"I try to think of myself as Emma Peel in a black leather catsuit" Dowd

Lovely image;-)



http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/opinion/13dowd.html?th

March 13, 2005
OP-ED COLUMNIST
Dish It Out, Ladies
By MAUREEN DOWD

WASHINGTON

When I need to work up my nerve to write a tough column, I try to think of myself as Emma Peel in a black leather catsuit, giving a kung fu kick to any diabolical mastermind who merits it.

I try not to visualize myself as one of the witches in "Macbeth," sitting off to the side over a double, double toil and trouble, bubbling cauldron, muttering about what is fair or foul in the hurly burly of the royal court.

There's an intense debate going on now about why newspapers have so few female columnists. Out of what will soon be eight Times Op-Ed columnists - nine, counting the public editor - I'm the only woman.
.......


There's a lot of evidence of that. Male bloggers predominate, as do male TV shouters. Men I know and men who read The Times write me constantly, asking me to read the opinion pieces they've written. Sometimes they'll e-mail or fax me their thoughts to read right before I have lunch with them. Women hardly ever send their own rants........

when i was negotiating my employment contract (with a few stereotypical BSD white guys), I ... uhm ... used visual cues to remind me to think like one of them.

it worked too.

somehow, tho', the black leather catsuit sounds a lot more fun.

but as usual she is right...

gently lowered on the "gentleman's" foot will also make a "point". I own a pair of lovely black leather booties with a small spike heel. They project just the right Early 60s Spy Movie effect.

Maybe most men are otherwise unable to express themselves, except in accepted venues (sports, letters, etc.).

On the other hand, I sometimes channel my dear departed grandfather, and send off a letter to the editor. I hope his grandaughter is living up to his "asbestos gloves" standard.

(oops, sick too much, can't spell yet)

and howls she will get for this very honest self-revealing column...plus she's a very funny writer with some interesting insights much as many of us are still angry with her about Gore and Clinton.

She's a columnist not a reporter. We shouldn't blame her when the "grunts" aren't doing their jobs...shes what they now call in the news media a "Cultural Observer." Another way to put her down...but she does it well, imho...anyway. :shrug:

Flaming Red!

I never miss a book of hers, or her op-ed pieces in the NY Times. She is just too damn funny not to forgive.