Monthly Archives: May 2015

Get over yourself and go to therapy, or is it go to therapy and get over yourself?

May 31, 2015VentingAlecto

In my head, I consider myself a relatively egalitarian sort of person. I’m happy to give every body the chance to prove they’re interesting to me. Everyone IS interesting within their own little niche of the world, but I can’t inhabit every niche. Taking my cue from a quote that I’ve seen attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt (I don’t know if I’ve seen accurate attributions) small minds discuss people, average minds discuss events, and great minds discuss ideas. I’m an idea person. People who think and have ideas and are willing to methodically examine the idea’s merit in light of demonstrable fact are soul-sexy.

In spite of that I work in a field that, while self-conceptualized as an idea industry, takes status very seriously. Most of the preoccupation with status are the basic dominance games that are perpetuated across many species and cultures, but played out by the proxies of where you went to school, graduated in the class, how much money you are able and willing to part with, or who you’re related to. I went to the wrong school, only graduated in the top quarter, have no money, and as far as I know I am not related to anyone of consequence. I also can’t speak the language that will elevate me above those miserable proxies.

I’ve hit a wall within my soul, and my career trajectory, and now I face the question, should I stay or should I go? Either way, I, and the people I work with need to get over ourselves and get back to the ideas that can make this world a better place instead of pointless posturing in an increasingly isolated and rarefied corner of the world.

We are more than a birth canal

May 21, 2015Uncategorizedangrytisiphone

I am going to rant about arguably some misguided anger at the mommy-ization of today’s women. Recently on Facebook, there has been this story about an Omaha, Nebraska female police officer being killed. Now when this was first released it was a short article written by the Omaha Police Department about Orozco and her contributions to the police department and gang unit, and briefly discussed her surivors. Her participation in the gang unit is what eventually ended her all too young life. A link to that Omaha Police Department article is here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153330831189096.1073741898.194674844095&type=1

When the events of Officer Orozco’s death were reported here in Oklahoma reads: “Nebraska Officer killed in line of duty hours before maternity leave”. See article here: http://kfor.com/2015/05/21/nebraska-officer-killed-in-line-of-duty-hours-before-maternity-leave/

Essentially the articles relay the same information, but each article does it differently. Omaha PD and the news in Omaha directed this story to Orozco contributions as a officer and as a person to the community. But look out, cause Oklahoma only thinks “oh my god! She died before giving us more kids!” Ignoring the fact that she was capable intelligent woman, that earned her way into a man’s world and was successful. I am flabbergasted that this news outlet would use the fact that the police officer is female to elicit a response in people. I do not understand what the maternity leave or the birth of the baby has to do with the fact that Orozco was a top notch gang unit police officer that fought with her life to protect the people of Omaha.

We live in a ridiculous society where the first thing asked of a woman is “how old are your kids?”, “how many do you have?” “when are you having some?”. I am the proud step-parent of two wonderful boys. And I enjoy almost every minute I get to spend with them, but a mom is not who I am . It is not even what I do. I am so much more than a mom. My friends that are stay at home moms, are so much more than just a mom, they are doctors and lawyers and brilliant artists. We need to be treated with the equal respect a man would get in this same world. Had the roles been reversed and Officer Orozco was male with an infant ready to leave the hospital, there is not a media outlet that would report the infant first. It would be an article focused Orozco’s achievements and contributions to society. Not that the fact that he could get his dick in a hole and reproduce. Please stop treating us as if housing a baby for 9 months is the only thing that qualifies females for news worthiness.

Too tired for angry rants

May 17, 2015UncategorizedAlecto

Life goes on and it is hard to carve out time to write out an angry rant. For myself, I’ve been working two jobs and starting a small business. So the terrible injustices of the world don’t really infiltrate my bubble anymore and I don’t rant on. (Part of that is choice– selective and intentional ignorance is part of the self care to maintain the ability to work three jobs.) The other Angry Ladies are in very similar situations. In my spare time I’m searching for a single that can replace the two jobs, or provide an adequate crutch until the business can be built up to support level. Maybe a rant will emerge in the near future.