inspiring women Archives - So About What I Said

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

On Nancy Pelosi and That Revolutionary Rip

I’m probably going to end up saying (well, more like blogging) this over and over in 2020, but you know what?? I’m not sorry…

Unsurprisingly, this month’s State of the Union speech was a disastrous trainwreck full of fake news and resembling some sort of scary Handmaid’s Tale alternate universe. I was pretty much yelling at my TV the entire time and I don’t even want to know just how high my blood pressure got. It. Was. Bad. And. Dangerous.

Just when I was about to turn off the TV in utter disgust, a grand finale moment of sorts occurred. It was the crowning moment — and my favorite moment — in two hours that felt like an eternity. By now, you probably know exactly which moment I’m talking about. Nancy Pelosi ripping up that nonsense of a speech is the brilliantly defiant mood I’m here for! It was a true act of patriotic defiance that we’ve all been craving and desperately needing.

In fact, it was my absolute favorite part of the entire night; actually, it’s really the only thing I remember from that whole speech and I suspect it’s the only thing most people remember about that night too. And, well, apparently, that made some people very, very upset because social media was flooded the next day with people decrying “classless!” and “disrespectful” when talking about Pelosi’s actions.

Yes, people were really out there angry about her ripping up a PIECE OF PAPER while the “president” mocks the disabled, demeans women, puts children in cages, takes away health care and rips apart the fabric of this country EVERY DAY. Yes, the hypocrisy is rich here.

The ongoing sexist double standard became even more glaring the day after the speech, when Senators voted to acquit the “president.” Here’s what we learned: Men are found not guilty while women are always on trial. Women are consistently held to a higher standard than men and don’t have the luxury of being defiant or outspoken in the same way men are. If we are, we’re labeled nasty and classless. We can’t win.

That paradigm runs so deep, doesn’t it? Women are taught to be nice and polite at all costs, no matter how harmful it is to them. We tell women to smile more, stop being so emotional and get over it. It’s all exhausting. Needless to say, that one week provided such an interesting juxtaposition when you compare Trump’s acquittal and the anger over Nancy Pelosi. It put so many things in sharp focus.

You know, seeing her rip up that speech almost made me wish I still had the emails that a certain mansplaining jerk once sent me — it would just feel so satisfying to just rip it up with the same level of defiance demonstrated by Nancy Pelosi.

I’ve also been thinking about that quote from historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich: “Well-behaved women seldom make history.” It’s so true!! It’s the rule-breakers and those who dare to buck convention and challenge the status quo who ultimately make history. Here’s to all the strong, badass, status-quo shaking, glass-ceiling shattering, rule-changing women who refuse to be quiet

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Why Peppermint Patty Is the Best Peanuts Character

Do you have a favorite Peanuts character, friends? That’s an age-old question, I know, and there are so many possible choices for a favorite. There’s Charlie Brown, with his lovable innocence. There’s Lucy, with her bossy attitude, which I can admit to identifying with. But when all is said and done, there’s one character that towers above the rest. She’s the one, the only one — Peppermint Patty.

First of all, yes, I’m aware that this seems like an incredibly random post on a completely random Tuesday in February. But I’ve been saving this idea since November — over Thanksgiving weekend, to be exact. You see, I was SO sad to see everyone dragging Peppermint Patty on Twitter. It was the night that A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving was on TV. Maybe you’ve seen it; in fact, you’ve probably seen it! It’s the classic where Peppermint Patty invites herself to Charlie Brown’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. I mean, OK, so maybe it wasn’t exactly nice to invite yourself, but people on Twitter were coming for her like there was no tomorrow!

And that’s when I realized just how much I love that shirt-and-sandals lady! She’s fierce and strong and outspoken and powerful. Plus, she’s not afraid to be herself, even when her friend Marcie is constantly calling her “sir.” Like, that doesn’t even seem to faze her in the slightest and, well, I AM HERE FOR THAT. I’m here for her bucking conventions and saying “this is who I am.”

Isn’t that a beautiful thing?

Plus, she had such a huge crush on Charlie Brown and he was oblivious!! He totally friend-zoned her!!! Honestly, I’ve never identified more with a cartoon character in my entire life and I can’t emphasize that enough, people!!!! Friend. Zoned.

Seeing Peppermint Patty trending also reminded me of that time those internet trolls compared me to her, so I’d just like to end this post with one more important question: Who wears green better?? And, we both have that Big Hair Energy that is just wild and phenomenal — in cartoons and in real life, of course!!

I’d love to hear all about your favorite Peanuts character and why you love them! Their adventures never get old, do they? I particularly love the one where they all go to Europe as exchange students and have all sorts of wild adventures!! xoxo

Thursday, February 6, 2020

In Which I Become Obsessed With the Dolly Parton Challenge

Very important question on this Thursday afternoon, friends: Did you do the Dolly Parton Challenge?? I’m pretty sure you did, considering everyone from your neighbor to celebrities were glued to their phones selecting just the right photos of themselves…

I’m totally guilty of being utterly obsessed with this fun internet sensation!! You all already know that I do tend to become obsessed with things pretty easily — lip balm, dinosaurs, Matthew Gray Gubler. You get the idea! So when I heard about this new-fangled challenge all the cool kids online were doing, well, I just couldn’t resist joining in all the merriment and fun and shenanigans. Of course, leave it to the Lady of Cool herself, Ms. Dolly Parton, to be the one to start the trend. Last month, she posted the memorable meme, which contained four “versions” of Dolly — LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Tinder — complete with the caption “Get you a woman who can do it all.”

It was such a clever nod to the different versions of ourselves that we present to the world. We humans are a complex creature and there are so many sides to our personality, you know? All it takes is a few swipes through your camera roll to see just how versatile and unique you really are — there’s your professional side, your family side, your fun side. All those sides add up to make you, well, YOU. I love that we have places online where we’re able to show off those many sides and be who we are.

It took me awhile to decide on the right photo for each “version” of myself, but I’m pretty in love with how mine turned out. What can I say?? I’m a very versatile lady!!! Which version of me do you like best?? Keep in mind that I’m drinking Mountain Dew in the Tinder photo, so you know I’m WILD.

Plus, here’s something extra to make you smile: I did the Dolly Parton Challenge for my mom!! Personally, her carefree Instagram look is my favorite!! And, yes, as you can see, I’m having way too much fun with these!!! Somebody stop me!!

Your turn: Did you do the Dolly Parton Challenge? What is your favorite aspect of your personality? Are you more Instagram? More Tinder? Or somewhere in the middle?? I’d love to see your photos, so drop them in the comments! xoxo

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Super Bowl Halftime Show: Can We Please Stop With The Super Double Standard?

We need to have a serious talk! And by serious, I mean super serious! Maybe I was naive to think that my blog post last year would be enough, but apparently, it’s not. Not nearly enough. How do I know this, you ask?? Well, it’s pretty obvious: We’re still applying such blatant double standards when it comes to the Super Bowl Halftime Show!!

The social media vitriol started shortly after Jennifer Lopez and Shakira took the stage at halftime for a rousing performance full of power and purpose. They commanded and owned that stadium — two strong women who were confident, electric and fierce. That’s exactly what their performance was, but judging from so many of the comments, not everyone saw it that way. I saw so many people complaining about how the Super Bowl Halftime Show was “not appropriate” and “needed more clothes.” Maybe there’s a rampant case of amnesia going around? Because people seemed fine with Adam Levine strutting on that stage with his shirt off last year. I mean, y’all were practically salivating at his toned abs! Y’all couldn’t get enough! I see you, soccer mom Karen from Nebraska — not a real person, though I’m sure there are plenty of Karens from Nebraska!

But I digress. I suppose my point is this: Why are we still having this conversation in 2020…? Why do we think we have any kind of say over women, their bodies and how they choose to live (and dance! and sing! and be all-around fabulous!) in those bodies? There was SO much pearl clutching and the hypocrisy was off the charts! Did y’all get carpal tunnel from all that pearl clutching? Here’s what you missed while you were too busy clutching those pearls and being uncomfortable — things like a beautiful statement about inclusion, complete with the Puerto Rico’s flag, and a not-so-subtle message about the border crisis, which, Karen from Nebraska, I bet you don’t even give much thought to, do you??

This is what the performance was actually about. It wasn’t about trying to be as overtly sexual as possible. It wasn’t about the shock value. Y’all made it about those things with your internalized misogyny. In fact, J.Lo herself shared these words about the show…

All I want my girls, the little girls on stage with me and all over the world to know is how to use their voices and be proud of everything they are. We are proud to recognize that all of us together are what makes this beautiful country truly great.

That’s why I was really disappointed to see so many women saying this after the Halftime Show yesterday. Why do women continue to be so unnecessarily cruel to each other? And why do we keep sending them these disgusting mixed messages?

We want women to love their bodies…just as long as they’re covered.

We want women to be anything they want to be…just as long as it’s acceptable.

We want women to be powerful and fierce…just as long as it doesn’t make us uncomfortable.

In another Instagram post, J.Lo gave this shout-out to Shakira: “Let’s show the world what two little Latin girls can do.”

J.Lo and Shakira brought the 2020 energy. THAT is what two little Latin girls did and I’m here for it. You should be too!

Did you watch the Super Bowl Halftime Show this year, friends?? What were your thoughts?? xoxo

Monday, January 27, 2020

Yes! Lizzo Is Making Us All Feel “Good As Hell”

Apparently, not everyone thinks Lizzo should feel good as hell — hi, Twitter trolls…we see you! It doesn’t matter, though, because she’s too busy feeling good as hell on the cover of Rolling Stone to even notice!

Oooooh, and don’t forget about those shiny Grammy trophies she won last night!

Following the singer tweeting that she was leaving the social media platform for awhile because of trolls, she isn’t holding anything back in her interview with the venerable music magazine. I’ve been thinking about the powerful meaning behind that Rolling Stone cover. It’s sending a message and one that the world needs to hear.

The message? That she’s #sorrynotsorry. That she’s going to exist and thrive whether you (read: trolls) like it or not. It’s as if she’s telling off the entire world and I’m here for all of it.

We live in a world that loves to comment on people’s weight, especially when it comes to women’s bodies. And not just comment — judge, criticize, rip apart, dissect, shame and insult. And yet, we don’t criticize men’s bodies in the same way — or even at all. In fact, we openly praise the Dad Bod trend. We love Dad Bods — we’ve even said how “hot” they are on celebrities.

The double standards and hypocrisy is never-ending, it seems. I’ve been called all the names, so I feel for Lizzo. The world isn’t kind to people who live outside the lines, who don’t fit society’s definition of pretty and who dare to be unapologetically themselves. And when those people are women? Society is extra vicious, especially online.

The body-shaming that women experience just for existing is harmful and doesn’t belong in 2020. Can this please be the year that we stop with the fatphobia? Better yet, let’s stop commenting on women’s bodies altogether. Let’s stop policing their very existence.

Because here’s the thing: People like Lizzo and myself…we don’t need your approval to feel good as hell about ourselves. We didn’t ask for your approval and we don’t want it. We love our bodies and we’re proud of our bodies. And we’re going to keep loving them whether you like it or not.

Women have the right to feel good as hell about themselves. Women have the right to celebrate their bodies. And women have the right to love themselves — just as they are. Lizzo is telling us that on the cover of Rolling Stone. Are we finally going to listen? Living well really is the best revenge and I’m here for all of Lizzo’s revenge!!!