In this newsletter: A mini rant from me, an essay about how Instagram ruined personal style, a guide on how to polish shoes, a huge giveaway of my book merch (30 winners!), and so much more.
Thank you for always speaking truth to power, Gabby. You have the remarkable ability to enrage me, motivate me to action, then comfort me with caramel apples-- all in the space of a few minutes.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. You articulated something that has been percolating in my mind but not yet articulated. One starts to think," wait, if this is bothering so many folks, should it also bother me?" What is the difference between policing someone's self-presentation vs the notion that uniform dress unites a school population, or a work place (say an airline, a hospital, or the US Senate) so we are not distracted by differences of appearance and the real work can be done? I'm fascinated by the argument. (fwiw - Many of my college-aged daughter's cis male friends wear nail polish and pearls these days. I love it! ) Women have always had to navigate the minefield of self-presentation and societal/workplace expectations. I'm agnostic on the subject, but fascinated about the nerve it seems to hit.
One day I hope you will post a series on how you and your spouse teach your kids about finances. It's like the third rail in the family I grew up in. Trying to talk about money in a rational way is still really hard--and it spills over into panic about financial planning and budgets in general. It may be too late for my family, but I would love to hear what your family culture around money has developed, succeeded, and sometimes fell short, over the years. Thanks.
You are absolutely right about men wearing nail polish. Of course, it actually isn't about the nail polish. It is about changes in the way people are self identifying, changes in what it means to be a man or woman, changes in what it means to be a person. The wearing pants in the 60's/70's is the perfect analogy.
Thank you for your mini rant. I think more of us need to step up and speak out. Your work is good, and we’re paying attention to how you do it so we can do it, too.
When I see a man wearing nail polish I have 1 of 2 thoughts. If it looks good, I think ‘why does he have a better manicure than me?’ 😁 If it’s messy, I assume he let his daughter paint his nails and he leaves it on because she wants him to.
Thank you for making this point. I have the same inner rage/annoyance/disgust when people complain about how they can't say anything anymore. Why can't we just understand that what we said before hurt people, now we know better, and now we make the effort to change so those words don't hurt and continue on in our vernacular?
My 70 yr old husband, a very manly building contractor, loves to get pedicures with me , and gets his nails painted sometimes, teal or black are his fave choices. He says "Men are missing out! Having beautiful women fondle your feet! What man wouldn't love this?" Ha. (a bit sexist, but he means well).
People can wear whatever the hell they want, older folks have always complained, shaken their heads at what younger people wear. SO WHAT!?
Thank you for always speaking truth to power, Gabby. You have the remarkable ability to enrage me, motivate me to action, then comfort me with caramel apples-- all in the space of a few minutes.
On the upside ….just got back from Paris and saw YOUR BOOK , Ejaculate Responsibly, as staff pick in Shakespeare and Co bookstore!👏👏👏👏👏
Thank you, thank you, thank you. You articulated something that has been percolating in my mind but not yet articulated. One starts to think," wait, if this is bothering so many folks, should it also bother me?" What is the difference between policing someone's self-presentation vs the notion that uniform dress unites a school population, or a work place (say an airline, a hospital, or the US Senate) so we are not distracted by differences of appearance and the real work can be done? I'm fascinated by the argument. (fwiw - Many of my college-aged daughter's cis male friends wear nail polish and pearls these days. I love it! ) Women have always had to navigate the minefield of self-presentation and societal/workplace expectations. I'm agnostic on the subject, but fascinated about the nerve it seems to hit.
One day I hope you will post a series on how you and your spouse teach your kids about finances. It's like the third rail in the family I grew up in. Trying to talk about money in a rational way is still really hard--and it spills over into panic about financial planning and budgets in general. It may be too late for my family, but I would love to hear what your family culture around money has developed, succeeded, and sometimes fell short, over the years. Thanks.
You are absolutely right about men wearing nail polish. Of course, it actually isn't about the nail polish. It is about changes in the way people are self identifying, changes in what it means to be a man or woman, changes in what it means to be a person. The wearing pants in the 60's/70's is the perfect analogy.
Thank you for your mini rant. I think more of us need to step up and speak out. Your work is good, and we’re paying attention to how you do it so we can do it, too.
When I see a man wearing nail polish I have 1 of 2 thoughts. If it looks good, I think ‘why does he have a better manicure than me?’ 😁 If it’s messy, I assume he let his daughter paint his nails and he leaves it on because she wants him to.
Thank you for making this point. I have the same inner rage/annoyance/disgust when people complain about how they can't say anything anymore. Why can't we just understand that what we said before hurt people, now we know better, and now we make the effort to change so those words don't hurt and continue on in our vernacular?
Thank you for your rant re personal style!
My 70 yr old husband, a very manly building contractor, loves to get pedicures with me , and gets his nails painted sometimes, teal or black are his fave choices. He says "Men are missing out! Having beautiful women fondle your feet! What man wouldn't love this?" Ha. (a bit sexist, but he means well).
People can wear whatever the hell they want, older folks have always complained, shaken their heads at what younger people wear. SO WHAT!?