Remember that Helen Reddy song? Such a women’s anthem back then! I am woman – hear me roar! It was a brave lyric for the time – and maybe it still is.
I have always been a rather independent woman. I’m not sure how I grew to be that way. I came from a home that was very traditional, in a good way, where Mom stayed home and raised the three kids. She worked a few part time jobs once we were older, but her time back when I was a little was spent cleaning, cooking (no microwave), ironing (No permapress. Even sheets were ironed), and in ‘raising’ us to be responsible people with morals and values. My mother didn’t even get a driver’s license until she was 30. She did not go to college. She was a stereotypical mom of the 50’s and 60’s.
My parents made it possible for me to go off to college. I have said it before, but again I will say it, it was such a wonderful education for me OUTSIDE of the classroom. I lived in a dorm and got to know young women from other places. A lot of them were from Ohio, where I was from also, but I roomed with a girl from Massachusetts. Across the hall from me was Keiko, from Japan! I don’t recall being nervous about going off to college, or worried about missing my parents. Back then we only had phones connected to our room’s wall! And, therefore, I only talked to my parents when I was in my dorm room, and we had established that Sunday evenings was the best time to talk with each other. Just once a week.
I had to be self reliant. But, it came easy to me. I worked while I went through school. All the time. After graduating I moved back home for a short while but then I quickly got an apartment with my girlfriend – and that was it. I spent 6 years or so sharing living space but I was ‘on my own’ – paying my own bills, buying my food, working – and working a lot. Providing for myself.
So, when I got married, I knew it was for love – and for the adventure. Not for money. I had confidence I could take care of myself. I was just fine alone. I felt that way then and I feel it now.
Why am I telling you this story?
I was a young woman in the late 1970’s and in the 80’s who felt I was able to do anything. I never thought that a man would think I was using female charm, or sex appeal (ha- that makes me laugh), or flirting (I was terrible at that) to get ahead. I made a point to not mix business with pleasure. I may have had a few crushes on guys in my office but I kept it to myself. I drew the line.
Lately, I have been seeing posts about our new, strong, hard-working FEMALE Vice President – and the posts say she slept her way to where she is. Posts call her a ‘slut.’ Yes – that word is used!! They seem to dismiss the fact that she went to law school, served as a DA, and then became a senator. She had years of studying and years of training. She poured herself into her Work. She proved her self. She got promoted – and she got elected.
But, as a woman she is said to have used her body to get her jobs, and that she didn’t really deserve them. What is especially sad is I am seeing these posts by other women!! Women who have listened to the Trump rhetoric and who believe it – because he said it. They takeThe word of a man, who was a compulsive liar and womanizer, and do not support the woman. I find it appalling and sad.
I believe in equal status. I don’t think a woman should ever get ‘special’ treatment in business or politics because of her gender. I want the most qualified, and the most experienced at times, and the best fit for serving me in government. But, if I think two candidates are equal, yes, I will vote for the woman. I’m a woman. She might just understand me. She will come to politics with a woman’s point of view and we need that.
It pleases me to watch, to see more women ‘breaking the glass ceiling’ in job positions and in making more money. It pleases me to know I am represented… as a woman. I want diversity – in gender, and in color. I think it’s time to let the older, white men take a back seat and let others in. Maybe even drive for awhile.
So, I guess my message to other women is this – be proud! Be supportive. Even if you have to roar a little bit to get recognition – do it! Change comes from attention. The adage ‘the squeaky wheel gets the oil’ is true. It’s not a man’s world. It’s OUR world. Do NOT let name calling, and false rhetoric be believed. Do not let women be patronized. Act equal. Speak equal. Support equality. I am woman – yes, hear me roar – and hear me laugh, and See me learn, and give advice, and run businesses, and mother, and even be the Vice President of the United States .
Marla’s Musings 