Go West Young Women

Ahh Mae West - pure unabashed sex appeal. She shocked. She titillated. But dammit - doesn't it look like she had all sorts of fun?

Some days I don't feel female anymore - just neuter. I have a male-dominated job, wherein I am supposed to act business-like (read "neuter") and wear clothes that minimize my boobs and my hips. I am supposed to feel affronted if one of my colleagues stares at my breasts when I am speaking to him. Well, there is one in particular that totally skeezes me out when he does it, but otherwise I really don't mind all that much. Stare away boys - grew 'em myself. Actually quite proud of them, really. You should see 'em in a low cut and lacy demi bra. Very nice.

I have fantasies some days about sashaying into court in a low-cut red evening dress and addressing the court with a purr rather than with a clear and concise tone. What freedom.

Freedom. Societal norms and expectations have taken away my freedom to be sexy, to embrace my curves and to sashay anywhere. There was a woman in Ontario who was kicked out of court about 10 years ago because her skirt was 2 inches above the knee and her blouse was sheer under her suit jacket. I saw the outfit in the National Post. I didn't think "slore" when I saw it - I thought "gee that woman has some gams on her - she looks quite cute, actually. What's the big deal"?

Back when I practiced in downtown Vancouver I used to think "I am a good enough lawyer that I should be able to paint my toenails Electric Strawberry and wear open toed shoes with stilleto heels and still be taken seriously" and "I would find it empowering if I could be a woman, look like a woman and practice law". Alas, I have pushed the envelope from time to time, but in the end, my male colleagues are left to stare at the flat black front of my suit jacket for the most part. What a waste. Because nature/god (depending on your personal beliefs) gave women boobs and butts and hips. But we hide them like they are shameful secrets.

Mae West would be so disappointed in us.