WSS Featured Blogger: CE Petro of Thoughts of an Average Woman

• Name: CE Petro
• Blog: Thoughts of an Average Woman
• Tag Line:Targeting issues and policies that are harmful to women and working families and other rhetoric
• Location:Knoxville, Tennessee

1. How did you start blogging? Why do you keep at it?

I started blogging a few months after completing chemotherapy when I felt I had lost some of my cognitive functions, particularly reading comprehension. When my oncologist and I discussed this, all he could tell me is to try writing and clarifying my thoughts every day. Blogging really started as an exercise in forming and writing a few short sentences focusing on one or two points of a particular article I felt was important to women and working families.

I choose to focus on women in part because of the inequalities and, really, the mysoginist treatment of breast cancer patients (although I don't focus on that narrow issue in my blog). In a broader spectrum, women have had less than equal medical care and treatment in the US and globally. I also feel that the current administration and the ideology of corporations discriminate against the working class in much the same way they discriminate against women.

2. What are your most important issues?

I try to keep the blog politically and socially motivated, and sometimes I get pretty angry. While blogging is still an exercise in some respects, my priorities to continue change. I "see" so much damage being done to the average person, and I don't think many realize exactly how damaging some policies are to them. I base this assumption on what the people I see during the course of a day have to say.

I, like many others, are disgusted by the lies of this administration, not just in the foreign policy, but more particularly in domestic policy, which I don't feel is as well covered by the mainstream media as it should be.

3. What's the nicest recognition you've ever received from the media and/or the blogosphere?

Honestly, I don't know that I want to be recognized by the media, per se. I don't feel that many in the press really understand that bloggers blog for a multitude of different reasons, unlike the press that (allegedly) reports as part of their job. However, when a psuedo-blogger (a reporter that also blogs for their paper) from my local paper asked local bloggers "what is blogging," my answer was chosen by the editor and published in an editorial, although neither my name was used nor a path to my blog was given. (my answer was: blogging is letting loose the voice of the people) That was sort of exciting, but not as exciting as being recognized by other bloggers.

I am more thrilled when my blog is picked up by other bloggers. While having a post recognized by another blogger may not be a "big deal" to some, for me it validates several things for me, 1. I had a concise day, 2. others find the topic important as well, and 3. it confirms or adds to another bloggers perspective. I find the peer-review style in the blogospere to hold more credence and accountability than being recognized by the media.

4. Who is your audience? What is unique about your blog?

Broken down by country, it's predominately Americans. Whether it's mainly women or men, or in what age group, I couldn't tell you.

As far as uniqueness, my blog is a compilation of my thoughts on various issues. That, in and of itself, makes it unique.

5. Most frustrating aspect of blogging?

Sometimes I wish people would leave comments. Without comments I wonder if I've been able to clarify my feelings on a particular topic. Yet, I don't want constant validation of my thoughts, either. Some validation is a good thing, too much I feel would lead to complacency for me. So, there are times that I wish someone will post a differing opinion, hoping a discussion would then develop. But, I'm sure that will happen eventually.

My other frustration is that I don't always have enough time to blog. Life is funny that way, and it seems that on days when I'm the busiest are the same days so much happens in the world.

6. What's the one point you'd like a reader to take away from your blog- the one thing for them to really "get"?

Living in an extremely conservative area overall I hope that I can enlighten just one person that not everyone thinks the same way or comes to the same conclusions.

Quote: I'm sorry to say this isn't creative, rather it's become an important part of my continuing life at this time, my motto is to live life one day at a time.

(Editor's Note: seems perfectly creative to me. Keep fighting. --Morgaine)