I remember reading the paper bag princess to my daughter by Munsch when she was little and I still love how strong and clever Elizabeth was in the book. It is a very different princess then the ones that I grew up hearing about. We all know the ones that were waiting around for a man to rescue them from the tower. How the books in some way shaped women of today. Are we still in 2019 waiting for a prince to rescue us from the tower (cue Meghan Markle) or can there be a compromise where we rescue each other.
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I was having a debate recently with a man and asking his opinion about his experiences with Online Dating and how he views women in 2019. He said one of the biggest turnoffs for him with women is the first thing women ask him is what does he do for a living. I said why does that question upset you, could they just be interested in what you do. He laughed...he said the only reason they are asking is they are hoping that I can rescue them from the tower. I said what...are you serious. He said yup...It all stems from women entering the workforce after WW 2. I asked him to elaborate. Is it true are we as women still looking for the man on the white horse....even as a strong independent woman are we secretly hoping the man on the white horse will rescue us and we go off and live happily ever after.
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He was not entirely wrong in his thinking. Women indeed entering the workforce did change the economy post WW2 and for that they also got more of a taste for freedom. Some (not to generalize) were not satisfied with being a wife and mother and ventured out to work outside the home and in some cases much to the dismay of men. Dismay for a few reasons....they indeed were in some cases competition and they were breaking barriers from the traditional role of wife and mother. As the years passed and women were being told over and over that they can have it all...wife...mother...career...and its true and it is not true. Its fucking Hard....Yup it is. I do not care what anyone says but unless you have an amazing supportive husband you can not be happy in all aspects...just like a man who does not have an amazing supportive wife...something will give and that is why divorce is so high.
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Flash forward to 2019...women (not generalizing) some women look back and think Fuck is it really so bad....being a wife and a mother...and to those who choose that and have a great supportive husband then fantastic. To the working women who has it all...wife...mother and a career and its all working...kudos to her as well because it is hard. I myself did it all until the marriage fell apart. It did not fall apart because I was the one working...it fell apart because well over time people do change....you are not the same person at 25 ….you grow and change over time...I think people should wait until their late 30s to get married...but that is my opinion and the whole wedding economy is a multi billion dollar industry...more so now then ever, yet divorce is higher than ever.
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Back to Cinderella in the Tower and the debate of women in the workforce. I for one think she should have had a better plan then waiting around for anyone to rescue her. I also see the point that are we still hoping as women that there is a man that is out there that will rescue us. What do we need rescuing from? I am dating but not because I want to be rescued. Maybe men and women need to evaluate why are we dating in the first place. I have heard from some men....they say that women don't need them in the first place. I was asked that very question and he is right...what do we need men for. For me...I actually really enjoy mens company and I really mean that...I like my girl friends company but there is something different about being out and conversing with men. Could be the whole flirting...and yes flirting is fun. I really hope men will read this and know I for one enjoy your company and I hope you won't give up on dating women. I also hope there are still some men out there who still believe in relationships and chivalry is not dead.
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I can be reached for comment at Nancy.estabrooks@telus.net and Yes I am still Single and attempting to date in 2019...if there are men in my age bracket and would enjoy debating over a glass of wine...Let me know I too am good company
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