Elect-ed to be a Lady

Everyone seems to be reacting to the question in the most recent presidential debate regarding what the candidates would do to address equality in the workplace.  "Binders of women" spoofs (mainly featuring Bill Clinton) are all over the internet.  It made me wish there was at least one woman in the running this election.

I've talked about my opinion on feminism before, so instead, I leave you with this, ladies...

"Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels."  - Bob Thaves

Romance, Tim-ed out.

Some evenings I sit with every intention of writing.  The birds chirp outside as the smell of fresh rain wafts in through my bedroom window.  I wait, and the words never come.  Perhaps it is the idea of a computer that bothers me.  Though it allows one to be more prolific—one’s hand can only move so fast—it does not have the romance of a large, loopy script scrawled on thick card stock.  The clicking of the keys does not lend itself to the musical ear, nor does the blue glow from the screen do much for the aesthetic appeal of the pastime.  I picture the ladies of old who would sit down at their writing desk, dip their quills in the thick dark ink pot and begin a brilliant letter with no other intention than to invite their neighbor to dinner.  How formal life was then.  We’ve done away with formality in exchange for productivity.  A few hundred years ago, a woman would not dream of going down for breakfast until she had been laced into her corset.  Even a few decades ago, leaving the house without a proper hat was a major faux pas.  Today we go to the grocery store in pajamas and Ugg boots.  Though I appreciate the opportunities time has granted for a woman such as myself, I also long for the days when life was simpler...and a little more romantic.

pic: weheartit

Thought, Challeng-ed.

Last night I attended the second meeting of my newly founded book club, which I must say is quickly becoming the highlight of my social calendar.  It is a rare occasion that a group of women in their twenties can get together and inspire stimulating conversation that does not include an evaluation of whether or not 'he's just not that into you.'  (The minute someone suggests that book, I'm out!)

Anyway, this month's pick was a novel by Kathryn Stockett, The Help, which tells the story of three women living in Jackson, Mississippi, during the brink of the civil rights movement.  Two black maids and one white wanna-be journalist tell a heart-warming story about what it's like to live on the outside of social norms. I highly recommend it for its innovative treatment of a frequently visited topic and for its general humanistic appeal.

Throughout our discussion, the topic of activism vs. progressive came up (quite appropriate for the week of MLK's birthday).  We struggled to define both terms and essentially came up with the following:

• An progressivist is a forward thinker, someone who challenges the status quot, but does not take action to change the behaviors of others.
  

• An activist is one who takes a stand for his/her beliefs and works to change the attitude or behavior of others in order to reach a goal.

A ring of women sitting on couch pillows in a Manhattan apartment suddenly began to judge themselves.  Could any of them even consider themselves progressivists?  What were they doing in a world, that although changed since the time period of the current month's book selection, still harbors inequality in tiny pockets across its surface?  Sometimes we forget that just because we're one, we can't join together to create many.

What would you do if you had the power of many?