9 to 5 and Generation X Feminism

Fancy title for a little post, huh? The other day I was watching “9 to 5” for the 400th time and I am beginning to think that it may be responsible for the surge of female empowerment in women of my generation and my own feminist leanings, that began to show themselves at a relatively young age. I know I was about 8 years old, at the very most the first time I saw it. Yeah, they committed kidnapping and forgery and all kinds of felonies, but in the end, this was an early 80s movie in which the male presence was minimal and the women were the “superheroes”. From early on, the girls of Generation X saw male dominated society as something we could absolutely overcome, whether it be overt, as in the imprisonment of Mr. Hart- probably not the best approach, or under the radar, the way they handled the Chairman of the Board by disguising their changes in a package that he could accept and ultimately get just what they wanted- again, flawed, but successful.

 Let’s see. In two hours it covers slut shaming, sexual harassment, equal pay and opportunity in the workplace, the transition into the workforce, single motherhood and finding your own way after a divorce. It praised standing up for yourself and knowing your worth. Women who finally stopped judging each other teamed up to create a more efficient and mentally healthy workplace were our protagonists. And then there is the cast… Dolly, Lily and Jane portray the ultimate three musketeers for justice through strong comedic performances. Doralee, Violet and Judy fit three female stereotypes- the sexy secretary, the jaded “man-hater” and the clueless housewife, but we see them evolve into three dimensional, flawed but capable women with good intentions. We even see some of their home lives as the new divorcee, the happily married woman, and the persevering single mother. 

Little Katie Lynn didn’t know all the lessons she was learning (including to be very aware of artificial sweetener packaging) but she did know that she wanted to be like those ladies- ready for a challenge. The only woman I actually knew that worked in an office was my Aunt Roma and I thought she was the most incredible lady ever so the image of the capable career woman was never anything but positive in my mind. So thanks to Showtime and some boring Saturday afternoons for the self-confidence and thanks to Mom for ignoring the scene where they got stoned, cause she knew there was mostly good influence in there.

37

I’ve been listening to the soundtrack from The Perks of Being a Wallflower in my office today, a movie set during the time I was a teenager. It is strange how a certain song or smell or even the current return to some 90’s fashions will transport me back. How does something smell like the 90’s? I’m not sure, but it is a thing! I tend to be a nostalgia freak and I recognize that everyone canonizes the culture of their teenage years, but we were awesome. C’mon, we just were. Seriously, we were the last of the kids that went to the library to do our research papers, had to say, “Is so and so there,” when we called our friend’s home phone number. I have talked with friends about how glad we were that we came up before Facebook, before iPhones and youtube. Mainly because all our mistakes and indiscretions could have been available for the masses, but it isn’t just that. We had to really make an effort to hang out, to be together. We made face to face connections and many of mine have lasted and strengthened to this day. I know there are some who think it strange or even maybe sad that many of my closest friends are the same ones I had in high school and college, but it is a testament to those connections- the lunches in the Johnston courtyard, the marathon sleepovers and, later, the nights dancing til the lights came on at Mirage or Paradox. These people aren’t just memories to me, but they know my daughter and they were at my wedding and they will say amazing things to me when I need it the most. As I enter my 37th year, I thank God for these people that, although we are now in our late thirties, will still have sleepovers, and lunches and sometimes still even dance all night til the lights come on.

The Happy Secret to Better Work

3 Gratitudes - Week 1

I began the practice of writing down 3 gratitudes every work day to keep myself positive. It is working INCREDIBLY well and wanted to share. I feel like this has been crucial to the sudden rejuvenation I have felt this week. Do it!

2/10/12-
1. I am grateful for my ability to take criticism to make myself better.
2. My relationship with my child
3. Friends who promote positivity in me and others
2/13/12-
1. I am grateful for having a job when so many don’t.
2. I get to have adventures and pretty much do the things I want to do.
3. Music
2/14/12-
1. To have my parents still with me
2. To have such a close relationship with my sister
3. Marlon
2/15/12-
1. My independence
2. Still feeling like a teenager sometimes
3. Having a strong support system
2/16/12-
1. To be relatively healthy
2. For growing up with a church family
3. The serenity that comes from knowing you have people that love you.
2/17/12-
1. Family time
2. Finding something that works for you
3. Liz Phair’s songwriting

XXXVI

One day away from your 36th birthday one can't help but be a little sentimental. It has been 20 years since I was sixteen. Wow. Sorry, Mellencamp. I held on to sixteen just as long as possible and somehow I got to be 36. I am actually kind of excited about entering my late 30's, officially. As part of this new sentimentality, I have been finding strange milestones in my life. For example, I have now been Katie McCormick only 4 years less than I was Katie Leach. Bizarre. I have been married for 15 years, only two years less than my parents made it. Weird. In 7 years I will have a child in college. Unthinkable. The thing I glean from all this reflection is that even with all the changes in plans and circumstances throughout my life there is almost nothing I would change. My childhood was about as idyllic as a kid from my generation could’ve had. (Yes, the parents broke up, but sadly, that was part of the normal track for generation X.) I loved my friends, the closest of whom are still my friends today. I had a teenage love affair with the sweetest boy in the world like something straight out of a John Hughes movie complete with dancing to a car radio. by a stream. in the moonlight. And the will-they-or-won’t-they-end-up-together conflict somewhere in the middle. I went off to college and had a helluva good time. I married the aforementioned sweet boy and had a lovely baby girl who is becoming an opinionated, good-hearted young woman whose father I love more than I did when we were dancing by that car.
What would I have changed? I would have been kinder to some. I would have thought more about how the things I said or did affected others. I would have studied more in college. But until Doc Brown actually gets that DeLorean working, I cannot change the past so I have to take comfort in the fact that I did my best. The things I did wrong were never out of malice, just ignorance or youthful oblivion. The future will be what it is gonna be. I always loved what June Carter Cash always said when asked how she was doing. “I’m just trying to matter,” she would say and I find that motivating. So here I sit on the last day of my 35th year and the only thing I know for sure is that I’m lucky and trying to matter. And in this exact moment, happy.

Laziness ensues

You know how you have the best intentions everytime you start a project? I refuse to let a year go by before my next blog. I will have something interesting to write. At the moment I am too sick to even think, but will come up with something brilliant soon.

Grrrrrr

I think I am going to have to stop reading the news (I am an internet girl) because it is seriously affecting my stress level. If it isn't Tea Partiers complaining that President Obama still hasn't found a church to attend (as if that is what he should be focusing on) it's people like Torry Hansen. She is the Tennessee woman who adopted a son from Russia and when things went haywire, sent him back. SENT HIM BACK!!!

I understand that it is obvious he had some psychological problems and she was scared. Any parent who sees their child having issues gets scared, but most of us don't put them on a plane to meet a COMPLETE STRANGER IN ANOTHER COUNTRY!! As I read yesterday, this child changed his life, language, country, etc. in a six month time period. How can you expect a normal reaction? Who goes from, "I was screwed over by this Russian orphanage and my son is going to be a much bigger challenge to raise," to "I should email some guy in Russia to pick him up at the airport and drop him off somewhere with a note." SERIOUSLY?!

I have never adopted a child, but I know people who have and they love these children as much (and sometimes maybe more) than if they had come from their own body. My brain cannot compute the "parent" that could so easily cast off a child. Even if she hated this kid- even if she was terrified of him, there are so many other options. Grrrrrrrrrr!