Back in the day when I was scolding you for not wearing the proper footwear, I brought up this nifty bumper sticker:
I mentioned I hate it, but not why. Since I'm ranting about things this week, I thought I'd elaborate.
Ginger Rogers was great. She was fun to watch dance, she could act, and she was pretty (Fred Astaire really only had one of those three things). She put up with Fred's legendary gruelling perfectionism, so I give her street cred for that.
But this bumper sticker seems to imply that because she did it "backwards and in high heels", she did it better.
Well, no.
She did it differently, yes. 'Cause she's a lady, y'all.
Lady ballroom dancers spend some time with their butts preceding them down the dance floor. And these ladies wear heels. Yet, most of these ladies' posteriors are quite lovely and many ladies love a good pair of pretty shoes.
Men, however, move forward in many patterns because they have to lead. Have you ever led? It's the worst. All that thinking and planning and steering.
Yes, I sound dated and male-chauvinistic and sexist, but have you seen ballroom dancing? Um, that's what it is. Paso Doble? Offensive. Tango? Borderline abusive! Viennese Waltz? Talk about dated.
Ballroom dancing illustrates the difference (not the competition) between the genders. And that is OKAY.
Men are encouraged to stand up and be strong, YET also be protective and loving. Ladies are taught to be flexible and responsive, BUT also purposeful and self-reliant.
So Ginger did what Fred did, but in the feminine style, which is both awesome and her job.
One year ago: Projects Not Pinned
Riot and Frolic 
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