Role Models, Heroes, and the Women I Love
Feb. 13th, 2006 12:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
viciouswishesMost days, I'm a loner. I'm the critic in the corner with my clipboard dissecting what someone else has done whether it's writing, art, or frankly, not setting me on fire. Blunt and sometimes cruel things come out of my mouth because I don't roll them in cinnamon and sugar. You see, I'm allergic to both.
One thing I cannot and will not stand for is the women I love and care about putting themselves down. We all *know* that we shouldn't look like the women on magazine covers. We all *know* that we're better than the boys or girls that break our hearts. We all *know* that we can write better papers than the last one with the not-so-great grade on it or that our bosses would be lost without us. We all *know* that we look hot in that one dress. We all *know* that we're great women, people, friends, daughters, mothers, sisters, aunts, doctors, students, homemakers, grandmothers, sales assistants, secretaries, teachers, lawyers, writers, and future presidents. We all *know* that we can have our dreams.
But sometimes life kicks hard and things get sidetracked. I would've gotten back on my pony Crisco when he bucked me off if my parents hadn't sold him. I would've known how to drive stick if my driving teacher would've just let me use his car. I would've been a computer science major if the introduction class had been aimed at true Java beginners.
As my grandmother is fond of saying: No Excuses.
I'm glad that I didn't become a horse girl and had a zillion rabbits instead. I'm glad that I'm a creative writing major with a studio art minor. And I still plan on learning how to drive stick.
I think the excuses and the put-downs are thicker this time of the year. Valentine's Day is always sticky. It's incredibly girly, all that pink and red. There are those commercials with the women getting the shiny diamonds and chocolate. Shiny diamonds that equal societal expectations of perfect marriage, true love, and children. Chocolate, which tastes so good, yet makes us feel fat when we eat the entire box.
And while there's V-Day and Ensler's The Vagina Monologues, Valentine's Day is so incredibly ingrained in us. It's a cultural phenomena that we cannot get away from. Every day, we need to stick together, we need to remind each other just why we're special.
I want to hear stories from each of you about the women you love, the women who are your role models, the fictional women you're damn glad were written. I also want to hear what makes you special – from your greatest accomplishment to something you like about yourself.
I'll start us off by saying that I'm really proud of my mother.
One thing I cannot and will not stand for is the women I love and care about putting themselves down. We all *know* that we shouldn't look like the women on magazine covers. We all *know* that we're better than the boys or girls that break our hearts. We all *know* that we can write better papers than the last one with the not-so-great grade on it or that our bosses would be lost without us. We all *know* that we look hot in that one dress. We all *know* that we're great women, people, friends, daughters, mothers, sisters, aunts, doctors, students, homemakers, grandmothers, sales assistants, secretaries, teachers, lawyers, writers, and future presidents. We all *know* that we can have our dreams.
But sometimes life kicks hard and things get sidetracked. I would've gotten back on my pony Crisco when he bucked me off if my parents hadn't sold him. I would've known how to drive stick if my driving teacher would've just let me use his car. I would've been a computer science major if the introduction class had been aimed at true Java beginners.
As my grandmother is fond of saying: No Excuses.
I'm glad that I didn't become a horse girl and had a zillion rabbits instead. I'm glad that I'm a creative writing major with a studio art minor. And I still plan on learning how to drive stick.
I think the excuses and the put-downs are thicker this time of the year. Valentine's Day is always sticky. It's incredibly girly, all that pink and red. There are those commercials with the women getting the shiny diamonds and chocolate. Shiny diamonds that equal societal expectations of perfect marriage, true love, and children. Chocolate, which tastes so good, yet makes us feel fat when we eat the entire box.
And while there's V-Day and Ensler's The Vagina Monologues, Valentine's Day is so incredibly ingrained in us. It's a cultural phenomena that we cannot get away from. Every day, we need to stick together, we need to remind each other just why we're special.
I want to hear stories from each of you about the women you love, the women who are your role models, the fictional women you're damn glad were written. I also want to hear what makes you special – from your greatest accomplishment to something you like about yourself.
I'll start us off by saying that I'm really proud of my mother.
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no subject
on 2006-02-14 12:55 am (UTC)I consider myself one of the lucky ones. I grew up with at least three people that could be considered a mother in the social sense and all of them were incredibly strong women. On top of that I have known many other women my age and older who have taught me that the most important part of me is that I AM me, and by God(dess) that's fantastic.
And as for Valentines Day, being in the Vagina Monologues, I am proud to say that I have found myself in a group of "hot, happy, not-takin' shit, vaginas." Those 19 ladies are the best Valentine's day companions that any girl could ask for.
no subject
on 2006-02-14 12:56 am (UTC)no subject
on 2006-02-15 08:55 pm (UTC)I find it's always key when your mom can make you feel better when you're down.
That's awesome.
Thanks for sharing.