Am I Becoming a Feminist?

In our writing class we are teaching how to write a comparison essay. One of my students (girl) is determined to write about the difference between a man and a woman. While reading her rough draft I was saddened several times by her understanding of the differences between men and women. She first wrote about the different jobs that women could have including nurse, flight attendant, and waitress. Expressing the need to be pretty for these jobs. Then the jobs for men, engineer, businessman, and doctor because these jobs needed someone who was smart. I told her she couldn't write that so she replaced it with a paragraph about how men are better at math and chemistry and women are better at language. She also wrote how women are tender and men have male chauvinism. Yes I was impressed that she used the word chauvinism, but I was so shocked that she could really think something like that.

I have had many experiences here in Taiwan where I feel like I don't count because I am the female of the group. People at church will only speak to me through Rob. People at work won't ask me for translating advice if Rob is in the room, and sometimes they will even wait until he gets back. I understand Rob is the English guy, but I've been at this English thing for a while now. I think I'm doing ok with it. The little things start to add up and I've recognized that women really aren't seen quite as equals. It is beyond annoying for me.

Thankfully, I was able to inform my student that Rob and I break her mold in almost every way. I am the science and math brain of our family and Rob can keep up with the best when it comes to language, rhetoric of any kind. He's even catching on to Chinese with no real effort. The man is brilliant. Rob is also a very sensitive, loving person and he is definitely more of a feminist than I am.

I did appreciate her conclusion of how men and women compliment each other nicely and that is part of God's plan, but I don't think God intended anyone to think like this poor student of mine. I believe it is more of an individual matter.It is our individuality that makes us different, not our gender.

I don't really know what a feminist is so I can't really answer my own question. I am more of a, "let's all be happy with each other and lift everyone higher" kind of person I guess. I don't want to be told I am kind because I am a woman. No, I am kind because that is who I am. I also don't want someone to assume that Rob is smarter than me because he is a man. After all, he is by no means smarter than a fence post (his words).