Chapters 1, 2 and 3

The first few of chapters of Beauty Fades, Dumb is Forever talk about how women consistently defer to men. I agree with everything Judge Judy has to say on this topic. Women do allow men to step up and take credit for many of their ideas. The stereotype that girls should be shy and demure around men definitely has an impact on them. I often see some of my best friends who are absolute geniuses turn into dingbats the moment they are around boys. Who says that girls can't be strong minded and assertive?

I think that some women just do not learn how to be themselves without having a boy defining their lives. If women could learn to be just as happy by themselves as they are with a partner, their lives would be so much more complete. Staying in a relationship just to say that you're in a relationship is crazy.

If you've read some of my other posts, you'll probably get the idea that I'm a little old fashioned. Not to the point that I frown on everyone who has sex out of marriage, but I do have some old fashioned ideas. Judge Judy suggests that girls need to have respect for themselves. That is one of the main ideas that should be driven home. It also ties together with the whole idea that women want to be in relationships so badly that they defer to men. Young girls want to be "with" a partner so bad that they will have sex with a boy whether they want to or not just to keep him interested. This is not what I would want my daughter (if I had one) believing. If a boy wants to have sex with a girl, it needs to be for the right reason. If she's going to give herself to any young man, it should also be for the right reason. If he's not willing to wait till she's ready, he doesn't and never will have the respect for her that she deserves and needs to make the relationship work.

The last point that needs to be emphasized is Judge Judy's belief that women need to have a skill to fall back on. Her guaranteed divorce insurance is something that many women lack. They believe that they will be just fine financially if they marry well. What happens if their husband leaves them or dies and they are left with nothing? Every woman needs a skill. Education nowadays is indispensable. There are always those just in cases we need to think of. You wouldn't drive a car without insurance, why get married without it?

Keep reading your books, or pick up a copy. I'll try to keep up with my comments. I'd love to hear what you think. Even if you're not reading the book, what do you think of these ideas?