I still remembered the recent talk show section in BFM which focused on why women aren't climbing the corporate ladder more successfully. The world has never been treating women nowhere near fair since the beginning of time. Just pluck any cross section from historic times. We have made strides over the past 100 years or so but oh, we still are so far from being "fair".
In the corporate world, much has been said about women being represented in the board rooms and top management. The US being a much touted place for equality, and even Australia, are still poorly represented in those areas.
Do we dare to say women are not as capable? I don't think so. Look at the academic results for the past 20 years, given a fair go, women generally outperform men. Maybe success and a career in the corporate world requires more than just academic excellence, for sure actually. Leadership skills, charisma, interpersonal skills, soft skills, high EQ, ambition, resilience of character, risk taking ability ... while most of those may "favour men" in their "natural makeup", it is not absolute.
The burden for women when it comes to child bearing, family, birth control, victims of sexual discrimination and abuse, etc... is for all to see. For a woman to make it to the same position as a man demands even more "productivity", perseverance and intelligence from them. Luckily for many women, that is not too difficult because men are generally assholes, yes, especially in the corporate world of chumminess, scratch my back - I scratch yours, old school ties, collusive behaviour, etc..
Sadly, the same can be said for women in relationships. Many are still locked in a time warp. Taking charge, knowing your worth as a person, self actualisation, being responsible for your own happiness ... are important objectives for a well functioning person of any gender. To rely on men to "open up" the boundaries for women is too passive. Too many women still play the role of "victims", docile in too many ways that represses the character. Too reliant on the other party for one's happiness and well being.
Equality for the sake of equality is hollow an ideal. Equality because we know its the right thing to do, because we are different yet the same, respecting the soul and integrity of a person ... then that means the world.
There are wonderful songs about empowering women (no, not I've Never Been To Me ... which is very much the exact opposite to what I have been writing):
Lesley Gore's "You Don't Own Me" back in 1964 says so much ...
Burt Bacharach's wonderful song sung resolutely by Dionne Warwick in 1963. "Don't Make Me Over".
What a song title by Meredith Brooks, all about the angst of being a female, in the roles of a girlfriend, mother, wife, daughter, lover.
Tori Amos' Silent All These Years, a thinking woman's empowering song, note the gut wrenching lyrics.Excuse me but can I be you for a whileMy dog won't bite if you sit real stillI got the anti-Christ in the kitchen yellin' at me againYeah I can hear thatBeen saved again by the garbage truckI got something to say you knowBut nothing comesYes I know what you think of meYou never shut-upYeah I can hear that
But what if I'm a mermaidIn these jeans of hisWith her name still on itHey but I don't careCause sometimesI said sometimesI hear my voiceAnd it's been hereSilent All These Years
So you found a girlWho thinks really deep thougtsWhat's so amazing about really deep thoughtsBoy you best pray that I bleed real soonHow's that thought for youMy scream got lost in a paper cupYou think there's a heavenWhere some screams have goneI got 25 bucks and a crackerDo you think it's enoughTo get us there
Cause what if I'm a mermaidIn these jeans of hisWith her name still on itHey but I don't careCause sometimesI said sometimesI hear my voiceAnd it's been hereSilent All These...
Years go byWill I still be waitingFor somebody else to understandYears go byIf I'm stripped of my beautyAnd the orange cloudsRaining in headYears go byWill I choke on my tearsTill finally there is nothing leftOne more casualtyYou know we're too easy Easy Easy
Well I love the way we communicateYour eyes focus on my funny lip shapeLet's hear what you think of me nowBut baby don't look upThe sky is fallingYour mother shows up in a nasty dressIt's your turn now to stand where I standEverybody lookin' at you hereTake hold of my handYeah I can hear them
But what if I'm a mermaidIn these jeans of hisWith her name still on itHey but I don't careCause sometimesI said sometimesI hear my voice [x3]
For pure fun, Shania's "Man! I Feel Like A Woman!". Nuff said.
Title: Music Empowering Women
Posted by:Iwanr
Published :2012-03-22T07:51:00-07:00
Rating: 3.5
Reviewer: 5 Reviews
Music Empowering Women
Artikel keren lainnya:
Belum ada tanggapan untuk "Music Empowering Women"
Post a Comment