Woman Guilt

Like White Guilt, Woman Guilt is the guilt a woman can feel because of who she is. Like White Guilt, Woman Guilt is utterly unproductive if we simply wallow in it, if it doesn’t catalyze healthy, constructive growth and action.

Unlike White Guilt, Woman Guilt arises when we women move out of our subordinate position to take up our rightful space.

Do you feel Woman Guilt when you

• put your needs before everyone else’s?

• feel or are called “selfish”?

• insist on getting attention?

• take time for yourself by yourself?

• refuse to protect or enable male (or students’ or parents’) privilege and entitlement?

• stand by your perception of reality?

• hold other people (say, students) accountable for their actions?

• believe in yourself?

• act powerfully?

• see clearly?

• get what you’ve asked for?

I do.

But I’m working on it. Because the world needs me at my best and my fullest, my strongest and my healthiest.

Mantra: If I’m guilty for being a woman, what crime have I committed?