Of the three women, Sadie Hawkins, Betty Boop or Cinderella, which would be more likely to know how to fix her own rims and tires ? How to change the oil in her car, or even just simply check the oil? Which one would know when it is time to switch the windshield wiper blades or when to have her car tuned up? Myths and stories that children grow up with can have a lasting effect on the way girls feel about themselves and the women they grow up to be. Not only this, but they have an effect on how they may be perceived throughout their life.
The Sadie Hawkins story began with a comic strip. Two female characters came onto the animation scene in the 1930′s. One was created by Max Fleischer and Grim Natwick. This character is Betty Boop, who quickly became a symbol for female strength and personified the world of feminism. The other was created by Al Capp and also has become a feminist role model, and she is Sadie Hawkins . In Capp’s story, Sadie was 35 years old. The story revolves around a race, wherein the spinster chases eligible bachelors throughout the day, and the one she drags across the finish line by sundown, was required by law to marry her.
Over the years, this somewhat sad story has evolved into women standing up for what they want, and reversing the gender roles. It is a bit telling of a society, when a ‘holiday’ must be created in order for a woman to have the ‘chance’ at doing so, however…much in the same way Betty Boop put power back into the hands of women so too did Sadie Hawkins. The difference between the stories of Sadie and Betty, is that Betty was no wall flower. She did not need a day to make a man dance with her. In fact, Betty may have wanted men, but she certainly did not need men. If she were outfitting her car with new Goodyear tires , she would not need a man to come along for support. Betty would know which kind of tire would give her the best traction during a snow storm or which ones were rated safest and most durable.
Cinderella is a story of a different sort. Over the years, politically correct versions of the story have been written. These modern stories give Cinderella more of the characteristics and strengths that are possessed by Hawkins and Boop. Cinderella is pretty and nice, but helpless to change her situation. Her stepmother and step sisters are ugly and mean. Chances are that the stepmother and sisters would know how to change a car tire, but they would make Cinderella do it. She would get it done of course, but in order to do so she would most likely be standing on the side of the road with her pretty little foot showing…attracting not a man with the glass slipper, but a man with a tire jack and strong forearms. Or, perhaps ol’ Sadie and Betty may pull over…and teach Cinderella how to fix it all herself.
Many of my friends have a good handle on the costs of running a household. Food, meals, gas, are all costs we encounter on a weekly basis and items that we look towards when cutting back on our spending. However these is one major expense that we give little thought towards. And one that can potentially save as a lot of money. That is the costs associated with a mortgage loan. And there are many factors that make up the cost of a mortgage loan. These include the cost of the property, the down payment, the closing costs, the total loan amount, the interest rate, the loan period etc.
The mortgage loan amount is the money supplied to the lender by the lending institution. The interest rate is the percentage amount they make for supplying the loan. Now the interest rate can be influenced by many things including the home buyer’s credit rate, the length of the loan etc. This all affects the monthly payment that will eventually pay back the loan.
The closing costs of the property purchase are usually in the realm of five percent of the mortgage loan amount. This is an important consideration when calculating how much of a home you can afford. Closing costs include many things associated with the purchase of your home – appraisal fees, escrow fees, various property taxes, title insurance and originating fees are all included in the closing cost figure.
Closing costs are unavoidable when purchasing a property. As well as the lender there are multiple parties involved in the closing process and they all charge a fee for their services. Therefore expect to pay the closing costs when you pay the down deposit on your home. After that you will be left with your monthly mortgage payments which are made over the period of the loan.
To help you assess the costs associated with the purchases of a property consult a mortgage payment calculator which will help you evaluate your different options and payment amounts.
Women have come a long way in modern culture and society. With the right encouragement and a drive to succeed, your daughter can grow up to be anything she wants. Unfortunately, women and girls tend to be on the losing side of the self-esteem battle and this is something many attribute to not only our society but the media’s pressure on women as well.
Self-esteem is related to how we feel about our bodies, our minds, and our place in the larger world. Girls’ self-worth generally peaks around nine or ten years old, but then it sharply declines when they hit their preteen and teenage years. Media outlets such as television, music, and magazines can have a negative effect on girls’ self-image and sense of self-worth. Societal pressures to look, act, or be a certain way can stifle a girl’s view of herself. By giving our daughters encouragement, love, and the right perspective, we can arm them with the tools they need to grow up happy, healthy, and confident women.
Parents have a very strong influence on how their children grow up. How you talk and act around your daughters can have a major effect on how she views women and herself. Both moms and dads can act as good role models for their girls to help them feel confident in their views and their abilities. Discourage gender stereotypes in the household; let sons do the dishes and ask your daughters to mow the lawn or help change a light bulb. Watch how you talk about yourself in their presence. If you feel negatively about yourself, even in a small way, and voice these opinions, chances are your daughters will learn this behavior from you. Loving yourself and being proud of your accomplishments is the very first step to instilling your daughters with a healthy sense of self-esteem.
Give your daughters encouragement both vocally and by allowing them to explore their own talents and interests. A woman’s self-esteem should not have to center around her physical appearance. Praise your daughters for their accomplishments, for thinking independently and speaking their minds, and for just being themselves. Celebrate their unique strengths, hobbies, and achievements with the whole family. When your daughters feel free to explore without being judged, they will learn to feel confident in doing what they love. It is good to discuss the various contributions women in history have made, so that your daughters know they can pursue any dream they want. Whether your girls are into sports, astronomy, medicine, or cooking, you can find fun and interesting women to learn about. By helping them set goals and explore, you can help foster a sense of wonder, pride, and self-esteem in your daughters as they grow up.
Even if you have given it your all and have done as much as you can to help your daughter to love and respect her body, it may be helpful to have her talk to a therapist if the situation appears to progressively worsen. Often therapy can help replace negative body image thoughts with positive ones. Additionally, sometimes therapists recommend other types of therapy to help give strength to these body positive thoughts through methods like listening to
hypnosis cds and posting positive affirmations on the mirrors in the house.