Guest posting for AWA today, I wanted to share Gretchen Wilson’s “Redneck Woman”.
AWA asked me, why this song? Well, part of the answer is that the song makes me think of a strong woman. I have never been a wilting flower. I’ve never been interested in Victoria’s Secret. As the song says, “I can get that same damn thing in Walmart on half price.” I’m not a huge country fan, but this song resonates with me.
I need to see strong woman in media. I love seeing Nikki Haley out there, kicking it up in politics. Gretchen Wilson does it in country music. In television, there’s Gina Torres (Zoe Washburn in Firefly), Caitriona Balfe (Claire Fraser in Outlander), and Ming-Na Wen (Melinda May of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), among others. This song evokes that strength, while still holding onto the facets of womanhood that stand out to me.
Women can do most things men can (we’re not equals on a physical level without a LOT of work, but very few jobs require that brute strength and there are tools that make us equal). But that’s not all we do. We work all day, then we come home and make dinner, clean house, care for the kids, do laundry, help with homework, and in too many cases, we also run after our spouse as if he’s another kid. So when I see a woman out mudding in a Jeep, it makes me happy. And when I see a strong man standing beside her, helping and supporting, that makes me damn proud.
Good post, agree with 90% of it. But I will add that where there is a large difference, is the ability to handle physical damage, moderate-to-severe levels, while having to still continue on as required per the task-at-hand, to the finish. It should be noted that about 30% of men that I work with can endure on, and over the past twelve years, I’ve had several women, very tough strong enduring women, attempt to complete the advanced CQC training module only to succumb midway through the four-hour torture.
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Some people ‘love’ and have addiction to pain, and most cannot go there and maintain, for extended periods of time, and remain who they were previously—one very strong tough warrior. And no amount of work ethic for any duration is going to provide what is needed to be…that person, it’s a genetic truth.
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Nothing gets my attention more than woman more tough than all the rest though. Damn, I can watch her all day, there’s nothing more beautiful. In TV land think Emily Blunt in Sicario.
I thought I’d follow up my post with an article I read the other day, an historical piece on warrior women of the WWII, a great read – https://aish.com/the-unsung-jewish-women-soldiers-of-wwii/?src=ac
I think that, when it comes to physical damage, it really depends on the type. Women generally don’t handle torture as well. But childbirth, sure. Being shot in the foot, no, but working through physical and mental fatigue, yes.
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I’m not interested in being “equal” with men. I have things I’m MUCH better at than the men in my life, and there are many things that the men are much better at. I can’t hit the broad side of a barn with a rifle, for instance. I’m sure I could put a ton of practice in and become competent, but I don’t like them. On the other hand, hubby is awesome at it. There are self defense things that work for me, but would never work for a man, and vice versa.
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As to pain, … well, yes. Pain works for me. LOL… But it has to be the right kind. I am pissed that when I wake up these days, my hips and knee ache. Having a stubbed toe or turned ankle messes up my week. But I walked through having a burst appendix. 😀
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Here’s the thing: I don’t care if someone’s male or female. I care if they can “do the job”. If they can’t, get out of the way and let someone in who can… and then go find what THEY can do. Everyone has things they are good and bad at, and the point of life is to figure out what works and then do that. So if a man happens to be the one who’s better at dealing with the kids, and the woman has a job that pays well, then cool, do that. If it works better another way for your family, then do that. There are plenty of men who can’t make it through basic training, and plenty of women who can. Stay out of the way of those “doing”, and help those who can’t do to find something else that they CAN do. 😉
In100% agreement, well said. One of the experiences I’ve found in life is working with someone on something they believe they are not going to be proficient at in the beginning, and discovering along with them, their path towards proficiency. Successfully joint brainstorming with others to get it done, is priceless.