MASKING OURSELVES
Crazy is how we feel at times, wishing to remove our masks, but some
one might recognize us for who we really are or maybe even for whom we
desire to be, and condemn us. The fear of being judged in this dominant
culture is very real. Certain roles in society are praised and rewarded,
while others are critized. In this patriarchal society many of us
possess negative images projected on us by both sexes. We then learn
to suppress and ignore our intimate selves, for fear of rejection from
society. In many ways the women's spirit has been devalued in our
culture, and this creates madwomen out of many of us. This is often
the reason women need to bond together. We need to support one another,
release our true selves, and be crazy if we so desire. Together we can
escape the demands which society makes of us in determining whom we
should be and how we should behave. Images of women have been created
by a culture of patriarchs who desire beautiful caring, respectable, and
'nice' women. This is not always who we are, or who we want to be.
 We can go through moratorium together, discussing and trying on new
identities. Here together with 'girlfriends', we can laugh, joke and
live out our wild and crazy fantasies, sometimes not even knowing why,
but just following our creative and feminine instincts. Barriers fall,
spirits soar, dance laugh and love. It feels wonderful to be free
and happy following your inner spirit, not caring about what anyone
thinks, and knowing your safe here with your friends to be yourself.
Women's cries, suppressed desires, feelings of conflict and limiting
stereotyped images will be responded to amidst our gatherings. The
urges to honor inner cravings and needs will be met and supported
amongst us women, who have chosen to listen. Secrets remain secrets
here, unless otherwise posted. Because there is no judgement here,
you can act like madwomen if you so desire, and expressions of yourself
will be held in trust. What a wonderful place to spend time, while
you are in transition. A feeling of freedom and trust is temporarily
experienced in this friendship haven.
The need to understand ourselves is essential to our sanity and
salvation. Our psychological development demands us to expand our
many facets of our inner spirit, so that we might evolve into our
true selves. We feel the comfort to do this surrounded by others
who we can relate to. When we are limited by our culture to a
specified role, we can feel stagnated and unhappy, not honoring
our own inner sanctions. Tensions, frustrations, moodiness and
anger build because we are not understood. Many of us feel trapped
in marriages, as housewives, as mothers, secretaries, nurses, and
debilitating helper roles.
We need more in order for our spirits to survive in this mad patri
archal world. We need to release our traditional images and free
our creative spiritual selves if we so choose, and without being
judged. We need to laugh, dance, and cry louder so we can reach
beyond just our gatherings of girlfriends. Our masks yearn to be
relinquished.
"copyright ©2000, Suzanne Chatwin Photography.
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