THE WEIGHT OF THE BACKPACK

I don’t want the weight of my backpack.I’ve been thinking about the contribution of women in economics and social development, in order to improve humanity. You can find many articles, scientific studies, that prove these claims... but I would like to express out loud and in writing the great work we do day to day as women.Women whose faces are anonymous and do not appear in the newspapers, or social policies... and who are contributing day to day to the social, cultural, economical development in all countries that are far away.My reflection passes through me. Since I was born I inherited a backpack that is always with me on my back, that is heavy and that, after 50 years, I’m going to take off and I’d like to inspire more women to do the same, but from an earlier age.I want to get rid of the stress of the obligation to prove that I’m a good woman worker, if not the best. I would like to let my bag go, and get free of the obligation of having to be a mother, of being the best mother, of being the home economist, the nurse of my children, the home cleaner, the manager of family’s stability... All this is up in the air for others to collect.I don’t want my daughters to have that weight on their shoulders.All these small jobs done day to day (and not seen and recognized) are part of the production that has carried out the progress in the human development... and... what would happen if all of the women get rid of their burden on their shoulders? Who would collect it? Men maybe? The human progress would most likely continue the same cycle. I would like to see this.

Ana María Roca Fernández.3º CAL