Friend Friday: Feminism.

1. Do you think there is an incompatibility between feminism and a love for fashion?
I am not sure about an incompability but there is definitely a huge difference between the two.  Feminism and A Love for Fashion are two very different things. They are not quite contrary but it's like comparing apples to oranges or figs to bananas. A Feminist, I think is someone full of strong beliefs that gear towards the idea that women are just as powerful, just as equal as men and they should be treated as such every day, at home, at school, at their jobs, etc. I don't think a feminist woman is necessarily fashionable, stylish or loves fashion. She may be straight or gay, that doesn't change her strong beliefs of what feminism is. She may be soft and sweet or hard-ass, a total bitch. I have a love for fashion and I do believe women should have the same rights as men. But I do not consider myself a feminist. I don't constantly talk about it or think of it as a relovution like a feminist would. By the same token, I also think that women are the softer, more tender gender and should still be treated as such. I am a little old-fashioned when it comes to some unwritten rules. For example, I think women should be the main care-takers of their children. Women should be showered with flowers and gifts often. Men should open doors, pull the chairs off a dinning table, get their women's coats or jackets, ready, etc. These things I mentioned I believe are things that feminists try to fight.

2. There is more to each of us than a love for fashion, how do you incorporate every aspect of yourself into your blog?
I don't think I incorporate every aspect of myself into my blog. Neither do I want to. I think there are things about me that should remain a mystery and I mean that in the best way possible. I don't talk about many personal things. Yes I mention a few things about my daily life - I am human after all - but none of them are too personal. I don't air my laundry business for the world to know, even-though this blog is pretty annonymous for the most part (meaning I don't know any of you in real life). This blog is mostly a catalogue of my outfits, chronics special moments and other fun aspects of my life. For example, last week I celebrated a birthday. To me that is a special ocassion so I mentioned it in here. And I prefer to talk about positive or inspiring things than vice-versa. I don't like to dwell on the negative after all. I usually see the glass as half full though I am a realist. Because I try to be positive even in my darkest hours or those not-so-good days, I usually write a Mid-Week Recap every Wednesday titled Wonderful Wednesday. In it I mention things that made the past week Wonderful or what I am looking forward to, for the following week. You should check it out.

3. With the fashion industry still being a male-dominated profession, how do you think it would differ if women played a larger role?
I think this question is misconstructed and I don't think it is true or realistic to say that the Fashion Industry is male-dominated. I think it is the other way around. If you mean that most fashion designers, stylists, hair stylists, makeup artists and such are men...? I don't even think the last sentence is a true statement. I think in today's world we have just as many talented, amazing, fascinating female designers, stylists and artists as we do men. For example "Project Runway" has been won equally by both men and women, as has "Design Star". "What not To Wear" is hosted and seen by both a man's perspective and a woman's perspective. I actually believe the Fashion Industry is dominated by women. Those 'behind the scenes' may be men mostly, but the true stars of fashion are women. There are 20 times as many magazines geared towards women, especially women's fashions as there are men's. Same can be said about stores, boutiques, makeup counters, even drug-stores. Even in department stores, we have double or triple the departments for women than we do for men. The fashion industry produces millions of products a year for women and not nearly close enough for men. Every year they come up with hundreds of new scents, new lipstick colors, new and improved lingerie, new styles of swimsuits, etc. etc. for women. There is even technology geared towards women. For example women can find a gazillion kinds of stylish cell-phone cases, some of them even brand-name like Kate Spade or Coach. Even runway is dominated by women's fashions and most models are females. When we watch The Golden Globes or The Academy Awards, there is at least two hours Live (previous) where they show the glamorous actresses on the red carpet. Very seldom do they focus on the men, much rather on the women. Same can be said about any other red-carpet event: The Grammys, The CMA Awards, the MTV Awards, The Canes, Movie Premieres, etc. 

4. How is your self-image and the way you carry yourself informed by your beliefs?
I have strong beliefs and strong values about what is wrong and what is right. Even kids at a young age can usually tell the difference between good and bad. As adults we know the differences between wrong and right in every aspect of our lives, including fashion. That's why I have a healthy image of myself. This makes me have a positive self-image. Because I have a brain, a conscience as well as a reputation I want to keep (in a good place), I know what I should and should never wear. You would never catch me dead in pajamas in public. You would never see me wearing something stained, old, torn or not chic, to work. I would never show my cleavage, my thighs, my belly button or my (open) back all at once, unless I am wearing a swimsuit or I am at the beach. When I am on a date and want to look sexy I focus on one thing I want to show off: my legs, my arms, my cleavage or my back, not all at once. I would never wear running tennis shoes or gym shoes to work. I would never over-expose myself. I would never wear offensive clothing not just in public but even at home. I would never want my clothes or my style to misinform someone, to lead someone towards making a bad decision, to push someone one way or another or to offend someone. I think I am a confident woman. I am a married woman also a career woman and I am in my early 30s. I do believe some styles are left to certain age groups. I also believe that someone carrying a "single" status can wear more fun clothes or be more open-minded about her style, than someone in a serious relationship or married. I also think being a mom should make one more responsible about what they wear. They should not make bad role models for their children. Their children should not feel ashamed about those moms. So because I have these strong beliefs, I dress the way I do, wear my hair a certain way, style my house or my bedroom in a manner I like and that my beliefs approve of, etc.

5. Do you think clothing/makeup/hair helps communicate the truth about yourself or are those things superfluous add-ons?
Yes I think clothing/makeup/hair/tattoos/piercing and such is usually a direct communication we have with the world. I hate to hide the truth so bluntly I say that as a matter of fact appearance is very very important. It is the first impression we leave on someone, even on a bystander or a passenger we share the same bus with. If appeareance wasn't important we would be less careful about what we wear to a job interview, to a first date, to a wedding, to the first day of college, to work, etc. The more presentable we look, the more confident we are and the more confident we feel. If I felt crappy about myself, maybe I wouldn't care as much as I do about clothes, makeup, beauty products, my hair, my skin, shoes, accessories, what I eat, my hygeine, etc. Plus if I didn't care as much as I do about these things I wouldn't be myself. I am a girly girl and I am very feminine when it comes to these things, especially as far as clothes, shopping, style & trends are concerned. I also want to look pleasing and lovely to my husband. I make an effort daily to present the best face possible to the world. After all I have one life to live, one day at a time.

P.S. I truly enjoyed answering these questions. They were not easy questions. They dug deep into the truth and into my true feelings. But I answered them exactly how I feel about these topics.