03/19/2008 14:41:11

That's awesome!

03/19/2008 08:34:18

It's sad how society labels beauty. I saw a picture of a 70 year old woman activist and I showed it to my 16 year old son and said: "Look David, isn't she beautiful?" He looked at me with confusion and said: "tell me your definition of beauty" And so I did...Beauty is a thing, a place, a feeling, a sound that brings harmony, peace, sometimes invites to feel what others feels. I don't know I asked my son to forget about the wrinkles on the woman's face, I said "look at her eyes, how poweful they are, look at her smile", and suddlenly he was seeing what I saw...

02/20/2008 09:32:07

I've had many occasions to think about this topic because I am both a professional artist and professional geologist (no THERE's a male-dominated career!). Basically, it often is a struggle for me to establish equality with my male counterparts and that requires extra patience and often, the ability to out perform them. I've given up thinking about the unfairness of this situation and just keep plodding along. My life motto is "perserverence generates succes." Now that I've moved past 55 years of age, I'm finding more freedom in my ability to express my opinions and engage in nonconformist activities, and I embrace this without being truly offensive about it. Let's face it gals - we're 51% of the population, we have much greater earning power now, and we're moving up in the corporate ranks because fewer males are getting college degrees. Advancement may be slow, but it is happening. So, you want to know about the negative influences that keep us static and how to overcome them? I'd rather think about the positive actions we can take to move forward: step up, speak out, be excellent, and shun fear. Not in a militaristic way, but rather in a way that preserves our capacity for kindness and understanding while showing that we have a backbone and a will for positive change! - Kathy

02/19/2008 19:55:12

This might sound dumb, but I had not put two and two together. Maybe it is all a matter of maturity to find internal peace. But, I see a lot of friends, my age and older, still going for the next fad diet or miracle "fat burner" and the strange thing is that some of them are not even overweight! 

02/19/2008 16:29:23

As one who has always struggled with her weight - in spite of being athletic and exercising a lot - the mental struggle gets easier as you get older simply because health issues take priority over what people think.  It has been somewhat liberating not to care so much.  When you are younger it seems like this is paramount: letting a man or society define you.    My healthful diet, walking, cycling, weight lifting, are a result of my desire to be healthy. Yes, I am still overweight and still struggle in this area.  I think the 'self-talk' you are doing in your life is a positive key. I don't think people are really looking at us like that (pretty enough, etc.), but it is often we who play negative  messages in our own minds.  I bet many, many women struggle in this area.   Letting the messages go is a struggle. Again, self-talk is the key and, for me, finding my worth in my faith.  

 Lucinda

 

02/19/2008 07:43:15

I do not know of your struggles, but in my field blacksmithing it is a heavily male group.  What I did want to get at, is that the woman in our field are amazing.  My friend and teacher Maegan Crowley has been very giving with her knowledge.  I look forward to her and other women teachers in this area as they are growing constantly.  I just wanted to write from a males point of view and say that I look at the art for the arts sake and that I am sorry that you have had bad experiences.

Steve