From Underearning to Abundance » role models

My role models

ElinAnna — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:16:40 +0000

In my last blog I talked about how role models have changed and how the media often does not focus on women’s strengths, but rather on their looks. For example the First Lady is a strong and accomplished woman and can be great role model, but that is not what the media talks about. Still, girls have role models other the ones in the media. Role models that are closer to home like parents, teachers, and coaches. For me it was my mother. She was born a long time ago in a different world. The Iceland she was born in, subsistence farming was still fact of life for many and people were struggling to stay alive. It was a hard world. She was one of 11 siblings. There wasn’t much money for anything, like food and clothes, and even less for education. She and her siblings had to start working at an early age.

It was obvious that she had stamina to keep on going when things were against her, like her mother before her. I learned that you keep on going no matter what. My mother showed me what persistence and perseverance can accomplish.

Another role model was my mother’s cousin. She became an internist when women didn’t become doctors. She was the breadwinner of her family. When I was a child I was going to do the same. Life took me in another direction, but I did get my masters degree and I dared to be different from what was expected of me.

My mother died some years ago at ripe age of 86 and her cousin died last year from cancer. It is strange to not have my role models with me today, but I am thankful for the inspiration they gave me through the years and are still giving. Helping me on my path to a Life of Abundance.

Love and peace,

ElinAnna

Where have our role models gone?

ElinAnna — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:07:10 +0000

The role models are still here they are just different. In today’s world the female role models are supposedly more feminine. The question is feminine according to whose definition? It is interesting to read about what is considered feminine today. One thing is the same as it has been for centuries, women’s clothing and shoes that are considered very feminine are very uncomfortable to say the least and in some cases just outright damaging to their health. As such, femininity is still mainly judged on appearance. Things like being independent or financially savvy are considered masculine traits.

We do acknowledge that it used to be like this. For example when women had do ware girdles that nearly suffocated them, but now a days? How can that be? Well, some shoes are damaging women’s feet and women endure a lot pain due to problems related to shoes that we are told make us look beautiful. Then there is the cultural pressure on how your body should look. This calls for even more drastic adjustments, like breast implants, diets and liposuction. It is incredible how little things have changed and it is not surprising that so many women are underearners when society makes it very hard for them to stand on their own feet, figuratively and literally.

What about women in the media? What is reported on when a woman is in the news? In most cases it is on how she looks, what she is wearing, and so on. A good example of this is when First Lady Michelle Obama is in the news. The thing that is thought to be newsworthy is how she looks, not what she says. This is a woman that has in the past been recognized for her intelligence. She was known as an excellent lawyer and a driver for change wherever she was. When she talks she undoubtedly has a lot to say that is worth talking about. Still, what is deemed newsworthy is her dress. This is rather sad. But at least she is a good role model intellectually and in appearance.

Who are the role models of today’s girls? Is it the fashionable Michelle Obama or the savvy lawyer and activist Michelle Obama?

Love and peace,

ElinAnna

What Do Our Role Models Tell Us About Money?

ElinAnna — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:22:27 +0000

Where your role models geniuses with money or self claimed idiots with money?

There is a lot of talk about role models and the effect they have on our lives, especially as we are growing up. The media glorifies certain role models and we look at how they live their lives to find clues on how we should live ours. Kids imitate the behavior of famous sport idols, musicians and others that the media puts in their headlines, but it is not only the kids who do this we, as adults, do this too.

How does the media portray women? How do they talk about what they do? If we look at Paris Hilton for example, what do they talk about? One of the main focuses is on her spending. Everybody knows that she was born into a wealthy family and the media has made sure we know this, if we didn’t know that beforehand. What they usually do not talk about is her marketing skills. Yes, she has skills that she uses. It takes a lot to get so much media exposure. And she makes sure she has. Actually, she is a very good businesswoman, although that is not what the media portrays. She is so good that she is making more money than she will ever get from here family.

She is not the only woman whose shopping habits the media think is news worthy. But do they talk about how they earn money? How they invest? Is it not interesting to learn about the smart decisions women make? For some reason the media does not report as much about women’s investments as they do on their spending. No wonder young girls think that this is what is expected of them. To spend money is feminine. What about girls that don’t like to shop and spend money? Where do they fit into the world? Is it feminine to like investing money and make it grow? Does that fit into the worldview people have?

I happen to be one of those women that like to grow money. To me it is very feminine to grow money, to take care of money. Women take care of a lot of things in life. Why shouldn’t they take care of money? Taking care of money is one of the keys to living a life of abundance.

Love and peace,

ElinAnna