Ideas of womanhood

We are living in an age where ideas of womanhood are evolving. Not only do we fulfill domestic roles as daughters, sisters, wives, mothers, aunts, playats. unts, godmothers and dear friends, we also are expanding our roles in the public sphere. We are entering and conquering so many professions and are witnessing women as firsts. Many of us remember the first female astronauts, women judges, ambassadors, Shirley Chisholm running for the Democratic nomination in '68, Geraldine Ferraro who ran as the Democratic VP in '84, and several women members of US presidential cabinets. Simultaneously, we have women who are the United Nations Ambassador and Secretary of State.

Yet the average woman is challenged by glass ceilings, reproductive control policy, employment opportunties, economic ownership and credit. We are challenged because there are men who are in positions of power, who maintain those glass ceilings, believe that women should not have control over their bodies, limit women's access to credit, loans, etc. What I find is that, at times, younger women don't begin practicing empowerment relationships with men early. I am astonished at some of the interactions I observe from some young ladies on campus, who allow some guys to communicate with them in a disdainful way. Where are the town-hall meetings that discuss these issues? Where are the women leaders who call to attention the lowclass behavior that is absolutely intolerable? Where is the national movement to end the derogatory images and lyrics in 21st century music (I am so over it already)?

Each of you bring special talents as women in your own way, capable of starting a movement. You have all the technology tools at your disposal. There are women on campuses who are poised and ready to join an effort, who are sick of music that is only about sex and money, sick of young men only behaving out of bias and selfishness. You are capable of building a network, an engine to totally eliminate messages of gender destruction and hate. Let us start now. Talk to one another, and invite people to this discussion that can start the wheels turning. NSU Women United!

Womanhood in the 21st Century

This is an exciting time to be a woman. All of us young women who are earning a college degree, nurturing the early years of a career, supporting a husband, rearing children, chartering new territory in a successful career that reflects the dynamism of who you are. It is indeed a marvelous, exciting moment in time to be a woman. From the post-baby boom generation to the hip hoppers, we are benefitting from the Civil Rights movement and gains made from the woman's movement of the 1970s. There are women with significant positions on President Obama's cabinet. The first lady is a beautiful intellgent woman whose charisma as a First Lady is unmatched in recent memory.

The Black middle class is growing, and women are contributing to that growth. Educated women are earning more money (although not quite matching the wages and salaries of men), earning more degrees, and are contributing to the fiscal stability of homelife. More women are purchasing homes, owning businesses, running for political offices, leading churches and universities, and are taking advantage of international opportunities.

Yet, yet, yet, it is perplexing to see the assault upon women today. Proposed national and state policies reflecting rape, invasive vaginal procedures, birth control, and our right to choose permeate the national dialogue today. Some of our music doesn't reflect the most positive scenarios of women. Some of the reality television shows depict the most bestial images of buffoonery imaginable, domestic and community abuse ravage women more today than ever before, more girls and women are kidnapped and trafficked as sex slaves, and are living in poverty without husbands.

We have to begin more critical and forthright dialogue about womanhood in America. As women involved in academia, we have a responsibility to crystallize these issues so that we can take action and be involved in problem-solving activity.  A wonderful NSU collegiate, Angela Batts has agreed to serve as a blogger, and I welcome her to this blog. She is a BSW student at NSU with creative juices that are enviable. Welcome Angela to this blog, and welcome all women at Norfolk State University.