Friday, October 3, 2008

Game on bitches!

I was flipping through channels the other night and came upon Paris Hilton's new show. Her show is somewhat like a dating show, only she isn't look for a boyfriend. Paris is looking for a new best friend, or "bestie" as she calls it. I decided to watch it for a bit to see what this was all about and happened to catch the very first episode.

Paris starts up some intellectual commentary (haha), and refers to these girls as "dolls" and says "clever" statements such as: "which one of these dolls will I want to play with or put back on the shelf". If a friend referred to me as a doll and described our friendship as her controlling my destiny of shelf life, I'd have to set a few things straight. Not to mention that Paris, among other celebrities and non-famous females, refers to women/friends as bitches or sluts which to me is totally disrespectful.

Have we really been teaching the ladies in this country that it's ok to be treated that way? When will women learn that in order for us to gain respect, gain ground professionally and/or personally that we will need to draw some lines?

I can't even remember a time in my life where I didn't have a passion in my heart for feminists and overcoming female oppression. What really drives me nuts more than men oppressing women is when WOMEN oppress other women. How can we equal out with men in this country if we (women) can't support each other and treat each other with respect?

Example: When it was announced that Sara Palin would be John McCain's running mate, I was proud. Regardless of political views that we differ on (100% differ on), I was proud to see that a woman was in the possible VP position for only the SECOND time in HISTORY. But, not all women felt this way...I was watching the national news and the correspondents were interviewing woman off the street for their opinion. One woman said "It's her business if she wants to short change her family, but she better not short change this country". OUCH. I'm quite sure that MOST women are capable of working AND taking care of a family. This statement almost made me cry when I heard it.

I recommend some good reading to any female out there...
1) Why women should rule the world - written by Dee Dee Myers. She was the FIRST female White House press secretary. In the book, she talks about her experiences dealing with the male dominate work place as well as the many strengths women posses correlating that with why the world would be best with women in the CEO chair vs a man. This book is very well written and very well researched. LOVED IT.

2) Seducing the Boys Club: Uncensored Tactics from a Woman at the Top by Nina Disesa. Nina is a chairman of an advertising company and she has dealt with some pretty unbelievable assholes (men). This book is very well written as well, and it's funny. It's got some great advice in it and I actually used it to help make my decision on moving to my current new department and job as an assistant supervisor. The best quote in the book is "if you're not scared shitless, then you're not pushing yourself hard enough". That quote alone pushed me to change positions. Also, she mentioned that "comfort zones" are dangerous and they do not allow you to grow...but I knew that already ;-)

I feel like I might drive my boyfriend nuts with this passion, but he actually claims it's one of the reasons he fell in love with me... Is he crazy or just that dang perfect? :)

1 comment:

Ric said...

I want to read the second one on your list. It sounds interesting...If you own it, maybe I could borrow it?