by Elizabeth Mia Scott

Created on: May 23, 2008

This is a tricky question. First, let's look in the dictionary for the definition of want even though technically we know what it means. The 1953 publication of Webster's New World Dictionary: College Edition definition number one says: 1. to lack; have too little of; be deficient in. Definition number three says: 3. to feel the need of; crave; long for: as, he wants adventure.

Well, to lack, have too little of, or be deficient in, covers a lot of territory. If you're referring to a young free college student in comparison to a single mother raising three children their deficiencies will be different as their wants will be different, even though they do in essence know what they want.

I think that modern day women know exactly what they want but are forced to accept what it is they have to do more than what they want to do. The pursuit of a dream has turned into a pursuit of earning power. It's not fun anymore.

Imagine a flurry of bubbles, fairies dancing about, songbirds on a bright sunny day; these are the properties of a dream, not literally, but in essence. Dreams make people happy.

In the beginning women were expected to stay home and care for the family, but somewhere along the way identity crisis appeared out of nowhere and said, "Hey, why aren't you important?" To finally see the light, but not know how to reach it. Identity crisis may have been an issue back then but not so much now. These are the women that created the threshold.

Now it has become dog eat dog. The modern day woman does know what she wants, but also knows what it takes to get it. The decisions become a catch 22. In the instance of the young free college student her wants are to meet her monthly obligations in the sense of possibly a student loan, or maybe she wants a new dress for a Friday night dance, but most of all gas in her car.

In the instance of the single mother,the want is the need to keep the lights on, food on the table, clothes on your child's back, shoes on their feet, more than the want of the need to stay home and read a bedtime story. This is a catch 22. In essence, at heart the modern day woman is still the keeper of the gate of her home.

Definition number three says: 3. to feel the need of; crave; long for: as, he wants adventure. This also covers a lot of territory in regards to the question; Does modern day women really know what they want? In this instance, is the reference to a potential lover or a favorite food? In either case, I doubt if there is any lack of clarity.

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