The Concept of Family in the Opinion of Daniela Andrade, Social Educator

In 2021, we realize that our society is still very attached to the standard concept of family, in which the father is the one who financially supports the house, while the mother takes care of everyone and takes care of the home.

No one questions a man's dreams and professional goals. He can have the job and position he wants, wherever he wants – no one questions him. Even if you have children, if you have a job that forces you to travel and spend time away from your family, you are still seen as a hero because you fight to support your children.

However, a woman, in turn, if she chooses to have a position or a job with the same characteristics described, which involves not being very present (physically), she is already questioned about her options, seen as an “unnatural” person who abandons the family, and is still accused of being capricious because she seems to be focused only on herself. Society says that they are supposed to assert themselves as women…

No one puts themselves in a woman's position to say how courageous she is in taking on a profession that, in fact, prevents her from being more physically present, but which, at the same time, allows her to demonstrate to her children that she is also a hero for chase what makes you happy. And the truth is that, even from a distance, you can still manage and organize the house.

Happiness has no gender

We must be aware that we cannot be happy professionally if we are not happy personally, and vice versa. The more we can reconcile these two dimensions of life, the more fulfilled and complete we will be. If it makes me happy to have profession X, won't I do it just because someone thinks I shouldn't, because I'm a mother and can't travel? No.

The worst scenarios are those in which this accusation begins to arise within four walls, where the partner (in a heterosexual relationship) does not understand (or does not want to understand) that professional fulfillment is also part of the woman's essence. But don't you really understand? Some, in fact, don't understand. They believe that a woman who wanted so much to be a mother only feels complete when she is always holding on to her children.

Another very common situation is the fact that there are men who feel inferior because they have an independent woman at their side, with a higher salary and higher professional status than him. But, after all, aren't money and the economy built by both? Where is the concept of couple and family?

We can and should always be who we truly are, have the profession we choose and be happy and balanced mothers and partners. And yes, as a couple, these are the values that we will pass on to our children, making them proud for doing what makes us happy. This will also help them to open their horizons, encouraging them to follow their path in the future.

I guarantee that a woman who feels professionally fulfilled and has a person by her side who respects her (as a woman, mother and professional), will be a better mother, wife and professional every day. My message to you is to believe that you are the best version of yourself, if you listen to your heart and follow what makes you vibrate and be happiest.

Text: Daniela Andrade | Specialist in social education and childhood

Daniela Andrade has a degree in Social Education, began her professional career in 2008 and recently embraced the Social Educators project, in which she works as a specialist in social education and childhood, using pedagogical tools to intervene in people's problems. Some of its areas of intervention are positive parenting, sexual education, environmental education, support for people with addiction problems, support in managing the family budget, among many others.