Sisters are like bras. Supportive, yet slightly irritating. Image of Lee Radziwell and Jacqueline Kennedy.
This month’s Vanity Fair came today, and of course, I had to read the much talked about Taylor Swift article…I was especially intrigued because Taylor Swift used a line that I heard Madeleine Albright say at my 5 year Wellesley College Reunion in 2004: “There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women." She was referring to Amy Pohler and Tina Fey's cheeky comment on her dating life at the 2013 Golden Globes.
Great quote, huh?
Tho I personally think that Swift had her sensi-pants* on that day, it reminded me of WSJ's article on the Queen Bee Syndrome, and then of Marissa Mayer’s drastic move to halt telecommuting (clearly a huge career disadvantage for working women), and ultimately of Sheryl Sandberg's plea for us to all Lean In.
Women have an arguably more complicated existence. Women are both biologically and socially burdened/privileged (circle one), with the chore/honor (circle one) of carrying and nurturing the children in this world. Even women who don’t have children are subjected to their own biological and social pressures to have children. All of this while trying to make a buck in a business construct created by and for men?
Sheesh.
I have no clever takeaway, other than this: I pledge to support the decisions that all women make. Even Marissa Mayer’s. Because going back to Madeleine Albright’s quote – I want to be the kind of woman who supports other women. And if I have to go to hell, I’d rather it be because I pulled a funny prank involving a scary clown mask and a crowded room...
xo, Box Intimates
*Shockingly, the word “sensi-pants” has yet to be defined on Urbandictionary.com. I have been using the word for at least one eon. Possibly two. It means "Pants that when worn, make you feel a little bit fragile, or sensi-tive…” What, you mean that's not part of your normal lexicon?