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| A Call to Attention for Women
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[And, the men who may be likewise influenced.]
I find myself watching an episode of Oprah(don't go there:P) where this woman is speaking about single women finding "the one" and her matchmaking skills. I find, despite her semi-wholesome way of making women look in the mirror of truth like a slap to the face, she ALSO seems to be a bit of an old-fashion feminist. She mentions matters like the old openning a pickle jar or picking a restaurant scenarios and says somethings that are very sexist. She says that women are better at making decisions for one. [A statement I find very untrue considering my own experience with many women who can change their minds faster than wind direction just by what I tell them. Very "weak-minded" women indeed.] Though empowering to women, it may only make the battle of sexes worse, not better. And, to think she is discussing this with...enforcing this upon...an audience of women.
And, as the show goes to commercial(which involves more annoying ads than not usually), I see one for a "vitamin water" which is to help women(particularly...notice they never advertise this sort of product for men who might be feeling guilty about bulge?) keep their minds off the candy in the candy store while enforcing their diet. What a load of crap that is! LOOK at the woman! She is so petite and looking incredibly hot though covered in that trenchcoat. Are we really trying to promote "Ally McBealism"(or should I say "Ally McBulemicism")?
Unhealthy advice on at least two fronts.
Not that many of you women(or men) listen to anything or everything you are told, but--considering this is often if not always the intent of televised material--doesn't this scare or irk anyone? Anyone besides myself? 'Cuz I am scared and irked. To think some woman struggling to regroup and start "looking" again after a bad breakup might be sensitive and impressionable with such words flooding into their ears and perhaps minds. Who am I to tell some woman advisor probably with a degree and years of "experience" how to talk to other women about "handling" men? A MAN, for one thing. A man who has been striving to establish a comfortable equality between men and women so there is no more of the stale, suffocating "drama" or tension which separates them and prevents cooperative happiness. I don't want to EVER hear another man or woman talk about the opposite gender as if it is really that different. Yes, there will always be differences between A man and A woman. But, there are also men and women who are closer to the opposite gender than they are to their own. [Chinese astrology points to this almost like a bright yellow and black traffic sign. The concept of Yin and Yang(female and male) energies.] How can we group any traits/attitudes/actions with one gender when the gender is not one in itself? If a man can open a pickle jar, so can a woman(not that every man or woman could open the same pickle jar). Likewise when making decisions. [Even if it is "cute" to see a woman or man struggle with something and help them at times.]
I know we could easily say "it's all been said and done" regarding the (television, or advice of any kind for that matter) matter, but I had to speak out(again) upon seeing this(on a rather miserable summer day when humidity and mosquitos are at a high and power was out for a while). [And now, I don't know what else to say:P] Perhaps we are all better off ignoring anything said by anyone lest it mess with our heads which could just as well find their own way. [But then, how would we ever communicate and/or cooperate? It is just as easy to say "Don't tell me what to do" or "I don't care what you think" and never interact without a cold shoulder in the face of bonding.]
Peace(and hope).
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Posted by brainstormer on 2008-07-07 18:37:49 | Rating: | Views: 178
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| Blog Comments
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The thing with Opera is, she promotes a lot of "self" stuff. Especially for women. notice she's not married? She also promotes being with someone and not having to marry. not saying thats a bad thing, but just shows lack of committment on her part.
I know she does A LOT for people. But i don't believe in half of the things she talks about. As far as matchmaking goes, why does one need to become this "perfect image" just to get caught by some stranger they met up in a grocery store, or gym. who cares! I mean, it'll happen when it happens. that's people's problems, always looking and not focusing on what's really important. LIFE. When that happens, then "the one" will come along. might work, might not. but if your pretending to be this perfect image, then it's a waste of time. so yeah, i'm not a huge believer in what she or many of her guests talk about :p
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Posted by pixierose
on 2008-07-07 19:24:50
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Image is definitely NOT everything. I'll give ya that.
But,(first of all, why did you call her Opera?:P) she is not all that bad. It is hard to be a "superhero" and be committed to someone without running into issues of jealousy and withdrawal when they are away. Perhaps she cannot be all she can be if she is "tied" to someone. And, yes, there are relationships that can work outside the age-old system of committed matrimony. Though I have my doubts about Jolie and Pitt, I give them the benefit of the doubt. I am not sure what to make of someone with a great deal of money and "power" just throwing it around whether or not they do "great things" for others. I realize money makes the world go around these days, but is that what permits her to do these things or is she doing them out of the sheer power of her character/charisma? I'd prefer to believe the latter(though, again, I doubt it when someone is so rich).
As for what people focus upon, LIFE is such a general term. It is so huge and diversified, who can say what we focus upon first or foremost? If someone stood you in front of a series of pillars and said to pick what was most important, how would you know what defined true importance? And, who is to say the asker did not have a different answer and call you wrong?
It wasn't Oprah talking. She was merely one of the audience who just happenned to invite this person to her show. She may have had some control over who sat beside her, but did she have control over all that was said/shared?
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Posted by brainstormer
on 2008-07-07 21:29:30
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While I enjoy the occasional Oprah show, I find that most people who give serious advice on relationships have experienced extreme failure in the relationship department themselves. For example, Dr. Phil, who has lambasted people all over the country with his marriage camps and relationship bootcamps, is now divorcing. You would think that the feminist movement and the eventual acceptance of that movement by the majority of our male counterparts would have put much of this counterproductive babbling to rest. I don't believe there are magic tricks to snag Mr. or Ms. Right. Relationships take work and sacrifice and commitment--nobody's an expert. Thought provoking post Brainstormer.
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Posted by cwzywbt
on 2008-07-08 00:53:31
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Here's my issue with Oprah. She has all this power, all this money, and she gives cars (Not gas savers, but honkin' tonkin' explorers and what-not) to the people in her audience, but does almost nothing to help the American people. She went all the way to Africa to open a school for girls, but cant do much here.
As far as giving relationship advice? Id rather take advice from Tina Turner and Whitney Houston than Oprah.
Finally to touch upon men and women. We're different. Thats nature. Ones not better than the other, we're just different. Some how we have to get along and work with each other. No ones an expert on relationships just like no ones an expert on parenting. Again, thats life.
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Posted by lmkelley88
on 2008-07-08 15:20:13
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Whoa, whoa whoa! Hold on, ladies. I was not out to throw mud at Oprah:P It may be her show, but she is NOT Dr. Phil. This was about the woman who WAS dishing out advice on the show. Not the host.
Now, cwzywbt, you just said you hoped feminism would be accepted by men and this acceptance would wash away the hub bub which you consider counterproductive. So, you are FOR that very old fashion estrogen-empowered feminism I was just saying was out of date?
Nice to meet you, LMK. Nice picture. Love the hair:) But, again, no need to bash Oprah right now. Tina Turner would be a good advisor.
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Posted by brainstormer
on 2008-07-08 18:37:33
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Actually, I kinda like the Oprah shows.
Some of them.
And yeah, now that you've mentioned it, she does promotes herself a lot.
But some of the shows are ok, I guess.
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Posted by Haylo
on 2008-07-08 23:02:56
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I've seen the vitamin water commercial. Your talking about the one with the girl looking into the candy store at the candy but choosing the vitamin water. Yeah Right! I laughed at it. Way before I ever saw a commercial for it I got one and it was NASTY! I don't remember the flavor I choose but I never bought another. So knowing the taste and seeing the girl choose the water.... like I said Yeah Right.
I also love that commercial that refers to gum as a snack. Snack? Since when. Should I give my kids gum inbetween meals? Not.
I know your entire post wasn't about commercials but the rest is debateable. I don't care to debate.
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Posted by anotherdaze
on 2008-07-09 12:20:18
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Operah has done some good... but also alot of harm lol I agree with everyone who said their are no experts. We are not cars, or even rocketships, each one of us is different an complex in so many ways, you can sit and think of how someone should be and they change. As far as "superhero" calling her that is a stretch.
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Posted by DouglasMB
on 2008-07-09 12:34:47
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Brainstormer, old fashioned feminism has to resurface from time to time. I'm just glad my grandmother and her counterparts were proactive enough to push for the passage of the 19th amendment in 1920. :)
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Posted by cwzywbt
on 2008-07-09 21:46:44
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