Some Women Have It, Some Don't Written by Peggy Butler
Edgy commentary With Emphasis on Why Respect Is Earned, Not Demanded! *Loraine Osgood glanced at friends seated across table and sighed inwardly, as another man gave her brush off for umpteenth time. Looking around room, she wondered why men were deliberately ignoring her. "Stupid jerks," she whispered. "Those idiots won't give me time of day. What's up with that?" she said fingering buttons of her dress, embedded with dirt and soybean oil. Five drinks later, Laurena made a beehive to restroom, where she bumped into a man she had spotted earlier. "Aw, don't you men know meaning of respect?" she asked, slurring her words. Caught off guard by question, man muttered "Do you?" When Aretha Franklin clamored for R-E-S-P-E-C-T in 1967, men suddenly became aware of how they treated women. And 38 years and a thousand arguments later, women are still calling on men to respect them. Only now rules have changed, and only way women can get members of opposite sex to respect them is by process of elimination. That simply means respect is earned, not automatically given as many women believe. For example, ever notice that some women get Hey Baby treatment while others receive Ms. or Miss salutation regardless of age or race? In coming to grips with this issue, I'm convinced that when it comes to "fairer sex" men are more apt to admire women who are confident and carry themselves in a way that screams I RESPECT MYSELF. As a woman I can quickly tell if another woman respects herself, based on way she talks, acts and dresses. If she feels she is worthy of distinction, no words are necessary, since her image speaks for itself. If on other hand she is loud, disruptive and sloppy in appearance, a man's opinion of her will take a dramatic nose dive. Two contrasting examples of respect ideology are talk-show mogul Oprah Wimfrey and media poacher Paris Hilton. In one corner you have Oprah, oozing class and intellectual prowess while wearing a designer ensemble and reminding everyone why she is one of world's most influential women. In adjacent corner is Paris; shallow, eager to display her body at every opportunity and hell bent on keeping her name in news, at any and all cost. Now, realistically, who is more respected? Oprah who carries herself like a billionaire empress? Or Paris who associates braziness with style and class?
| | More than “Just Mom”Written by Samantha Olea, http://thebestmoms.com
As mothers, we spend most of our time if not all of our time taking care of everyone. Our children need us; our husbands still need a wife and don’t forget about house! On top of all of that, many of us work inside or outside of home with careers that also demand 100%. In all of this is it easy to lose yourself. Think about it…what makes you a woman, besides obvious? Do you have exceptional hair, are you a good listener, do your eyes twinkle like no others? Embrace what makes you very special woman that you are, and always have been. Nurture that part of you that is not necessarily a mom or a wife, that part of you that always has been. Taking care of your spirit and being good to yourself is not selfish, its necessary. This will not only help you, this will help your family. Your daughters will learn importance of being there for yourself, and your sons will learn to respect a woman’s “me time”, her mystery. Your husband will notice a change in you, and he will have even more respect for you because you will be showing respect for yourself.
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