Full disclosure: I wrote this post about two weeks ago, before my site crashed, and I took that as a sign to not post it. However, in light of what happened in Las Vegas, a place that is near and dear to my heart and where I intend to run a half marathon (which begins at the same venue) in just five weeks, it may be more important to post this now. Not only do women need to get together and support one another but we as HUMAN beings need to as well. But, I need to start somewhere, so I’m starting with my gender…

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Oh where to begin? Ever since the election I have been wondering why women are so divided and, pretty much ever since second grade I’ve been wondering why it’s so hard to have female friendships. I’m not suggesting we agree on everything simply because we have the same anatomy, rather that we support each other or remain quiet (at least publicly) in our objections.

I’ve seen too many examples lately of women beating each other down for no real reason. Let’s see if we can learn by the following examples and spread some woman love. Ok, that didn’t sound quite right but just go with it…

Getting some love from my aunties at a wedding a few years back.

THE RUNNING COMMUNITY

I love so much about the running community. It is truly a place where female runners unite, lift each other up and sweat their way toward a common goal, with a collective love of a singular sport burning in their hearts.

No matter your body type, pace, or race distance preference, you are welcomed with open arms into the female running community.

Until…

You run in a tutu

Wear a race bib that is not registered in your name

Give your race bib to a friend

Jump into a race midway just for kicks

…and then you are dead to them. They will crucify you with their words, shun you with their actions and make sure everyone knows it.

I understand the underlying factors, and I will not bore non-runners with the details but, unless it directly affects you in some truly horrendous way, you don’t need to shame fellow runners on social media. Stop it.

THE ANNOUNCER – BETH MOWINS

In case you don’t watch football (gasp!) history was made about a month ago when, for the first time ever, the NFL had a bright shiny new female announcer in Beth Mowins. Male sexist pigs were expected on Twitter following her first broadcast, but decidedly unexpected, were the female bashers:

Thanks for letting us know you have your period. #classy

Really? The worst? Obviously you don’t remember Dennis Miller’s stint on MNF.

There were plenty of tweets by females supporting Mowins, but I cannot understand why women feel the need to go out of their way to bash another woman who is making history and, in turn, making it easier for them or their daughters to succeed in something that has been dominated by men for ages.

Stop it.

THE ELECTION

The headline read: American Women Voted Overwhelmingly for Clinton, Except the White Ones

I think about this almost on a daily basis. It boggles my mind that white women could not come together on something I feel is such a huge commonality of ground – voting for the first female president.

I can definitely understand not wanting to vote for Clinton but, I will never understand voting for the insanely obvious sexist candidate, who openly encouraged grabbing us in our hot pocket.

According to an article in The Washington Post, white women typically vote Republican however, whites with college degrees are more likely to swing left than those without higher education. This pattern held true on election day and largely delivered the Trump victory:

“The majority of non-college educated white women (64%) voted for Trump, while 35% backed Clinton. This figure is far higher than non-college educated black women, of which only 3% voted for Trump, and non-college educated Hispanic women, of which 25% voted for Trump. Black, Hispanic and other non-white women backed Clinton in far greater numbers.”

I wonder how they feel now.

THE MOMS

Your kid falls into a gorilla cage at the zoo? Could totally happen to mine.

You want to have wine all the time and joke about it? Go ahead.

You’re a helicopter parent? Fly free.

You let your kid walk five miles home on a highway after school? WTF do I care?

You make only homemade organic foods for your kids and they eat it? I’m jealous.

You breastfeed in public? You’re a braver mom than I am. Do your thang!

You work all day? Damn, you are super woman!

You stay home all day? Damn, you are super woman!

Just because you have a social media account doesn’t mean people need to hear your opinion. And, if you really think they do, why go out there and stomp all over other moms? If you’re a mom you know how hard it is to survive day after day in the lifelong cycle of trying to raise a human who will not be in prison someday. Don’t you think moms already have a continuous loop of “I’m doing this wrong” playing in their heads without your unwanted support of that misguided nonsense?

Imagine what would happen if we encouraged and supported one another?

I think Katy Perry and Taylor Swift should come together and write an updated “Imagine” with this topic in mind. Maybe they will when they have kids.

And, if you really need to vent your opinion on something, it’s called a private conversation – – have one!

THE SOLUTION

I haven’t a clue what the solution is but I know we need to do better and be better where our gender is concerned. Luckily for you, other women much smarter than I am, offer their advice:

From The Huffington Post: Start having conversations about it and bring this topic to light. < – – you can share this blog post. Brilliant! Tune out media that glorify mean-women pile ons. Applaud a woman’s success.

From Pucker Mob: “It’s always crystal clear who the strong women are. They’re the ones you’ll see building each other up instead of tearing each other down.”

From Inspiration.com: Empower young girls. Listen to other women. Share your knowledge.

“I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass.” Maya Angelou

First, we need to show them how it’s done.

[Tweet “How women can support one another and examples of what not to do! #womansupportingwomen”]

Ok, tell me how you feel…

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