When Women Are Dismissed

Women are dismissed for a variety of shameless and idiotic reasons, but none so idiotic as for their age. As a woman in her Crone years (I turn sixty-one in October) I’ve watched how women of all ages are treated as less than by all sorts of people. We’re dismissed by our partners, our children, our family, people on the street or in grocery stores. We’re dismissed at the dentist and by our doctors and by the fool in the housewares department of my local big box store who decided that the only way to wherever it was he was going was through me. I wasn’t finished looking at everything I was considering buying but evidently, that wasn’t important to him.

The most virulent form of this crap comes from the Oval Office, or possibly the toilet in the residence if during his executive time. I read almost daily on Twitter the disgusting and insane tweets by the current occupant of the White House many of which either target people of color, women lawmakers or if he’s really on a roll, it’s a female lawmaker with brown skin. Additional points if she’s disabled or over sixty. Much of what he tweets has no basis in facts that aren’t completely made up or pulled out of his ass. And judging by his recent attack on California while they’re coping with massive wildfires, he’s either completely delusional or someone is giving him really bad information. He actually tweeted that California should stop diverting all its water into the ocean. He even indicated that if they stopped doing that, he would reward them with additional federal aid.

Seriously. The guy in the Oval Office believes California is diverting water to the ocean that could be used to fight fires. He’s either incredibly gullible or he’s a complete lunatic.

But when a current president verbally attacks female lawmakers, attacking their appearance, their intellect, or their age, he’s a walking HR nightmare in progress. Any other employee would be fired for such remarks because to not do so would invite an untold number of lawsuits. The president is not the CEO or owner of a company called America. He (or she when folks pull their heads out of their asses long enough to see the need for such an individual) works for the American people. In short, he’s our employee whose position can be terminated every four years or sooner if he obstructs or conspires or assaults or commits treason…the list of crimes is probably endless that rises to high crimes and misdemeanors.

Sadly, the greatest destruction lies in his influence on others. He speaks to the fear of the other that appears to be at the heart of so much of the vitriol experienced at his weekly rallies. He attacks journalists and women primarily and the animosity witnessed has grown to alarming levels. Nationalist beliefs have become a foundation in the government now, spreading through agencies like the wildfires in California. We see it with ICE and the abuse reported at the detention centers. And we see it in the death threats received by black female lawmakers and the pot shots asshole men on Twitter like to take with Chelsea Clinton. I love her responses, by the way. She thanks them and then happily educates them. I almost look forward to what she’ll say next except that it’s pathetic that it’s happening at all.

And now, Nancy Pelosi shouldn’t be Speaker again because of her age? And Hillary should take up knitting instead of continuing to speak out on important issues? And Maxine Waters is of low intelligence? Yeah, I don’t think so. I have no problem with fresh ideas and younger players but to dismiss an older woman because she’s incapable of fresh ideas? That’s bullshit.

These days, women approach sixty and begin reinventing themselves, this author included. And to think we’re still dealing with this sort of backward nonsense is sad. In truth, it’s when we’re older that we enter the best phase of our lives. If we’ve raised children, typically, they’re on their own at this point and we can look forward to new experiences with grace, eagerness, and joy. Some women pursue continued education or new careers. Some open businesses but what doesn’t happen is our minds turning to mush. Women like Pelosi and Clinton pave the way for the rest of us to continue making a difference in our own lives and the lives of others so to suggest that any woman of a certain age go away, well, that’s not going to happen, now is it. Don’t bother answering. It’s not a question, but a truth.

At the end of the day, when women are dismissed, we will dismiss those who do that. And if necessary, right out of the White House.

Blessed Be the woman for one day, she’ll be the Crone…