You Down with WWB? (Yeah, you know me!)

I decided that my first post need to begin with something I have been referred to by my bud at 1% More Conscious, and something the world lacks, needs more of, and something many people misinterpret and are scared of – WWBs.

A WWB is a Woman With Balls – figuratively, not physically. Let’s define what that is because again, it is often misunderstood. A WWB is not the loudest, most obnoxious woman in the room because she is famous or rich, or the woman dancing on the bar drunk without panties, throwing good sense and caution to the wind. A WWB also is not someone who backstabs people in the national media, even if these people have betrayed her. A WWB does not dress in too little clothing and/or clothing that is three sizes too small, revealing everything.

A WWB is a woman who is not afraid to speak her mind, but does so elegantly and intelligently; is a woman who will stand up for herself when betrayed, but will never sink to the level of her betrayers; is a woman who isn’t afraid to dress and think provocatively, but does it with style and grace as so it is never misunderstood as being dirty or whorish; is a woman who is not afraid of being who she is, she will not “dumb it down” are play a subservient role in order for others to feel more comfortable around her. She is a good friend and she takes care of her family willingly and lovingly, never apologizing for having a softer side. And by the way, if a WWB dances on the bar while howling at the moon, she does it with her underwear on because there is a time and a place for everything.

I am proud of my WWB distinction. Many people have called me “bitch”, among other nastier names for doing all of the above. Believe it or not, more women have told me that “I need a man” and, in order to get one, I need to be more needy and change who I am. EXCUSE ME! Did I hear you right?!? Yes you did and some of these folks are supposed friends. By the way, I am great with who and what I am, and without a man thank you very much.

However, this behavior is nothing new in our society. When women were fighting for the right to be considered human beings worthy of the right to vote, the right to hold property, and to work in certain jobs, who were their biggest opponents? Other women! Of course, men did play a part, but women have protested the movement to grant women equal rights throughout history, including the latter 20th century. Phyllis Schalfly, anyone?

Having a daughter, I want her to grow up to be a WWB – a caring person who can think for herself and is not afraid to be who she is and speak her mind intelligently. Alas, the world is lacking visible WWBs; WWB role models if you will.

People in the media spotlight are, whether they want to be or not, going to be looked at for examples. There are few young WWBs for young girls to look up to as an inspiration. There is not a younger Pat Benatar or Debbie Harry that rocks the house but does it in a respectable fashion. Britney? Her whole body doesn’t have as much class as one of either Benatar’s or Harry’s eyelashes let only actual singing ability and talent. Jessica? PLEASE! She is too busy trying to find a man to get back at the good thing she lost, Nick Lachey, for moving on after she dumped him. Christina is working her way toward WWB status, but she has a ways to go; hope she makes it because she is a great talent.

We do have a few WWBs in Hollywood – Reese Witherspoon, Uma Thurman, Selma Hayek, and Penelope Cruz. They are talented, think of others, and none of them publicly rolled over and died when they were cheated on and/or got dumped publicly. Unlike Jennifer Aniston who has told the whole world about Brad Pitt missing “a sensitivity chip”, etc. to every media outlet that would listen. Jen, if you are reading, sorry you got dumped. But it happens to the best of us. Remember, you are a drop-dead gorgeous millionaire who does not need to every work again. You also do not have kids in the mix and can afford to buy a nice place to live and you aren’t going to get screwed out of your alimony because of your millionaire status. Be a WWB, dry up those tears, buy a fabulous dress, and get out there! Cut the crap!

However, these ladies are older – cool, but older. Paris, Mary-Kate and Ashley, Nicole, and Lindsay are what today's younger set admire and these starlets all have HUGE problems - drugs, under-age drinking and perhaprs alcoholism, anorexia, too dependent on men to make them happy. It is a nightmare! Nontheless, girls want to be them and to act like them in their respective, seemingly boring lives. Would you want any young girl you know to want to be like them? Of course not! But alas, I teach high school and the emulation and desire to be them is out there. It is scary – “Jack Nicholson in The Shining” scary.

My point is this – either be a WWB or encourage WWBism. Do not put a WWB down for having an opinion. This is America after all. Right now, we do not have an Eleanor Roosevelt, a Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, a Katherine or Audrey Hepburn, a Grace Kelly, a Princess Diana, a Rosa Parks, a Sacajawea, or Margaret Sanger in the spotlight as great inspiration, breaking boundaries and doing it with poise and elegance. This dearth of WWBs in the media or lack of media play to these types of women means that the young girls of America need to be inspired close to home – by their moms, aunts, sisters, grandmothers, teachers, bosses, etc. Otherwise, our girls will turn into anorexic coke-whores who need money, constant sexual stimulation, and fame like they need oxygen, food, and water to survive.

So stand up WWBs! Stand up and show people who you are and fight the crap that is infecting our girls. And the next time someone calls you a bitch, say thank you and smile at that person. I do … and it perplexes them every time.