Feminists

Good for you.

And how have you been victimized? By razors, maybe? By the whims of a society that says women shall have smooth legs?

I think Kristen was referring to herself with the hairy legs part, but not the victimization part. Although I can sympathize with the idea of being victimized by the whims of a society that says women shall have smooth legs (and the fact that you didn't shave for your interview, Kristen, makes me smile), in this context the word 'victimized' is much too strong for me to throw around carelessly.

Good luck with your training for the crisis center.

How one's point of view changes. I remember when I was a self-conscious teenager and I was mortified that my poor mother didn't shave her legs daily, as if it was the most important thing in the world! I even asked her to please make sure she shaved her legs for my wedding! (What a little snot I was! From this vantage point, I can't believe my insensitivity! Euwww! I don't like that person (me!))

Now I shave me legs about once a week (if I remember) from May through Sept. Then from Sept to May, I think I usually shave about twice. Or for special occasions. (I so owe my poor mother an apology. Ma? are you listening?)

Yeah, I'm not advocating for myself. I'm actually going to be an advocate for rape victims. So, I'll be on call for three 12-hour shifts a month (on average) be they night of day shifts. If I'm called in, I'll usually be called into a hospital, right after the crime. If she presses charges, I may go to court with her (or him, occassionally). It varies. Sometimes, I'll just answer calls and talk to people who need help making sense of tragedy.

Back to legs, though. I remember being the same way when I was younger. I'm pretty sure I asked my mom on a regular basis why she didn't shave her legs more often. "But they're bristly," I'd protest. : ) And it was a crisis if I had ever forgotten to shave my legs. And how severe some of those learning-to-shave cuts would be! Aih! Luckily, I've come around to the dark side (i.e. feminism) before my wedding. So I'll be plenty content if all of my women guests decided to go on with their usual unshaven winter routine. Also related and funny: Shaving my legs, even if just done out of maintenance, will make an evening feel a little more like a special event. (Seriously). Has anyone else noticed that? : )

My mother shaves her legs? I just thought that as you got older your hair fell out. Actually, I never actually thought about it. I guess that everyone has leg hair.

P.s. I think that it's funny. I was in my psychology research class today. I am a research monkey, mostly I'm the one with a typewriter. I enter data. I think they're really hoping for the complete works of shakespeare. I told them they should just buy the book, it's cheaper.

anyhow, I was in the class and someone said something to the degree of, "Mendon, I don't know if anyone ever told you 'oh, she's just being emotional when a women was upset to dismiss their behavior.'" I almost laughed when my advisor said that. I hadn't realized that she wouldn't be able to intuit my beliefs and upbringing. I thought, sarcastically, "oh yeah, in our feminist household in our femenist faith, I hear regular derogations of women such as, 'women are emotional.'" I recognize that this is a problem in many areas (and that, yes, I have my own sexist moments) but I thought it funny.

One of the secrets that I have discovered is that if you let your leg hair go about a week or so, it gets over the prickley/bristley stage and gets soft and easier to sleep next to. Makes married life easier. So, no, I haven't found that freshly shaved legs make for an event; quite the opposite.

Oh, I am quite familiar with the soft an fuzzy that comes around after a week. I like it. But, having freshly shaved legs does feel. . .nice. And, I don't dread the few days of prickle that I have after I shave.

And, yes, Mensch, I do shave my legs. Summers and Holidays. After all, I am civilized.

Kristen, all joking aside, I think you will find this to be really challenging work. It is tough. You go, girl. I admire that you are going to do this. It will leave you changed.

Well, to be honest, I was not joking about my legs and anything related to shaving. As for the position. . . I am intimidated, but I'm really looking forward to our training. It will, I'm sure, be invaulable. Outside of that, my interview was more of a conversation, and I got to talk about all of this and was given tons of support from my "boss," Becky. It will be stressful, but I'm under the impression that the program is designed so that I have several dedicated mental and emotional caretakers. That in mind, I'm really excited for everything that I'll be learning in the next year or so.