high chance that her mother had experienced traumatic births, miscarriages, still births, post natal depression and that she probably had zilch help with her heap of children...and that she was not only a mother and housewife, she was also helping to run two businesses.  Bloody hell, if I did all that, I’d be a bitch!!  However, I was ticked off and told that “she could still have been a real mother.” 

So, what is a real mother?  I’ve certainly never met one and if I did, I’d probably feel sick!  As long as the myth of the real mother exists, we’re all going to fail...whether we have children or not.  As long as women are put under such high pressure to conform to an impossible image, as long as women who achieve anything are dissed for neglecting their children or fertility, the relationship between women is being systematically destroyed.  Much as I feel deeply sorry for women who have to cover themselves from head to foot, who risk being stoned to death if they fall in love, who see their partners and children killed in war, who are raped as part of conflict, who are stripped of all rights...I feel sorry for us lot too.