“A man’s presence suggests what he is capable of doing to you or for you. By contrast, a woman’s presence . . . defines what can and cannot be done to her.” ~ John Berger, Ways of Seeing, 1972.
1963…
Hey! Little Girl
Comb your hair, fix your makeup
Soon he will open the door
Don’t think because there’s a ring on your finger
You needn’t try anymore
For wives should always be lovers too
Run to his arms the moment he comes home to you
I’m warning you…
Day after day
There are girls at the office
And men will always be men
Don’t send him off with your hair still in curlers
You may not see him again….
2011…
Just sayin’…
________________________
(With thanks to Jade.)
THIS.
And I have a bedraggled copy of Ways of Seeing in my bathroom, though which I thumb whenever I have any length of time to spend in there.
“Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility. For the person who is unwilling to grow up, the person who does not want to carry is own weight, this is a frightening prospect.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt
So ladies…..STEP UP.
“Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility. For the person who is unwilling to grow up, the person who does not want to carry is own weight, this is a frightening prospect.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
So, women…. STEP UP.
Absolutely, Mary. As Berger also says, both men AND women view women as objects. Why else would so many of us subject ourselves to unnecessary invasive procedures? Laws, ‘rules’ may change, but until women get a grip on the history, the whole mind-set that’s at play here and stop colluding with it, any notions of equality remain cosmetic.