Identity theft, Part I, Door Prizes, Round 3

I know this blog seems to go back and forth on subjects, the only cohesive thread is seemingly that it is from my point of view: things that deeply interest me and catch my attention. The underlying theme, though, is my place as a woman in this world, although with the history of human rights one would hope that we would be to the point that I would see myself simply as a person and not the gender specific subcategory. That is exactly why I get so flustered with sexism, because though we are different, we are equal. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we've gone through this before, so why in 2006 am I blabbering on about this issue?!? More on this self-realization has been discussed in previous posts, and will be discussed in future posts. Last weekend at the craft show, I was talking to another crafter (a male) who had been joking with the mostly female crowds flowing through his booth about how he is a male and he doesn't know anything. Chuckling to myself, I jokingly told him to please teach his philosophy to my husband. Jokingly, because Hi-C is an incredible person and in our house we are equal, with equal knowledge and the openness to let each other know the good, the bad, and the "you're overstepping your boundaries." It was simply a meager attempt at conversation with my booth neighbor. Oops.

An annotated version of his rant (after my silly joke):
1) Women carry emotional baggage, men don't.
2) Women don't listen to a statement without arguing back and trying to get the last word in. This blanket statement brilliantly negated any retort I might have by clumping me in with his generalizations, thus defining me as a stereotypical woman.
3) Women don't network. Men do.
4) And women use their emotions to make decisions (see #1) creating a weakened ability to organize and lead.

What a damaging, angry, misogynist philosophy that is! First off, he had thought this out really well. Any response I might have could be categorized as any of his "women issues" and simply brushed off as emotional. Secondly, and thankfully, his rant made me realize I need to thank the strong women out there for being such an inspiration. Some entrepreneurial souls, who happen to be women, who give me something to strive for:

Tsia Carson
Sarah Hood
Maya Lin
Emira Mears
Sandra Day O'Connor, because I want her back
Dorian Solot
Martha Stewart (love her or hate her, she is a survivor who knows how to write a thank you note)
Gayla Trail

I'd like to offer these incredible people a pink tank badge of honor.

And from the National Women's History Project Website, some notable October dates:
Oct 3, 1904 - Mary McLeod Bethune opens her first school for black students in Daytona Beach, FL
Oct 16, 1916 - Margaret Sanger opens the nation's first birth control clinic in Brooklyn, NY
Oct 15, 1948 - Dr. Frances L. Willoughby is the first woman doctor in the regular U.S. Navy.
Oct 28, 1958 - Mary Roebling is the first woman director of a stock exchange (American Stock Exchange)
Oct 10, 1983 - Dr. Barbara McClintock receives Nobel Prize for Chemistry for discovery of mobile genetic elements
Oct 4, 1993 - Ruth Bader Ginsburg joins Supreme Court as second woman and 107th justice.

Which leads me to part 3 of my bi-weekly Bribe-You-To-Read-Me doorprizes:
In the comments section, list 3 entrepreneurial women who "inspire you to aspire." There are some exceptions: no entertainers (singers, actors, etc), also choose fairly prominent women. This is your chance to offer a small bit of thanks to women you may only know of through the internet or news, and a way to proudly thank them for their strength. Men out there, I know you know some names, too. I'll take names through next Friday, draw a reader's name from a hat, and the lucky reader will win. . . hmmmm. Now that has to stay a surprise, doesn't it?!?

*I'll keep this post at the top of the page until the Door Prize Deadline.