I "heard" about a website on facebook the other day and became curious to see what Gina Davis had been up to since I hadn't seen much of her on the big or little screen lately. And then there are the non-existent phone calls :]
So, I went to http://www.thegeenadavisinstitute.org and was thrilled to see Gina had been putting her time, energy, and money to a worthwhile cause.
Seriously, this is important stuff ~ BIG stuff in the world of gender issues.
“Kids need to see entertainment where females are valued as much as males” is what caught my eye, and not because it was written in extra large font.
How many movies or shows have the female longing for romance? Is that really what we want our children to emulate?
Have you watched a movie lately for kids? Which gender is valued more, females or males?
Under the tab "Do You Count" is a research project that we can all do to generate awareness. You will be asked to count how many female and male characters speak in a show or a movie. Send in those numbers.
To me, this is a great research project: gather my family around me, watch tv, and all in the comfort of my own home. More importantly, I will count!
Did you count? Tell me what you discovered ~ I'm curious to get perspectives of others.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Another thought on friendship
Dorothy Parker once said "Constant use will not wear ragged the fabric of friendship."
I think this presents a wonderful image of a quilt. Typically quilts are made for function but with love, for who would care if you were cold unless they loved you? Most quilts are sentimental, made with remnants of cloth from a wardrobe.
A quilt then offers warmth and love; doesn't friendship as well?
Although a quilt may become worn with use, perhaps even frayed and thread-bare, friendships don't. Quite the contrary. The longer friendship becomes entwined in your life, the warmer you feel. In fact, the more you want to rely upon those friendships; a worn-out quilt may be something to line a dog bed or protect the car from plants and shrubs. Or worse, it may be tossed.
Is there a friendship that has provided warmth and comfort and lasted through the years?
I think this presents a wonderful image of a quilt. Typically quilts are made for function but with love, for who would care if you were cold unless they loved you? Most quilts are sentimental, made with remnants of cloth from a wardrobe.
A quilt then offers warmth and love; doesn't friendship as well?
Although a quilt may become worn with use, perhaps even frayed and thread-bare, friendships don't. Quite the contrary. The longer friendship becomes entwined in your life, the warmer you feel. In fact, the more you want to rely upon those friendships; a worn-out quilt may be something to line a dog bed or protect the car from plants and shrubs. Or worse, it may be tossed.
Is there a friendship that has provided warmth and comfort and lasted through the years?
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
“One's life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation and compassion”
“One's life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation and compassion”
I spent the weekend with friends; people I've know for a relatively short time--about four years. They know so much about me and love me despite my shortcomings, my weaknesses, my everythings. They are also the same people I call when there is cause for celebration. We celebrate the "biggies" like birthdays, weddings, anniversaries; you know, the usual. We also celebrate the "not-so-biggies" like my first blog, learning new skills, personal victories.
It amazes me how women relate to one another. Regardless of the occassion, we celebrate. Life is too short not to. We support one another through tragedies and triumphs. We're the kind of friends who, when one of us doesn't want to drive forthy-five minutes home, she's invited to spend the night because she's too tired (and it's only 9 pm).
My friends have the biggest ears (so they can hear what I'm not saying), the biggest shoulders (so I can cry as long as I need to, and as often) and, most importantly, the biggest hearts (to love me even when I didn't love myself).
I spent the weekend with friends; people I've know for a relatively short time--about four years. They know so much about me and love me despite my shortcomings, my weaknesses, my everythings. They are also the same people I call when there is cause for celebration. We celebrate the "biggies" like birthdays, weddings, anniversaries; you know, the usual. We also celebrate the "not-so-biggies" like my first blog, learning new skills, personal victories.
It amazes me how women relate to one another. Regardless of the occassion, we celebrate. Life is too short not to. We support one another through tragedies and triumphs. We're the kind of friends who, when one of us doesn't want to drive forthy-five minutes home, she's invited to spend the night because she's too tired (and it's only 9 pm).
My friends have the biggest ears (so they can hear what I'm not saying), the biggest shoulders (so I can cry as long as I need to, and as often) and, most importantly, the biggest hearts (to love me even when I didn't love myself).
Friday, April 9, 2010
Change your life today. Don't gamble on the future, act now, without delay.
These words are attributed to Simone de Beauvoir. They inspired me to start this blog. OK, so did a professor of mine--a "kindered spirit"--who said everyone should have a blog.
But why title my blog after Simone de Beavoir?
For one thing, she and I are kindered spirits, too. It just took me a while to make that discovery.
I received an email indicating that I'd be the 2010 recipient of an award named after Miss de Beauvoir; I cried, I laughed, I shouted praises. Then it hit me-- who is this Simone person? Should I really be excited to be "associated" with her?
So I researched her.
She was born in France, in 1908. I was born in the United States, although not in 1908 :]
She lived passionately and for the moment. I try to live that way, every day.
She became financially independent and really began to assert her abilities. I am financially independent; I assert my abilities and try hard not to assert my opinions.
Jean-Paul Sartre would become her best friend and intellectual equal. Their relationship became famous because they promised to remain free to love other people while at the same time, to preserve their unity by practicing perfect honesty and total openness about everything. I am not sure if I have one best friend; none of my friends are French. I do know that my friends and I are perfectly honest with one another and have total openness.
She was dedicated to the feminist movement. Dedicated? Not sure about how dedicated I am; I believe in feminism, that's for sure.
She was also an atheist. Couldn't be farther apart here. I believe in a loving and gentle God.
I also researched things attributed Miss de Beauvoir. She had a way with words. Her quotes inspire me ~ did I mention they caused me to start blogging ???
So it begins. What will inspire me tomorrow?
But why title my blog after Simone de Beavoir?
For one thing, she and I are kindered spirits, too. It just took me a while to make that discovery.
I received an email indicating that I'd be the 2010 recipient of an award named after Miss de Beauvoir; I cried, I laughed, I shouted praises. Then it hit me-- who is this Simone person? Should I really be excited to be "associated" with her?
So I researched her.
She was born in France, in 1908. I was born in the United States, although not in 1908 :]
She lived passionately and for the moment. I try to live that way, every day.
She became financially independent and really began to assert her abilities. I am financially independent; I assert my abilities and try hard not to assert my opinions.
Jean-Paul Sartre would become her best friend and intellectual equal. Their relationship became famous because they promised to remain free to love other people while at the same time, to preserve their unity by practicing perfect honesty and total openness about everything. I am not sure if I have one best friend; none of my friends are French. I do know that my friends and I are perfectly honest with one another and have total openness.
She was dedicated to the feminist movement. Dedicated? Not sure about how dedicated I am; I believe in feminism, that's for sure.
She was also an atheist. Couldn't be farther apart here. I believe in a loving and gentle God.
I also researched things attributed Miss de Beauvoir. She had a way with words. Her quotes inspire me ~ did I mention they caused me to start blogging ???
So it begins. What will inspire me tomorrow?
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