It’s fashionista to be a feminista

My Sense and the City column in today’s Sarasota Herald-Tribune (all photos courtesy of Cliff Roles Photography:

The Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota recently held its 4th Annual Frances Kraaymes Lecture. This year, the event was a panel discussion on “Men, Women & Relationships,” moderated by Dr. Willa Bernhard, who posed questions such as, “How have your relationships with the opposite sex changed since your 20s?”, and, “What has affected the balance of power in your relationships?”

I was one of the panelists, and while I can’t claim the professional bona fides of the others

– author Dr. Nancy Schlossberg; Ringling College of Art and Design President Dr. Larry Thompson; local physician Dr. Jon Yenari; the Honorable Larry Eger, Public Defender; and mental health therapist Lauren Alston of Coastal Behavioral Healthcare — I still had plenty to say about how physical attractiveness, financial ability, sexual viability, and aging can tip the balance of power in personal relationships..

The discussion was lively: opinions flew, and amid a lot of straight talk and good humor, the panelists shared personal experiences and perspectives about male/female roles, communication, child-rearing, money, housework, even online porn. It was a refreshingly frank conversation, slightly rare in Sarasota, but judging by the audience response, very welcome.

I learned a lot from the panelists, and I’d like to think I shared something as well. For example, after I commented that one of the reasons U.S. women continue to struggle for power in their relationships and within their communities is because they’re still earning under eighty cents for every dollar a man earns in comparable jobs, one panelist stated that he wasn’t aware of any such discrepancy. I muzzled my impersonation of Scooby-Doo’s quizzical woof of disbelief –“Huhrrrr?”, but wondered how anyone in the working world could be unaware of the pay gap between men and women. (To learn more about the Paycheck Fairness Act, visit www.whitehouse.gov/issues/women.)

Another interesting point was raised when one panelist said the word “feminist” was irrelevant in his work and home life because he’s already so egalitarian that self-describing as a feminist would be moot. I’ve heard that argument before – that women have come so far, there’s no longer a need for either sex to carry the “feminist” calling card.

The word has always carried a lot of “angry-female” baggage, exacerbated by Rush Limbaugh’s coinage of the term, “Feminazi.” I’m a feminist and don’t mind saying so, but in the past decade, fewer and fewer of my friends use the term. I’ve got girlfriends who pay half the mortgage and expect their husbands to help change the diapers, and men friends who gladly let their wives bring home the bigger slice of bacon and want their daughters to have every opportunity to grow up to be President, but in both groups, many say, “I wouldn’t call myself a feminist.” As if it’s a dirty word.

But judging by the comments made by my fellow Kraaymes panelists, there’s a new breed of modern-day feminists out there — the men on the panel talked about how they share responsibilities and chores with their wives, and the women talked about how they contribute their fair share financially to their relationships –even if none of them used the dreaded “F-bomb” to describe themselves specifically.

So, taking a page from the Limbaugh playbook, I’m coining my own term to describe anyone who believes in the “social, political, and economic equality of the sexes” (that’s the definition of feminism, by the way). This new word isn’t really new — it’s just the Spanish word for feminist – feminista. But just like the Italian word “barista” turned coffee servers everywhere into über-hip coffee designers, I’m betting “feminista” will finally make it fashionable to be a feminist. And in any language, I’d call that fabulous.

MC on Panel Discussion tonight — Men, Women & Relationships

Intellectual … interpersonal … and it’s FREE! Tonight, from 5 to 7 p.m., I’ll be participating in a panel discussion with Dr. Larry Thompson, President of Ringling College of Art and Design, Dr. Nancy Schlossberg, noted professor of psychology and book author, Dr. Jon Yenari, a practicing physician and Assistant Professor at FSU Medical School, and I believe, the Hon. Larry Egar, Sarasota Public Defender. There is no cost to attend.

We’ll be talking about “Men, Women & Relationships” — issues of power, balance, connecting, changes from generation to generation, moderated by Dr. Willa Bernhard, former instructor at Cornell University Medical School. As usual, I’m the low woman on the totem pole in terms of bona fides, but I’ve got plenty to say about the subject!

The panel is convened for the 4th Annual Frances Kraaymes Lecture and fundraising event put on by the Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota.

Call 941.366.1700 for tickets or show up!

The Women’s Resource Center, 340 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota.

Love groove

Yesterday, I had a pretty sweet V-Day. I got to get up close and personal with some very hot firefighters (more on that later in the week). And, I took three hours off from work and went to the Ringling Museum. I felt a bit angry with myself as I was driving there — thinking, what the hell, Coolidge, you’ve got a boatload of work and you’re blowing it off for a trip to the museum? But I did it and I’m so glad I did. (more…)

Locking lips … knocking boots … and kissing frogs?

Oh, come on, tell me the answer — is it love or lust?

(more…)

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for lovers …

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for lovers … and Ben & Jerry shouldn’t be your only “date” for the night …

though they’ve unfortunately been mine on a few too-many. (more…)

Snail Mail Your Love!

Here’s my advice about preparing for V-Day (just six days away, folks!) in my “After Hours” blog on the Sarasota Herald Tribune website …. Snail Mail Your Love!

Seduce your way to Vday

Oh, it’s not easy seducing someone … and it shouldn’t be. Get your seduction-groove on today. You’ve only got seven days to Vday.

Read my tips here at Seduction shouldn’t be a lost art!

Saying “I do” — all over again

If you’re married, Valentine’s Day can probably seem a bit redundant, right? I mean, you’ve already wooed — and won — the person who made (and hopefully still makes) your heart pitter-patter.

But it’s essential, isn’t it, to do what you can to keep those love fires burning strong year after year? Read my blog on today’s TICKET website — about what to do to honor your I do’s … all over again:

Register now for romance!

Time to make your move ….

Vday is only 11 days away … if you haven’t asked her — or him — out yet, what are you waiting for!

Here’s my latest bit of advice on navigating Vday 2011.

12 days and counting … time to spell it out for Vday

Here’s my latest TICKET blog about how to stay out of the dog house for Valentine’s Day. (more…)