Posts Tagged: Oprah Winfrey
Shonda Rhimes and Admitting: “I Don’t Want to Get Married.”
I’m not sure there’s anyone in the world who could sit down with Oprah Winfrey and not suddenly start pouring their heart out to her. I’d be like Chunk in The Goonies who wildly confesses to everything and anything the moment Oprah said, “Hello, how are you?” No mortal has a fighting chance against Oprah and a couch. So when TV Queen/Feminist/Writer/Producer/Future President, Shonda Rhimes sat down with her, I thought, as a fellow immortal, she stood a fighting chance. Turns out even feminist immortals bare their soul to the Big O, and I’m glad she did.
Ms. Rhimes revealed “I don’t want to get married…at all.” Both single gals confided and revealed to each other how complicated such a personal belief is received in a social context, “There’s a huge amount of pressure…you’re suppose to want to [get married] and if you don’t want it – what’s wrong with you?” This is an important element that everyone, even here at The Feminist Bride, must consider. What’s powerful of Rhimes’ revelation is that she gave herself time and permission to explore whether or not marriage was right for her, which gave her the strength and confidence to say, “I don’t want to get married.” And quit frankly, how much do any of us give ourselves the time, permission and freedom to block out social convention and pressure to figure out what we truly want? For all the peer, media, religious and environmental pressure placed on women to get married, there needs to be an open and accepting dialogue that tells women – you don’t have to get married if you don’t want to and that is perfectly acceptable. As friends and family of those people, it’s important such stances are met with support and not doubt too. Rhimes goes onto further share that just because marriage isn’t on the table that does not mean meaningful or long-term relationships aren’t. I know not everyone can sit down with Oprah and get to the bottom of their psyche or desires, but perhaps if we all pretended to bare our souls to the Big O we’d learn just a little more about want we want and be a little happier for it.
Image Courtesy of OWN/Super Soul Sunday TV
Gloria Steinem Receives US’s Highest Civilian Honor
On November 20, 2013, President Obama awarded Ms. Gloria Steinem the highest award any non-military US citizen can receive, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. First, I want to congratulate Ms. Steinem, but I also want to say – what took so long?
It’s been 40 plus years since Steinem helped women break free from the kitchen, stereotypes and unfair social and civil treatment. Her tour de force started in the then men’s world of journalism and then quickly into activism where she has since resided leading the way in progressive thought as a social agent of change. There is not one woman in the US who is not better off for her efforts to make the US a much more egalitarian place. She received such high honors for her “lasting political and social change in America and abroad and, among other things, for “inspiring us all to take up the cause of reaching for a more just tomorrow,” (Obama). (If you’d like a great view into Steinem’s history and activism, Lizzie Crocker has a wonderful piece in The Daily Beast.)
While Steinem saw the award as “…a medal for the entire women’s movement,” hopefully she can take a moment to bask in the glory. Though I doubt it will be long, Steinem recognizes that there’s still more work to do. But for the moment, from women around the US and here at The Feminist Bride, a heartfelt thank you and congrats.
Other female 2013 Presidential Medial of Freedom Recipients Include: Sally Ride, Oprah Winfrey, Loretta Lynn and Patricia Wald. However, only five out of the sixteen recipients were female or 31%.