What a difference 5 years makes.
When I stepped in as the About.com Women's Issues Guide in October 2007, the 2008 election was still over a year away, the U.S. had never had a viable female candidate for president, and the Republicans had never had a female VP on their presidential ticket.The world had never heard of Octomom or a pit bull with lipstick, binders full of women, Adele or Sandra Fluke. Tina Fey was still a year away from doing her impersonation of Sarah Palin, and her hit show 30 Rock was growing in popularity instead of going off the air. A woman had never won an Oscar as Best Director. There were still countries entering the Olympic Games without women on their team.
I'm no Jeanne Dixon, so I can't predict what the world will be like for women in the next five years. But here's what I'm hoping:
The U.S elects a woman president. (Hillary 2016!)
No, this isn't a wacky wish list I've come up with to salute Women's History
Month -- it's my way of burying my goodbye to you and to the About.com Women's
Issues site in a post that focuses on the future of the wider world and not just
my own small corner of it. After 5 years of being your Guide, I'm off to make a
different history for myself trying out new things.
For those of you who told me this site was your first introduction to
feminism, thank you... and I'm glad you weren't scared off by that "F" word.
For those of you who argued with me thoughtfully (and no, calling me names
isn't thoughtful behavior), thank you...and though I'm not convinced, I respect
your views and your willingness to try to find common ground.
And for those of you who continue to fight the good fight on behalf of women
everywhere... thank you for your continuing courage and strength. I'll see you
on the front lines -- if not here, then somewhere, someday. Press on!
When I stepped in as the About.com Women's Issues Guide in October 2007, the 2008 election was still over a year away, the U.S. had never had a viable female candidate for president, and the Republicans had never had a female VP on their presidential ticket.The world had never heard of Octomom or a pit bull with lipstick, binders full of women, Adele or Sandra Fluke. Tina Fey was still a year away from doing her impersonation of Sarah Palin, and her hit show 30 Rock was growing in popularity instead of going off the air. A woman had never won an Oscar as Best Director. There were still countries entering the Olympic Games without women on their team.
I'm no Jeanne Dixon, so I can't predict what the world will be like for women in the next five years. But here's what I'm hoping:
The U.S elects a woman president. (Hillary 2016!)
- There will be so many women in Congress on both sides of the aisle that the
Republican War on Women will
be a footnote in history. - The threats to women's healthcare will be a thing of the past, and
reproductive choice will be maintained and strengthened. - Women like Kathryn Bigelow and Tina Fey will become the norm rather than the
exception in film and in television. - We never see another Palin family member on reality TV, and Sarah never
again runs for public office.
No, this isn't a wacky wish list I've come up with to salute Women's History
Month -- it's my way of burying my goodbye to you and to the About.com Women's
Issues site in a post that focuses on the future of the wider world and not just
my own small corner of it. After 5 years of being your Guide, I'm off to make a
different history for myself trying out new things.
For those of you who told me this site was your first introduction to
feminism, thank you... and I'm glad you weren't scared off by that "F" word.
For those of you who argued with me thoughtfully (and no, calling me names
isn't thoughtful behavior), thank you...and though I'm not convinced, I respect
your views and your willingness to try to find common ground.
And for those of you who continue to fight the good fight on behalf of women
everywhere... thank you for your continuing courage and strength. I'll see you
on the front lines -- if not here, then somewhere, someday. Press on!
