Possibility of modern women losing their feminine grace – Part 11
As a biologist, I worked for five years as the only woman on a number of fishing boats in the Bering Sea. I was a tough tomboy when I started, convinced I had nothing of the feminine graces. It took being submurged in a completely male world to realize how truly feminine I am. This is not because I wear pink, (I still despise it; and I don’t own a pair of pantyhose or wear makeup either) but it is because of the subtle things. Women intuit where men assume and accuse. Women understand the feeling of something, and not just the shape and size. And men need women to be able to show their soft underbellies at times; I was constantly the person who was sought out to talk about home, about being lonely and missing their loved ones, about the big dreams they chased while being out there. And it is the feminine grace that allowed me to listen, to look at them and expose their soft, tender sides, without needing to laugh or to display any toughness. Not a man out there would say I didn’t work as hard, that I needed things to be easier or special; but not one would call me manly either. And after learning the true, instinctual differences between us, I can no longer call myself boyish either. Femimine grace is deeper than lace and silk petticoats. I think that the more that women enter the man’s world on his terms, the more striking the power of feminine grace will become. Oprah is not the most powerful talk show host on television for her manly business acumen; it is that very grace that gave her an edge over all of the men. It is this I believe will continue to shine in all of us.
Modern women: Do they really know what they want? – Part 4
Of course the modern woman knows what she wants. She wants it all!
Modern women want love, they want power, they want respect. Yet at the same time they want independence, solitude and the ability to be who they choose. The modern woman longs for individuality as she clamors to follow the latest trends. She wants a career, fast car, nice clothes and what ever else the latest glossy is preaching about.
Most of all she wants to do as she pleases
Over the past 20 years the concept of love, sex, marriage and fidelity has changed dramatically. Apparently marriage or finding a life partner, is no longer the most important issue on a young woman’s mind. Nor is procreating a family at the top of the ‘to-do list’ for her male counterparts.
Young people now appear uncertain as to what true love is. With the escalating rate of divorce and poor parental examples are questioning whether love and marriage are really worth the trouble.
Society has become full of strong successful women claiming partnerships are not worth the time, effort or hassle. Women of the nineties and beyond are signing off from men in a way that has never been seen before.
What type of role models are really being portrayed to young females these days?
The media is full of women who are portrayed as the “modern woman” with the vast majority of these living loveless lives where the male species is nothing more than a burden or sex toy. Power, money, sex, prestige and other once male dominated realms are now being inundated with a female presence.
On the one hand the likes of radical feminists tell women to go out and live a life of true independence. That self-fulling love is the only love you ever need. Despite this, who would deny the comfort that can be found, curled up in the strong secure arms of a loving person.
The conflicts in arguments can be seen everywhere. First it was wrong as a woman, to have the door opened for you. Even though this chivalrous gesture has been a symbol of fine breeding and good manners for centuries. Now it appears to be turning full cycle as the cries of women everywhere screech out to doors no longer held open for them.
At the same time this new “modern woman” still gets excited when the door is held open for her, or when she is given right of way (based purely on her looks or gender). She still expects to have advantages handed out to her based on the fact she is of the underprivileged sex.
Modern women want equality.
Possibility of modern women losing their feminine grace – Part 12
“Feminine grace” is such a subjective word that I’m not sure we can safely categorize it any one way. I think most people would agree that names like Jackie Onassis, Marilyn Monroe, and other women from days passed conjure up images of “feminine grace.” It’s important to remember, though, that while those women had a certain appearance, it was very much a forced, public one. Those women were tough, hard-working – and graceful.
Today, instead of standing strong as symbols of beauty or as devoted wives and mothers, women are standing strong as professional and independent – and as beautiful, devoted wives and mothers. I think any woman who takes on the challenges of a career, balances them with family, friends, relationships, and home life, and maintains her femininity is wonderfully graceful.
Modern women: Do they really know what they want? – Part 5
Posing the question, “Do modern women really know what they want?” suggests that women in the past have really known what they want. Socially acceptable roles have dictated what men and women have done for thousands of years. There have always been the courageous few who have stepped outside of the societal norms but they paid dearly for it. Some have paid with their lives.
The feminist movement actually began as a way to allow women the freedom of choice and to allow them the same respect and pay grade as men. Somehow it deteriorated in to a new expectation for women. The United States has crowed about its freedoms since its birth, yet its people are still enslaved by societal expectations. Families can also pressure its members with expectations. Communities, families and religious groups are examples of societies. They all create expectations or societal norms for their members.
When a society demands that women marry, care for the house and raise the children, exclusively, it is limiting options. When a society demands that that women train to be warriors (there have been many) it is limiting options. Human beings are individuals. We’re all different and that’s one of the beautiful things about our existence. Unfortunately, many humans fear anything that’s different. They incorrectly assume that they will be safe if they can control life. The easiest way to control is by making everything the same. They think that with a large enough rule set, everything can be controlled.
Confusion is created when we want to do something that is considered outside of the norm. The only way to do what we want to do is to throw off the strictures of society. This is easy for some, but difficult for most. A woman employed as a lineman will, at the very least, receive raised eyebrows. She may also be seen as “butch” because she’s in a physical, male dominated job. A man that chooses to be a nurse rather than a doctor will often be suspected of not having “what it takes” to be a doctor. He may also be seen as feminine. It takes courage and fortitude to step outside of what our society expects of us.
Modern times are not as enlightened as people would like to think. It’s a lie we tell ourselves to make us feel better. It goes along with the lie that says we can control other people. In these modern times, if a woman chooses to stay home and raise a family there are those who will criticize her. If she chooses to have a career and a family there is another set of
