Hey pumpkins,
If you know me personally it goes without saying that I love History, and if you read my last post 13 Fun Facts About Me, you should know this too. I have recently been watching a lot of Medieval Documentaries, on top of all the Historical Fiction I read and I think it’s safe to say I’m living in an alternate Universe.
What has been jumping out at me in all this reading, watching and pretending is how women were viewed back in those days, and even more surprising was the clearly defined separation between w woman and a lady.
Now I’ve long since declared that I am not a feminist and will probably never be. This is simply because if I say I am something I commit 100% to being that thing. This is why I say I eat vegetarian and not that I am vegetarian.
Being vegetarian means I would have to live vegetarian too, or vegan rather, which I am in no present state to do. Now, I don’t agree with all that feminism entails so as a result I am not feminist but if it were possible to be like 75% feminist then I would be okay.
Despite this, I have fallen in love with being woman. To be woman to me was a blessing. God looked at me and said:
“You know Azaria, you’re pretty awesome. I think I should make you a woman.”
And for that, I am truly honored. Women are the most vulnerable, yet the most undeniably strong species there is. I mean men, if you knew what it was like to go to work with cramps; you’d think a hard day in the gym a minor affair.
What I want to talk to you my beautiful subscribers today though, is not about being woman. It’s about being a lady or more specially, a Millennial Lady.
I’ve been toying with this concept for a while and drawing stark contrast as to what a lady ought to be and what a lady is. I decided that what a lady ought to be and is, is already prescribed based on the time period in which said lady is from. For example, a lady in the Victorian Era would never shout in public.
That was unheard of. An abomination. A death sentence. HOW DARE SHE!!!!
In 2018 however, as long as you’re wearing nice dress, some killer heels and an accent then sure, go ahead. Yell. Eat my head for dinner, just please do so wearing Prada.
So I have come up with things that being a lady are not necessarily limited to. These are listed below:
A Woman of High Social Standing
Honey, listen, if prep and high school taught me anything it’s that being from Cherry Gardens or Beverly Hills does not make you a lady. It makes you supposedly rich, but not necessarily a lady. Gone are the days where your address undoubtedly made you a more reputable or respectable than another person.
It may offer you some help in society, no doubt, but it won’t automatically classify you as a lady.
A Business Woman
There is a subconscious condition that we have today of classifying business women as ladies. I mean, as a business woman myself, I can say we definitely look the part, but we all don’t necessarily act the part.
Wearing a skirt suit does not make you a lady; it makes you sexy yes, but not necessarily a lady.
Your Paycheque
I cannot tell you how much it pains my soul to see women with more money in their bank account treat other respectful women horrible. I’m sorry sweetheart but it does not matter who you know or who you had dinner with last week. That stuff that comes from your rear end cannot make patty. So sit yo’ bum down.
An extra zero can make all the difference, but it unfortunately cannot classify you as a lady.
People who fit into these categories, though amazingly unique as they are, are all just women. They are all not necessarily ladies.
In truth and in fact, anyone can be a lady. Being a lady comes from a sense of class and not your social class. It comes from sensibility in all things and not a sense of ‘ I know all things’.
Here is what, from my observation, makes a Millennial Lady.
Modestly Dressing and Flawlessly Stunting
Nothing screams woman more than a girl slaying in her clothes, but nothing screams lady, than a woman slaying modestly in her clothes. If you think you can’t slay the camera and capture attention dressed modestly, put this fashion thing down honey because you simply cannot dress.
While I, unlike half of the male population, am aware that women do not necessarily dress for men’s attention; I am also aware that we capture it anyhow we dress. To be a lady you need to always be dressed modestly for the occasion, you need to know time and clothes.
Manners, It’s a Hell of a Thing (saw what I did there?)
There is a Jamaican saying “Manners carry you through the world” and I find that it holds true. I cannot tell you how many reputable and respectable adults I have gotten to like me simple because I had manners. To be respected as a lady it is absolutely necessary for people to like your character. This includes no bloody swearing in public, I’m in my room so it doesn’t count.
Train yourself to find different words in the dictionary to substitute all the ‘beautiful and undoubtedly unladylike’ words you would like to say. Remember your basic upbringing like saying “Good morning” or “Please”. Hold doors for people; offer the elderly your seat. Character is everything and manners build an impeccable character.
Be Current, Not Mixed up
I mean gossiping is great, especially when it’s about important current affairs over coffee and with a host of other respectful women and not about other people’s lives. Ladies just simply do not gossip. It took me a while to learn this one actually. It doesn’t help your character and it doesn’t help your person. Ladies should be able to participate sensibly in every conversation, meaning they should only involve themselves in sensible conversations.
Reading the newspaper and watching the news can give you a whole, list of topics to discuss at lunch with the girls, it can also give you something to discuss with business associates as well. No matter how interesting Shenseea’s new Bimmer may be to talk about, your opinion on it won’t boost your social standing. Your sensible opinion on something you read in a National Geography magazine might though.
There are undoubtedly a host of other things that makes one a millennial lady but I think I’ve touched on all the basics. Thank you for reading and please like, comment and share this post with other women, and even some men.
Until next time,
Goodbye Ladies