This is one of my all-time favorite quotes of all of the quotes that have ever been written: "Well-behaved women seldom make history," (by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich). Now, I am not suggesting that you go rob a bank or anything like that. I just think that the old rules, such as "be lady-like," should be tossed out the window. If it is acceptable for men to burp...and spit...and curse...and use rude gestures, it should be just as acceptable for women to as well.
Even more importantly, women shouldn't be afraid to do something just because it is traditionally for a man or because it's not "lady-like." For example, if certain women had been "well-behaved" and hadn't spoken up for their rights during the 1960's, we wouldn't have the right to vote today. If women had followed the proper etiquette and continued to suppress their voices, we wouldn't have women senators, judges, creative directors, principles, business managers, lawyers, CEOs, etc.
"A woman's voice is her most valuable attribute."
-by Sara Black (me)
-by Sara Black (me)
Actually the women's sufferage movement was started in the mid-1800's and the 19th amendment was ratified in 1920, giving women the right to vote. The 60's was mostly monumental for leveling the playing field concerning fairness in the workplace and also contraceptive freedom, ramping up the "free love" hump-a-thon. Now I wasn't there so I can't speak from experience, but I have seen the effects of rampant drug abuse because there's a lot of 60 and 70-something-year-olds still around dealing with it today. Actually, cruising down N 1st St. around dinner time will give you a peek into that goody bag. Also, the 60's started the STD cesspool which is presently running rampant and causing all sorts of crazy disgusting health issues, many of which are becoming resistant to treatment... free love suddenly doesn't seem like nearly as good a bargain. So yeah, I appreciate the pill and employment equality as much as the next girl, and I think it's great that females can be recognized for their valuable contributions to society. However, just because we CAN do almost anything doesn't necessarily mean we SHOULD. Things done in bad taste are gender universal. I think there is a bigger "shock factor" when females behave certain ways because notoriously they just care more about what people think. If you're going to behave "badly", make sure it's for good reason. Things done in the name of personal freedom also require personal responsibility. If you don't want the responsibility then simply don't do it. All things should be enjoyed in moderation.
ReplyDeleteI'm not condoning free love or suggesting that we go burn our bras or anything, I'm just celebrating the fact that in our country we have the RIGHT of sexual equality and freedom of speech, without the fear of getting punished by law (unless the act is illegal, of course). I'm also celebrating the women who were brave enough to speak up for their rights and using them as an example for women today.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I hope I don't come across as a contradictory little menace all the time. That's not my intention, I just enjoy the discussion. I know what you mean and what you're trying to say. I enjoy the blog and your thoughts on things. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteNo, no...I'm really glad you challenge my thoughts on things because it gets me to think more and I love the discussion! It's SO much better than getting simple responses like, "I agree!" I hope you continue with the responses! I'm loving them...they give me the opportunity to ineract more on here! :D
ReplyDeleteI was born in 1960 and my parents were in their early 20's, so I was a wide-eyed observer of everything happening around me, both "live" and on t.v. I watched and listened as the civil rights movement brought wave upon wave of protest marches, both violent and non-violent. Blacks and women were very outspoken- Janis Joplin, M.L. King, Black Panthers, Gloria Steinem, etc. Evidently, in order to make the extreme changes from the 50's to the 60's, it required extreme people doing extreme things and I remember asking a lot of questions of my parents in order to make sense of it all.
ReplyDeleteThe Civil Rights Movement turned everything on it's ear- music, politics, beliefs, family structure, work force, social structures. Believe me, a LOT has changed because of the C.R.M. And change is not always pretty, and change is not always good or bad! Because of the C.R.M., All people have access rights to bathrooms and buildings. We are able to stroller our baby carriage up the public ramps to most buildings and use the HUGE bathroom stall because of handicapped access. Another example is how far the Women's Movement has come. I guess the flip side to the good is the bad. Since I am now 50 years old-yes, half a century- I have some life experience under my belt. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that humans will never be "equal" as in "equal rights". Sorry, but we are human and humans are kind but unkind, fair but unfair, thoughtful but thoughtless.
Having survived the 60's and 70's (the 70's might have even been worse!), I look back and am grateful that I had been raised in a family with strong morals and values, whether I totally agreed with all of them or not. A child/teenager needs a foundation to stand on and hold on to through these tumultuous growing years, no matter what decade they grow up in.
"Look to the past to learn about the present".