Feminist?

I never considered myself a feminist. Just don't believe in making a separate issue of women's rights, I believe that equal, fair, just and good treatment is a God given right to all humans regardless of gender, race and any other categorization.

At the same time, I do feel like women are put under a great pressure to please from an early age. That is why we all try to be smart, intelligent, hard working, beautiful, slim, good cooks, good workers, good mothers and everything else anyone expects of us. And we tend to be so hard on ourselves. But what really gets to me is how women are so hard on one another. I think women around me are each others worst enemies. We are always so hard and so quick to judge if we see an overweight woman, or a woman who wishes to stay home and not work, or a woman who choses to take a laid back attitude about anything. At least this is how I see women around me.

My sister in laws recently went to a wedding party. Next day they are all picking on the other women who were at the party, about not dressing right for their shape!!! They find the fact that I don't not socialise that much a wrong thing!!! Other women in the family think that I am less than efficient because I quit my job to stay home with my children!!! I know someone who had a brother who was divorced three times and when he wanted to get married and chose a divorcee like him they did not like it. I tell no one as hard on women as women themselves.

Why can't they be more compassionate, and give more consideration to other women. Is it not enough what we have to deal with from others? Why can't we think of any other woman as a friend or sister before we judge?

I just don't get it!