Great Article; Sums Me Up Exactly!

I recently read this wonderful article entitled, "I Am A Feminist." His descriptions, his experiences, and his overall style relay his meaning perfectly: people act like feminism is a dirty word, even though the majority of people today have benefited greatly from this movement (and, ironically, support the values that this movement espouses).

I always have to laugh when people recoil in horror if asked if they are a feminist. If asked if they're racist, the answer is usually, "No, why do you ask?" Ask them if they're a feminist, and their faces contort uncontrollably, and they can barely get the shocked, emphatic, "NO!" out of their choking throats. You might as well ask them if they kill and mutilate babies, or something, with all the horror that they react with.

Now, I can understand that some women (ultra-religious conservatives, old-fashioned women, etc.) do NOT identify as feminists, and rightly so. They believe in conservative gender roles (man outside of the house, woman inside), in being subservient to their husbands, etc. I would not expect these women to identify as feminists; that's not my issue.

My issue is with women who advocate equal education for all; equal social, economic and political opportunities for all; reproductive rights; and careers and wages based on talent and interest, not gender, yet still insist they're not feminists. Why? Feminism isn't a bad word; the media and ultra-conservatives in our society, who are threatened by women who are independent and self-sufficient, have made it out to be a synonym for man-hating, angry lesbians. Are there some feminists like this? Sure thing. Just like there are some Christians who bomb abortion clinics, or some Muslims who organize terrorist attacks on the US. The point is, just because a very small minority acts a certain way does not mean that the entire group does. In fact, it's ignorant to think so.

So I'll proudly proclaim: I am a college-educated, financially independent, self-sufficient, love-my-career, gender-roles-shunning, modern-day feminist. I'm also incredibly feminine & girly, happily married to my soulmate and looking forward to the day when I can be a stay at home mom to our (future) children; I can't think or anything more rewarding than raising up the next generation. See? Feminism isn't a movement full of man-hating, children-hating, scary, mannish women! We're normal, everyday women, mothers and wives, daughters and sisters, who want our potential to be defined by our talents and interests, not our genders; who choose marriage because we've found the partner that completes us, not because we can't survive without it; and bring forth new human beings into the world because we want to raise up the next generation, not because we couldn't afford access to birth control.

Do I Dare???

Well, Lent is coming up, and a bunch of people around the office are talking about what they're giving up. It made me wonder if perhaps I, too, should abstain from something for the next 40 days, and I decided that it might not be the worst thing in the world. Now, I'm not religious at all, so Lent doesn't really have any spiritual meaning for me, per se, but I figure, why the heck not?

So, what is it that I'm going to give up? My beloved beer... my New Glarus Spotted Cow, which is, hands down, the best beer in the entire world. See, normally I'm not a beer fan. Give me a good Lambrusco or a vodka cranberry any day. But I am lucky enough to live in Wisconsin, which is known for their to-die-for beers, and Spotted Cow is la creme de la creme.

So, HOW do I give it up for the next 40 days without going into withdrawals? (Now, lest my dear readers--all 2 of you! ;)--worry that I'm an alkie, never fear. I could have an entire liquor cabinet stocked full of the top-shelf brands, and I wouldn't touch it for weeks or months on end. No, it's not the alcohol itself; it's the whole Spotted Cow experience.)

So, we'll see how my quest goes. It's only 40 days, right? And this will definitely help with my weight loss, since when I imbibe, I want to order pizza, which, sadly, isn't on anyone's list of health foods. Yes, this will be a good thing. I won't think of it as depriving myself; I'll think of it as doing something good for myself. All right. It's settled. I'm giving up Spotted Cow for Lent.

But you can be sure that Dan and I are going to go all out tonight, as a last "hurrah!" And isn't that what Mardi Gras is all about?

Men Rule; At Least in the Workplace

"The survey, conducted early this year, found a bonanza of stereotypes among those polled, with many using the optional comment section to label women "moody," "bitchy," "gossipy" and "emotional." The most popular term for woman, used 347 times, was "catty."

There are still few women in the corner office today, and the numbers appear to be declining. Our survey sheds light on one obstacle blocking women from the boardroom: negative attitudes about women leaders — attitudes women themselves still harbor."

This is an excerpt from an excellent article on MSN.com, and the findings detailed within demonstrate, at least to me, that feminism hasn't won the fight yet. Men are still being perceived as better, more efficient leaders, and these stereotypes are, unfortunately, harbored by people of both sexes. Women are internalizing these (untrue) stereotypes, which diminishes their confidence in themselves and in other women in the workplace.

Luckily, researchers agree that the attitudes regarding women and leadership don't accurately reflect women's leadership abilities; numerous studies have shown that men and women are on par when it comes to leadership within the workplace. However, the perceptions are where the problem lies: When asked which gender would be a more effective leader, males were preferred by more than a 2-1 margin by both men and women — even though women got high marks for being problem solvers and providing more supportive work environments.

Yes, we've got aways to go. Equality won't truly have been achieved until people refuse to base their decisions on outdated stereotypes, and instead focus on the person themselves, regardless of their gender.