I mean the whole range of it, from the Spice Girls to Ally McBeal to the new Charlie's Angels?

There is empowerment, independence, and very early sexuality all mixed together in much of it.  What is good about it, what is bad?

Guys, how about giving the ladies first crack at this one before you all jump in?

and this hobby is a purrfect microcosm of that purring fact

the day women start paying ME to have sex with them, i may rethink my stance

anyone out there wanna make me rethink my stance?  some one "interesting"  perhaps?  

and let the ladies have their say first.

Don't let your enthusiasm impair your credibility!

but be honest, you're just jealous that she likes me better!



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are we in HS or what?  LOL

all the examples of Girl Power that I hate. Spice Girls, bubblegum pop that was obnoxious and repatitious. Ally McBeal failed to show an independant woman when all the world could see was her body wasting away to nothing. Anorexia, yeah theres a great example. And what can I say about Charlies Angels, except I think Lucy Lui is the only hot one.

J.K. Rowling is a great example of Girl Power. Sheryl Crow is another. Jamie Lee Curtis did a great article for "W" magazine. She showed herself as she is...44 years old, 140 lbs and getting wrinkles and a bit flabby and lovin who she is. And she continues to work in Hollywood despite the defiance of the powers that be. This is Girl Power at it's best. Women in their later years, going strong , doing what they love and not pressing our daughters into believing that sexuality is the only thing that will get you anywhere.

I was extremely distressed in Vegas when I picked my daughter up from the Christina Aguilara concert. The young girls, some as young as 12, were dressed more like hookers than any woman I have met in this business. While I realize that sex sells, lets not confuse it with Girl Power and independance. These are two totally different things.


*stepping off my soap box"
xox
Lass



-- Modified on 8/28/2003 10:25:33 AM

The examples of "girl power" mentioned are just that - GIRLS.  They aren't very representative of women in society, as your post points out. They are more of a manifestation of the typical teenage rebelliousness or declaration of independance, or what have you.  Hopefully, the girls that are fans of the Aguillera-like phenomenon will grow out of this stage and become real, normal(sic), luscious, sexy, responsible, beautiful, complex, desireable, did I say "luscious"?, WOMEN.

My 12 year old niece was walking around the house singing "In a Boys Dream".  I heard her at "hike up your skirt a little more, and show your world to me."  I doubt she fully understood the song.  It was just catchy.  When I mentioned it to her dad, he wrote it off.  He thinks going to church every week will keep her strait.  I know they do not teach sex education in her school, and I also know that her parents have not discussed it with her.  It is no wonder that kids are starting to have sex so early.  They are innodated with sex everywhere they go.  No one in my area of the world talks about sex except for short 30 second sound bits on TV that preach abstinence.  By the time a child is 12, it is no big deal.  Popular music tells you how to do it.  Kids will always be curious and they will always do what you tell them not to do.  If you do not tell them anything at all, they will find out on their own.  Anyway.  I don't think I have see girl power yet.  Especially when girls are still taught that sex is bad and they are bad if they have it.  We scare young girls, we do not help them understand sex.  Then we wonder why they grow up with sexual dysfunctions.

Interesting enought, my aunt lives in West Virginia, has two daughters, and a modest income as a bank secretary.  She value education, has no TV set.    My aunt talks frankly to everyone about everything, including her kids.  She had them helping her do her taxes as some as they could add, and keep their mouths shut.  She has explained sex, love, and most everything else an adult needs to know.  Her daughters listen to country music, play instruments, have excellent grades, and are very well adjusted.

More so then most of their Urban brethren (sistren?) in my neighborhood.  They are always hanging out on the street corners yelling and screaming with their friends.  Flirting with the local boys (who have been caught stealing Net Flicks videos out of our mailboxes), and generally being idle teenagers.  When they are waiting at the bus stop, I never see them with instruments, or even a load of books for that matter.  The parents are too busy working off their 370K mortgages and trying to put gas for their Lincoln Navigator to care what there kids are up too.  Ah the world to day.  I think Girl-Power is a marketing tool invented to sell records to older men.  Me-Power is still the word of the day.

Enviroment is everything.  And not just the pretty window dressings we put up for the neighbors.

Now that I am talking like my grandfather, who is 45 years my senior, I will step down and shut up.


-- Modified on 8/28/2003 1:12:03 PM

Girl Power,                                      Brains ..Beauty..& Bronze.
Is Beautiful!!

Shake It ..But Dont Break it.

for the record folks, alls i said was:  "blondes are ... well,  blondes!"

surely that kind of tautology can't get anyone in trouble, can it?   ... except little old moi perhaps!

LOL

seriously, i could NEVER understand how anyone with even 10/20 (or is it 20/10, i forget which way) anyway anyone with that bad an eyesight could think that Lisa Kudrow was attractive (need i quote Mencken again here?)

Nicole, i don't wanna argue with you sweetie (afterall you're way smarter than me) ... so just dye your hair black and marry me already !!



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btw, are you sure you don't have any brunette/redheads in your ancestry?  cuz that's all that matters really ... give a gal a mere test tube's worth of brunnette/redhead genes and .. VOILA! ... she's as smart as a whip!

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btw, this is all jokes, right girls? BLONDE girls? ... heheheh! [nervous laughter] ... just kidding around, is all! ... you know all for phun like ... it's me, singleton, the buffoon, always kidding right? ... 99% of what i say, you know? it's freaking ME!

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ahh shoot! ... who am i kidding? ... there's no back-pedalling out of this!  i'll be blacklisted by all blonde providers on TER for life!  LOL

Spice Girls, Ally McBeal, and Charlie's Angels are horrific examples of girl power. I honestly cannot believe that you would think any truly independent woman in 2003 would think those are fine examples, but I give you lots of credit for trying to understand something unrelated to sex In my opinion, female power has very little to do with sexuality and everything to do with being vibrant, unafraid, expressive, and smart. Furthermore, I'm not a girl. I'm a woman, and I'm tired of grown women referring to themselves as girls. One can possess girlish qualities without being a girl.  Some women I feel are interesting and admirable are, in no random order, Arianna Huffington, Ann Coulter, the Indigo Girls (I know...I know...so cliche), the Williams sisters, Cynthia Voight, Judy Blume, Gloria Steinem, Margaret Mead, Laila Ali, the fab five from Queer Eye, Rachel Carson, and of course, myself

wait ... that doesn't even make sense!  :-/

---

Ann?

don't make me get black over there, Singleton and spank that booty of yours


Mel kisses

Bubba; You're on your own!

it is so damn irritating how teenagers control the marketplace when it comes to POP music, R&B and rap.  It has been a long time since there has been a talented artist - just a bunch of crap nowadays (like Cheryl Crow - ``I wanna soak up the sun '' . Those derivative lyrics makes me `` wanna throw up'').  So, glad I've got Pink Floyd, Alexander Oneill, Barry White (RIP), Iron Maiden (great dark lyrics) and other wonderful ''Old School'' artists to listen to.

BTW, at least Christina Aguillera has some talent - Better than the void Brittany Spears (Also, I agree that Lucy Liu is the only hot one - the other two do nothing for me (to be crass I would pay maybe two)).

I'm so sick of this crap.  I don't have kids yet, but when I do I will do my damndest to ensure they have better taste and can think for themselves.

of my soul even though I like blondes, brunettes and redheads.

I guess different people have their own paths.  Too bad the brunettes and redheads I care about often let me down.

-- Modified on 8/29/2003 12:07:25 AM

Nothing wrong with any hair color at all so long as what's between the ears is grey matter that actually does something.  And Nicole is the quintessential example of an individual that possesses a true intellect.  Someone always wanting to learn and experience more.

This makes for a very interesting and fun evening, as I have found out with Nicole.  Thanks for a fulfilling evening, in more ways than just one.  Your prowess, synaptic or otherwise, is wonderful.

BTW, insofar as the math goes, if you can count your change and balance your check book, you're probably ahead of 95% of us anyhow!

Wow, I'm sooooo shocked that you don't adore Drew also...she is just so darned juicy! Always a smidge curvier and softer than the other ladies around her, including Lucy.

I actually really really love the Charlie's Angels movies... I haven't really considered them as role models for young women but I'm not sure what's wrong with them in that role... they are strong, powerful, confident, brilliant, beautiful... those are all good things.

Christina Aguilera however, I'm right with you on... but lord she has SUCH a voice. Hopefully one day she'll grow up and not be a "little girl," but become a woman... she would be so incredible if she did!

Now as for their dressing like hookers, well, I think there is good and bad there. I mean these days the little girls department has more slutgear than most lingerie shops... LOL It kills me!  Now would I let my child dress like that? Probably not. But what does it say that they CAN and that it's more acceptable in society? What are the repercussions? What does it mean when a woman can be raised knowing she is a sex object, recognizing that power that she has, and not afraid to use it to get what she wants?

I don't know the answers... but I do like to ponder the questions! Whether or not I agree with what anyone wears, I will say this... I'll fight for the right for a lady to have the CHOICE to dress however she likes.... THAT is what feminism is about, the freedom of choice.

Hugs*
Tamara

I still disagree on Charlie's Angels... strong, confident, brilliant, and beautiful in their own unique ways... I think those are all good things. 'Cept they are all too damn skinny!

BUT... regardless... I actually think that female power has LOTS to do with our sexuality. But my perspective on this is different, I do not feel that there is me, and then there is my sexuality. There is just ME, and my sexuality is all bound up in me and runs through every part of me, whether outwardly visible or not. Without my sexuality I would not be me... I'd be some other, lesser entity. That is how I feel. I feel our sexuality is an incredibly powerful force... even the denial of that sexuality is powerful!  

You don't have to deny the power of sexuality to be a feminist... actually I feel quite the contrary!

Hugs*
Tamara