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OUR LIFE Monthly, published by Ukrainian National Women’s League of America VOL. XL APRIL 1983 EDITED BY A. H. Sawyckyj Notes from the Ukrainian Woman in Two Worlds Conference “SUPER-WOMAN”: MYTH OR REALITY? by Chrystyna Zelechiwsky Recently, there has been a lot of talk about the “Super-woman” and the “Super-woman syndrome.” The closest definition of this concept I have been able to find is that of a woman’s need for overachievement on all fronts. It is like juggling four or five balls: one role is easy to fulfill (wife), two can be managed (wife and mother, or wife and work), three are really tricky (wife, mother, working person). Then the balls start to fall all over the place. Four are most difficult to juggle (personal life, growth), and five are impossible (social life). Women are under pressure from all sides. TV com mercials are filled with women who can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, take care of the kids, clean the house, and still be sexy and feminine at the end of the day. The media has been pressuring women into over achievement the same way it equates beauty and happiness with youth. It may or may not be true, but it sells perfume, and it also makes women feel guilty unless they achieve all these things. There is also much woman-inspired competition which pressures us toward overachievement. The women’s movement on the one hand instilled within us the dignity of staying home and raising children. (It also raised men’s awareness of homemaking as a worthwhile pastime. Any man who helps out around the house to any degree knows that homemaking is a difficult job). But, on the other hand, the women’s movement put a lot more stress on women’s achievement in non-tradi- tional roles. This, unfortunately, has instilled a sense of guilt in all of us that we as women should find a defini tion for ourselves other than that of homemaker. The traditional role is somehow now not supposed to be enough. Women are undergoing an identity crisis. They have begun to feel they must be all things to all men — (no gender implied). There is no definition for the success ful woman, whereas the successful man is relatively easy to define. It is also interesting to note that there is no such thing as the “Super-man syndrome.” What men get is a mid-life crisis, but that’s about it. Characters like Wonder Woman and Superman are not from this planet. They are other than human. So, to my mind, the “Super-woman syndrome” deals with the problems of women trying to achieve something which is not humanly possible. What all this is leading to is the recent appearance among women of dramatic increases of alcohol and drug abuse, ulcers and other stress- related illnesses which definitely will have a marked effect on shortening our life expectancy. Personally, I do not think it is possible to be a Super-woman. But I am a rather untraditional person who tends to have a million things going at the same time. My husband and I have a home, an active law practice, a seven-month-old daughter, two German shepherds, and a flourishing vegetable garden. I have not given up my law career in order to have a family. Since the time she was two weeks old, Sophia has come into the office with me on almost a daily basis. I have an infant swing and duplicate toys in the office for her, and luckily, she has been a very contented and good baby. I am very fortunate in that both my husband and I are attorneys and we are able to work together at our own business. That allows us to structure the work ac cording to the demands of the particular situation. This also gives me the chance to continue working without having to give up the joys of motherhood. I really don’t know whether I could do it if I had to work from nine to five. I have, however, had to take somewhat of a lesser role in the law practice since the birth of my baby. I do not take on complicated matters which would require extended trial appearances, I rather work on matters which can be resolved from the office. I have taken Sophia with me into Court. I carried the briefcase and the stenographer carried Sophia. The Judges have been very tolerant and understanding, but I do not do that unless it is an emergency. Видання C оюзу Українок A мерики - перевидано в електронному форматі в 2012 році . A рхів C У A - Ню Йорк , Н . Й . C Ш A.
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