Girl Power? Part One

With the rise of female empowerment in the media, you have to wonder whether girl power really exists or if it's a construct to keep us all in line and thinking we're strong and independent. Frankly, anything coming from the media has me up in (nicely waxed) arms...

We have women kunging fu in entertainment, we have women sexing men like men, we have chicks writing riot grrl songs about not taking if from men anymore (notice how man-centric these reactions are). Anger, ambition and capability are making their way over to XX land, but in us it becomes much more complicated.

How can we have it all if we are reared to be supportive, nurturing, and dependent on others' approval? Even if you have success, you're still supposed to be gracious, demure and manners-minding. Anyone who ventures out of that construct is pegged unlikable and alone (hello, Martha? hello, Condi?). Women get dumped for being more successful than their others. We're damned if we do and damned if we don't. All we want is to have opportunities AND the fella that won't be intimidated by an independent, successful, and attractive woman (not "girl". please...)

For instance, I think women shouldn't be enlisted to fight wars. Call me old-school, but there was a reason why we tended the home fires and raised the kids - men are totally inept at that shit. On the other hand, we are extremely talented in tactical maneuvers and interrogations. We are even better at negotiations and avoidance of oaf-like violence - we are diplomats by nature - make us leaders, not soldiers.

We can also kick ass, but my other reason is one word - drama. Inject women into an army and suddenly we are all coupling up, worrying about long-distance relationships, generating our special brand of petty jealousies. We women are getting in touch with our rage, and a punching bag sometimes helps. But psychological stress, crying jags and PMS are not in the training manual, and I dunno if swallowing our emotions and plowing through "like a good soldier" is in our biological makeup.

In the end, we want it all. The bling, the success, the strong yet supportive man (or woman, depending), the kids (or pets), to be loved and respected. It remains to be seen if all of that is attainable and then retainable. Right now, society whiplash double standards say no... but yes.. but maybe, no.