You've come a long way, lady!

A century ago women had few choices. They could marry or they could pursue a career; they could not do both. Universities would not hire married women, who in turn had no means of earning an income. Moreover, women were considered a source of temptation and - even now in some countries - were kept close to home. They belonged to their husbands, as part of his property rights (see Women's History in America, at http://www.wic.org/misc/history.htm)

How far we've come in little over a century! I marvel at the choices that women have today. We can stay home with our children, work part-time or full-time. Of course the choice may be partially or completely dictated by circumstance, but we have a say now in those circumstances in a way that we never had before.

We also have conveniences that were heretofore unknown. My mother relates how she washed, dried and ironed her babies' diapers during the years when she could not afford a diaper service and Pampers were unknown. Would anyone dream of doing that now?

Yet we still complain. We take our freedom for granted, forgetting that it was carved from the rock of tradition and fear.

We have earned the respect and the partnership of men. Now if we have something to complain about it's our job to change it, not theirs.