Where to begin with THE WOMEN IN THE CASTLE? For starters: if you think you’ve read every WWII historical fiction book there is and can’t fit another into your reading schedule, please let me urge you that you have room to read just one more. THE WOMEN IN THE CASTLE by Jessica Shattuck is the one. Not only are the characters perfectly flawed and … [Read more...]
The World War II Women Knew
The stories of World War II have been told many times through a multitude of male perspectives and usually with only enough women included to companionably pad the edges. Rarely has an effort been made to focus entirely on presenting the World War II women knew and lived. WWII was a time of radical change for many, if not most, women. Their … [Read more...]
Women Are Fundraising Their Way To The Big Political Table
Hillary Clinton’s first quarter fundraising total of $45 million revealed that women comprised more than 60% of her donor base. Regardless of Party, this kind of financial participation is essential if women want to be treated as more than one issue voters or a political football during election season. Politically, men have typically … [Read more...]
Sharing FEMINIST Stories: An Interview With Jennifer Hall Lee
Feminism is not the “F” word and feminists are not the bearded, Birkenstock wearing sisterhood! Disabusing wrong-headed notions about feminism is vital in understanding its benefits to society as well as the opportunities now available to women as a result. In a special edition of Dare We Say, I had an opportunity to interview award-winning … [Read more...]
Let’s Celebrate A Howe Mother’s Day Too
Back in 1870, Julia Ward Howe envisioned another kind of Mother's Day. Although a mother herself, she wasn't looking for a day of remembrance and celebration as was championed many decades later by Anna Jarvis and made an official national holiday by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914. Howe's vision of Mother's Day was about as far from our … [Read more...]
The American Nurse Project — Insight Into A Beloved Profession
THE AMERICAN NURSE PROJECT, which includes a book, documentary film and ongoing blog interviews, tells the story of the life and professional commitment of nurses across the United States. The creator, photographer Carolyn Jones along with her team, wanted to raise awareness of the uniqueness of the nursing profession by allowing … [Read more...]
Patricia Arquette: “It’s Our Time” For Equality
Patricia Arquette's "it's our time" appeal on behalf of women’s equality brought excitement to an otherwise lackluster Oscar telecast. Upon accepting the award for Best Supporting Actress, she stood before a worldwide audience of 1 billion and declared: “To every woman who gave birth to every taxpayer and every citizen of this nation, we have … [Read more...]
Grammys: Another Institution Failure On Domestic Violence
Sunday’s Grammy Awards became the latest institution failure on domestic violence. It featured a PSA by President Obama calling attention to the shocking number of women in America who are raped or suffer domestic violence. “It’s on us,” he said, urging the artistic community to raise awareness to bring a stop to it. Activist Brooke Axtell then … [Read more...]
Why Kaley Cuoco’s “ Not a Feminist ” Comment Matters
By now, Big Bang Theory actress Kaley Cuoco’s comments that she is not a feminist have gone viral. The online backlash was so fierce that Cuoco has walked back her original statements. Pundits who miss no opportunity to perpetuate feminism’s negative branding have chastised those who criticized Ms. Cuoco for daring to part from “the tribe.” Yet … [Read more...]
Lost In Translation Of GoldieBlox’s Ad
GoldieBlox released a video ad introducing their new action figure for girls (video below). I was thrilled to read in the press release of their intention to "show girls more options and lead them to a world full of possibilities." As a feminist, I absolutely get where GoldieBlox is coming from. Creating toys to encourage and promote girls in … [Read more...]
Freezing Eggs, A Perk For Female Employees?
When I read the headline that Apple and Facebook are now offering to freeze female employees’ eggs as a perk of employment, I thought I had entered the Twilight Zone! Is that taking progress a bit too far? Is this move a way for companies to push women to push their choice to have children later and later in life? Convenient for the company. … [Read more...]
Honoring True Grit And Not Just The Gritty
Too often we seem to revel in the gritty and forget to honor our grit, but we shouldn't. When I was young, an uncle came to live with us while getting back on his feet after a stint in the army. He was a returned veteran of the Vietnam war -- young, handsome and little wild. James Dean with a thick mane of sandy blond hair, a cocky grin and … [Read more...]
Words: “An Unquenchable Spirit of Adventure”
A favorite quote by Eleanor Roosevelt about having " An Unquenchable Spirit of Adventure " “There is no experience from which you can’t learn something. When you stop learning you stop living in any vital and meaningful sense. And the purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and … [Read more...]
Mother’s Day – An Appreciation
My mom has long been my hero. Her tireless work ethic, impish sense of humor and Saks’ Fifth Avenue style on a Woolworth budget never cease to inspire. I wrote this poem for “Toni” years ago, but I share it with moms everywhere. Happy Mother's Day! Thank you for all you do… Please pass it on to anyone you feel would enjoy… I remember. The … [Read more...]
This Time, Women Are Here To Stay
Back in 2008, when Hillary Clinton was running for president, I came across an old black and white pictorial on American women from the late 1940's at a used book fundraiser. Since I was feeling more than a little dispirited over the fate of women at the time, I bought the book hoping for inspiration from the "Rosie the riveter" generation of … [Read more...]