Graduate School

When I tell a guy I'd like to go to graduate school and he starts to get his "Oh she's so cute. She doesn't realize she's not ever going to graduate school. Her kids are going to keep her too busy for that" smile, I begin to get rather annoyed. How does he know I'm not going to graduate school? I'm doing what I want in my life. I want an education. Is that really a funny thing to guys? Or is it a terribly strange idea for a girl to have academic desires? I'm supposed to get an education. For all the Mormon boys out there, I can reference quite a few talks that say women need to get as much of an education as possible. WOMEN NEED TO BE EDUCATED!!!
I enjoy school. Yeah, it's hard. It's a hard thing for everyone. But honestly, I'm not about to drop out of school as soon as I get married or pregnant. I'm a woman, not a baby-making machine. I look forward to being a mother, but I also look forward to having a career in academia. What I love is when a guy says "Oh cool! What do you want to do with that?" It means he is interested in me as a person. Not a a potential cook and sex machine.
I admit, I get annoyed with girls who have come to view themselves as mothers and cooks. I get annoyed because they forget a woman is a human who needs to develop as an individual as well as be a mother...and maybe a cook (although guys can be good cooks too). I have a great deal of respect for stay-at-home mothers, don't get me wrong. They have the hardest job in the world - raising children, establishing a good home and holding a family together. Good mothers all over the world are good mothers because they have established their own characters. Children pick up on the insecurities of their parents, but when a woman has become secure in her individuality her children will grow into capable adults.
So actually, a woman taking time to develop herself (like in an education!) is a wise idea. Guys, don't look down on women who realize this. They're working on being the best woman they can be.

Athos