Happy International Women's Day 2014

"Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world"

Hillary Clinton

I took this on my trip to China for a medical/humanitarian mission.

If we take the time to invest in the girls around the world, we can truly make the world a better place. Join me in supporting Girl Rising.

How are you helping the world?

Moral...Schmoral....???? Really?

Here's a good one....

Do you think that businesses and companies have an obligation to help mold society?

Recently, Victoria Secrets launched a new collection called Bright Young Things under their popular line "Pink". The so called "must-haves" included lace trimmed thongs with the phrases such as "Call me", "Feeling Lucky" and "Dare You". What's the problem? The target audience.

Image Courtesy Tallia

I have no problem going to VS and purchasing something nice for myself, but for my daughter? No way! She's fourteen years old. There is no need for her to be wearing anything remotely sexual in nature.....and thongs? Uh ---- NO!

We are trying to raise smart, independent, well-adjusted young people, but our job is not easy. With the media and big name companies targeting our girls, bombarding them with the notion that it's cool and awesome to have "Wild" stitched across your underwear....it sometimes feels like a losing battle. Of course, I can tell you right now, there is no way that I would allow any of this in my house. But, I guess what I'm trying to say is that why is this even an issue to be discussed?

Why on Earth, would anyone think that advertising sex to young girls is a good thing? Money .....really?!!!!!!

Come one! Let them stay young, innocent and pure for as long as they can.

Don't roll your eyes....I know, your thinking.....ugh, she's one of "those" moms......but listen....you tell me. Am I wrong in thinking that there is something morally wrong with this campaign approach? I don't think so and from what I've been seeing out there, there are a lot of angry parents. Take a look at this petition.

Victoria Secrets has recently stated that they were not targeting the young girls. However, their CFO Stuart Burgdoerfer had stated that teens are their target market for the Pink line. "When somebody's 15 or 16 years old, what do they want to be? They want to be older, and they want to be cool like the girl in college, and that's part of the magic of what we do at Pink," said Burgdoerfer.

BAM!.....Sorry mom and dad, we are going after you daughters because that have money to spend and we don't care if we make sex objects out of them.

So, here we go, dodging another media campaign bullet aimed at sexualizing our girls.

(Blech.....I feel like lately, that's all I'm talking about.....girls and trying to raise them right. Did you see my post  A-hem A-hem Your Skirt is Too Short? )

I swear, it's so disheartening to see middle school and high school girls prance around with super short skirts with super high heels .....and now, super provocative sayings stitched to their bums.

Perfect.

Companies want to make money...they need to make money, that's totally fine. The teen/tween market is huge, you'd be an idiot not to target them....I get it.... but please, have some moral responsibility.

Whatever happened to "It takes a village to raise a child?"

Help us raise strong beautiful women.

What are your thoughts?

Woven Words

For those that know me, you probably realize by now that I love to write, be it poetry.....blog posts....and even children's books ~ (I self-published one....my friends & family all liked it....although I hope it wasn't out of pity....)

I have decided to take this passion for poetry and writing to add another feature post to my blog. Here on Woven Words, I will post my attempts at poetry. I have decided to keep the style of poetry open so that I can try my hand at various things....branch out and explore....see where it leads me.

Today's poem falls under the style of Found Poetry. I was inspired to write this in order to do my little part in helping out a cause that I believe in.

Please click on the poem to view in larger screen.

Malala by Jules

Inspiration:

I mentioned Malala a few weeks back right before I went to see the screening for Girl Rising.

Her story, as well as stories of other girls that were depicted in Girl Rising, has made me that much more aware of the pressing issues surrounding the need to educate and help women and girls around the world. Right at this moment the United Nations is working with Johnson & Johnson, The Huffington Post, Baby Center and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to inspire people to help improve the lives of  mothers and their children.

I decided to write this poem using the words of Alyse Nelson in her article that she wrote as part of the Global Mom Relay. If you get a chance, please click on her name and read her post and help by sharing her article.

We can all be an agent for change by doing one simple act.....all you have to do is share a Relay Post on Facebook, Twitter or Email. Or, if you want, donate $5 or more.

For every share or donation, up to $8000 per day or $500,000 total will be donated by Johnson & Johnson and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to one of the various programs that are currently established to help women and children around the world. These include initiatives such as Girl Up, Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action (MAMA), Shot@Life campaign and the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves.

Learn more here:  UN Foundation site for Global Mom Relay

I hope you enjoyed my poem!

A-Hem.....A-Hem...Your Skirt is Too Short!

Don't look now, but have you taken a good look at the length or lack of length in the clothing that young girls are wearing these days?

Courtesy of Samantha Villagran

I love fashion and I think it's a great way to express yourself, but when you are thirteen or fourteen years old, there has got to be some limitations. Don't you think?

Last year, I attended an event where the father of the birthday girl commented on the inappropriate attire that their guest were wearing. A sea of crazy heels, strapless tops, short dress...and a constant battle between adjusting and readjusting filled the room. He mimicked the girls.... as they desperately pulled their dresses up to keep it from falling only to shimmy it down to cover their tushies... Ridiculous was the only word he could mutter.

For those of you who have children in middle school and high school, I'm sure that you have heard parents whispering in corners.....look at that dress....it's soooo short....she can't even walk in those shoes.....oh my God, would you let your daughter wear that....

Would you?

How do you tell your daughter "No", when all her friends are wearing short party dresses and 5 inch heels that they can barely walk in? (UGH....one of my biggest pet peeves is seeing a woman wobble her way across the room....it's so unattractive....)

I really honestly don't know what the answer is, but I think that we need to sit these girls down and have a serious talk.

So girls, listen up!

You're young and beautiful. Be confident in who you are. Don't parade yourself around in short skirts and high heels, thinking your all that.....cause honestly, it's back firing.....you're giving off the wrong signals. Be classy......leave something to be desired. Don't give it all away at first glance, because they won't be coming back for more.......or if they do, it's not for who you are as a person.

Too harsh? Maybe....but it drives me nuts to see these young girls primping themselves up as if they are these sexual creatures ready for the picking....and I don't care if they're wearing this designer dress or that designer dress....women and girls are different....what might be appropriate for us is just not appropriate for them.

I'm not a "hater"...I know where I am in my life and I embrace it wholeheartedly, flabby tummy, wrinkles and all (and to my girlfriends out there, if you ever catch me wearing an outfit that is TOO young for me - tell me!).

I'm just sad.....

...sad to see the beauty and innocence of young women fall victim to society's depiction of what is considered "attractive".

How do you feel about this? Do you think that society and the media have skewed the perception of beauty for young women? Have they under-minded our daughters and and shaken their self confidence? What's the solution?

Before I started writing this post, I had discuss this topic with a good friend of mine and she sent me this message that was posted by a friend of hers:

I see more and more girls & ladies who have one thing missing that they should never lose... what is it? Class. Agree? Be classy girls, keep your standards up there. Be hard to get. Accept nothing but the best for you. You are worth it. And ladies... just picture a classy gal in your head, look up the word and strive for that. It's a good thing.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way.

I believe that we as women and mothers, should unite and firmly stand our ground. Let's not let our daughters measure their self worth by their hemline.

And girls, know this.....you deserve only the best....don't lower yourself and your standards, instead, raise them and rise above them.

Be strong.......Be classy......Be girls.

It is a good thing.

Courtesy of Ignacioleo Leonardi