A recent Huffington Post blog by Natalie Brooke argues that "Getting Married Is Not An Accomplishment." Her main points argued that a wedding is not an achievement because "Women are changing the world with their innovation." This means that there is more value to be placed on women who are earning their degrees and being placed in high positions, than women who are getting married.
I decided to thoroughly hear Natalie Brooke out, but I couldn't help but disagree. As a young, engaged women who is ALSO earning my degree and pursuing a career in writing, I truly believe that my education and career are an accomplishment, just as my marriage will be.
Not only am I going to college and working every single day, but so is my fiancé. I met him when I was 15 years old and watched him find his first job sweeping the floors of a dirty shop and cleaning up after the people who made more money than him. As I pushed him to work more hours, work harder and go to college, he became more accomplished, started making more money and became a huge value to the company.
As I work through my college degree and multiple jobs, my fiancé has pushed me to keep going no matter the number of times I wanted to give up. He has made sure I've had enough money to pay my bills and buy myself food while spending 12 hour days on campus. He was even the one who pushed me to study abroad, an experience that is sure to assist me in my future career.
The fact that we have stuck together, put our money together in an account each week to save for our dream wedding and pushed each other to be better is an accomplishment in itself. Once we get married, I will be proud to say that someone so hard working and caring is my husband, who is successful just like me.
An additional point that Brooke states is that successful women "are definitely not solely defined by their last name." Though I definitely agree with this point, I'd like to remind the author that many women today keep their last name; as I am choosing to do.
I am not sure where the author developed the idea that women who are married automatically assume that their marriage is more of an accomplishment than their success as an individual. Brooke mentioned several times that women in the 1950s aspired to achieve marriage, and that should not be our end goal. However, if a supportive man comes my way who is willing to urge me to become to best woman I can be while maintaining his own success, our celebration of two individuals coming together as one prosperous team will, in fact, be one of my greatest accomplishments.
My wedding will be an accomplishment, our saved money in our joint accounts will be an accomplished, the purchase of our first home will be an accomplishment, the birth of our children will be an accomplishment and the cheerful years of memories together will be an accomplishment.
So basically what I'm trying to say here is, speak for yourself.
