Embracing Being a Girlie Girl…and a Professional Woman

When I was in pre-school my teacher took my mother aside and said, “Mrs. Winbourne, we play pretty intensely here at school – finger paint, playground time, play dough – and I just want to let you know that you really don’t need to send your daughter to school in dresses every day.”

To which my mother suggested that if she’d like to see me in more play appropriate clothing that she should come over to our home and dress me every morning as I refuse to wear anything but dresses.

Point taken.

I was a girlie-girl from the moment I sprung from the womb. Long before I was aware (or at least subconsciously influenced) by what feminists call “the male gaze” I liked pretty things – feminine things.

And all throughout my life this held true. I liked primping for proms and getting ready at night with my college roommates to hit the bars. I love makeup, curling my hair, getting my nails done, and even getting my eyebrows waxed (instant face lift as far as I am concerned).

So it interests me that the minute I was ready to graduate from college and was starting the interview process one of the first things I did – even before buying that “one good interview suit” – was to cut my hair. Short. Remember the Hillary-bob?

But why after a lifetime of loving being a girl did I lop off my locks? And truly I didn’t fret about it. To me it felt like it was part of taking my next steps into the professional world.

But that’s kind of crazy, right? I mean it didn’t make me smarter, or more reliable, or a harder worker. But I truly believed that being a grownup professional woman meant parting ways – to some extent – with my femininity – at least between the hours of 9 to 5.

And that makes me sad. Sad for me and all the other women out there who bought into that myth. I mean, why should we have to hide a core part of ourselves in order to be “taken seriously.”

So I have to say I was FREAKING THRILLED when Ms. Marissa Mayer rocked a Vogue fashion shoot. She looked hot and strong, powerful and womanly.

Because being a leader in industry should never be undermined by gestating babies or wearing a well-tailored couture dress. As women we need to stand up and say “I am a professional and I am a woman.” We don’t need to bind our breasts and cut off our hair to be amazing at what we do. We need to stand up and own our place in the professional world. Because it’s not about fitting into the box that men designed, it’s about bringing what makes us special and powerful as women into the work place. Transforming the landscape and rewriting the rules to accommodate us as women.

So put on that red lipstick, those high heels, and that lapel flower and blaze the way, sista!

If you like my blog you’ll love my book. Buy The Working Mommy’s Manual on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Working-Mommys-Manual-Nicole-Corning/dp/0615637418/ref=cm_sw_em_r_dp_6ZRcqb0QFT7P8_tt