When they return from a vacation, I suspect my readers have an experience similar to mine. I’m surprised the hurley burly of the everyday world has changed not a whit. Old political feuds continue. North Korea has fired another rocket. China remains complacent. Russian hackers know the color of my toothbrush.
Nationally, Donald Trump glories in ignominy to the applause of a small but gerrymandered segment of the population, one that hasn’t a clue about its self-interest.
My fellow feminists don’t seem worried about House Speaker Paul Ryan’s Capital dress code for women. The National Organization for Women (NOW) tells me the ban against sleeveless dresses and open-toed shoes is old.
Frankly, I don’t care if the ban is old. Why should it exist and why should Ryan revive it?
Small matters can be as great as large ones, perhaps more so. Small matters, like a hole in a dyke, predict larger problems. Common sense should tell us it’s better to apply preventative measures than wait for the dam to break.
Sheila Michaels courtesy of yahool.com
Where women’s dress is concerned, I will continue to raise the alarm. Sheila Michaels, who recently died, is my role model. (“Obituaries,” The Week, July 21, 2017, pg. 35.)
Michaels refused tags that pointed to her marital status, a requirement never foisted upon men. Neither “Miss” or “Mrs.” would do. She took up “Ms” instead. Did her sisters follow? No. They shrugged. Too trivial an issue. Not for Gloria Steinem. She saw merit in Michael’s position and titled her magazine MS. Michaels’ lonely crusade finally bore fruit. I, for one, thank her for it.
