Recently my friend started a group on FB for women helping women get fit. She posted a picture of Rosy the Riveter. I love what Rosy represents.
My Dad's companion and I would chuckle whenever my Dad would comment about "strong women." He'd use that phrase when talking about some of the women at his church or even women in our family. I'd have to pause and think, well, I think of myself as a strong woman, what is he saying? (In fact, his companion was a strong woman.) So, while it may be sexist when a 90-year-old man says it, I'm proud to be a “strong woman.”
Recently the phrase "strong women" came up in an article I'm reading in a magazine. I thought of my Dad. Then last night the phrase came up again on one of my television shows. Hmm, what message are they sending? The character was speaking up about her beliefs.
My mother had a book, Fascinating Womanhood by Helen Andelin ©1963. I haven't read it yet. It's on my bookshelf for that day I want to delve into what my mother went through in the 60s.
Check out the book When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present by Gail Collins ©2009, to see how far we’ve come.
I have strong feelings (ooh, that word “strong” again) about women who go to college, get a degree, join the work force, and then they quit their jobs to have babies and raise a family. I want women to stay in the workforce.
My husband’s son, currently living in Germany, sent an article a few days ago. It’s from the New York Times, The Female Factor: In Germany, a Tradition Falls, and Women Rise.
I’ve been a casualty of the economic downturn. I’m not alone; however, I have a husband to help support me. Many of my single gal pals, in the same situation, don’t pity me. I know I’m blessed. I want to get back in the work force. The only thing holding me back is my attitude about long commutes that keep me away from my life at de la Osa street.
1 comment:
i love the idea of strong women . . . period. especially in politics . . . i guess as it seems to be an area dominated by old men.
i found your comment . . . about women obtaining their degree, working and then stopping to raise children and give up their career . . . very interesting. i happen to be encountering that currently.
i have lily (who is three this weekend) and gus on the way in the spring . . . and i absolutely HATE the idea of working while they are so young.
when i started interpreting i had so many goals. i knew that i wanted to interpret at disney (in orlando), i knew that i wanted to specialize in theatrical interpreting, and i knew that i wanted to get nationally certified. i did all of these things within a few years and soon found myself complacent and not really challenged or motivated to further myself in this career.
now that i'm a mother, i feel like my priorities have completely shifted. i no longer want to work. however, i'm not content with just staying at home either. i've found new ways to fulfill myself and be creative . . . for example, teaching myself to sew . . . while still picking up interesting interpreting assignments as they come up (like interpreting for politicians, which totally gets me all riled up!).
i definitely think of myself as a strong woman . . . and as i grow in my walk with the Lord i see even more possibilities to grow that i had never known were possible. this has become my new motivation as i continue to become the woman that He intends for me to be.
i love that america has become a place where women can be whatever they want to be . . . even running for president! it's interesting to think of how this country has changed from when your mom and my grandmother were first mothers . . . to where we are now . . . and how i "mother" my children in such a different time!
anyway, i'm done with my random musings.
great post, laurie. i'm loving reading your thoughts on a regular basis!! :)
Post a Comment