Who are your nominees for butt-kicking chicks?

[bluerider]

Number one...my MOM! She kicks butt in other ways besides sport. She grew up in a culture/era that didn't encourage girls to do and be anything they want to be but today she is my biggest supporter.

I greatly admire Katherine Switzer (runner). And Sarah Reinersten (triathlete). Both amazing ladies.

[Waverly]

I never felt like girls were boring or incapable. I also never felt like I couldn't do as much as a guy. I LOVE being female! We have tons of power and capability. For god's sake we give birth to live little human beings! I was raised by a single mom. That may be why I never felt like girls couldn’t do as much as men. I watched my mother raise to rotten kids and run her own business. Granted she didn't do everything perfect, but what fun would that have been. My mom is my strong woman! She definitely instilled in me the knowledge that I could do whatever I wanted regardless of my sex. Not to say that some girls aren't boring and snotty! Maybe it is just the little group she is playing with or their age. Kudo's for your daughter for realizing their wrong and for wanting more.

Jessica

[Trek420]

uk elephant "Aunt...And she has a black belt in Aikido (I think)" that's 2nd degree BB to you "

Don't forget yourself, my neice, completed your undergrad work in what was it? 3 years? Now on to a dual major Phd.

Other neice is a lawyer and now a new Mom.

Our cousin Dina is a UN translator and speaks G** only knows how many languages.

And UK the other butt kicking thing about your G'ma (and bikeless and my mom) is how she went back to school to complete her Masters with a family with 3 kids. When I was a kid so few Moms worked outside the home, I got a lot of raised eyebrows and was always so proud of her. She's the orriginal Super Mom.

And then there's your Great Grandma....both of them really....

[CorsairMac]

ROFL - I was just in stitches when I read this: growing up my mom kept asking me why I couldn't act "more like a girl"! Now she brags about me to anyone who'll listen coz I'm a bike commuter! My how age changes ones viewpoints!

anyway: how about Rosa Parks?

[li10up]

ROFL - I was just in stitches when I read this: growing up my mom kept asking me why I couldn't act "more like a girl"! Now she brags about me to anyone who'll listen coz I'm a bike commuter! My how age changes ones viewpoints!

I heard that all the time when growing up! Now my mom thinks it's cool that I can ride 50 miles on a bike, that I go backpacking, kayaking and skiing. Now she calls me a strong woman instead of a "tomboy". OOHHH how I hated that word. Just because a girl likes sports doesn't mean she's a boy. I said this in another thread somewhere....if a lady does it then I guess it's "lady-like", right?

[DirtDiva]

I wanted to be a tomboy, but I was too unco-ordinated.

What about books? I don't know how old the girl in question is, so it's a bit hard to make recomendations, but there's plenty of literature around with non-boring, non-wimpy girl characters. One that springs to mind is Lyra Silvertongue (she is a little sneaky, I admit) from Philip Pullman's Northern Lights series. Probably best for a reader of 10-12, and they're enjoyable for adults too, so he could always read it to her if they're a bit hard. There's all plenty of other stuff out there that isn't all Babysitters' Club lip gloss and boyfriends. I should be able to think of lots more examples, but my brain isn't co-operating at the moment.

[rocknrollgirl]

Is for my Mom, who as we speak is fighting for her life against ovarian cancer. She buried two chidren in her life, and has been fighting this horrible disease for three years. We have literally watched her come back from the dead twice.
She is the strongest person I know. This Sunday I am doing a six hour adventure race to benefit the American Cancer Society. Every step of my training and every step of the race I do in her honor.

You rock Mom...you are the original tough chick....

Ruth

[Crankin]

I teach 11-13 year olds and this is a perpetual problem. There are lots of good role models,but the problem is there are even more bad ones. I see the confident, athletic sixth graders come in and within months their egos are deflated and they are giggling idiots, even if they are very smart girls. Some of this is normal developmental behavior, but when i have to talk to 11 year old girls about "dating" problems it seems weird. I was no perfect girl at that age and most of my friends think I was pretty wild compared to their experiences. But, it seems like these girls are about 2 years ahead of where I was, back in the sixties. I also notice that really smart girls tend to want to hang out with immature, not very bright boys and other girls who get in a considerable amount of trouble... I would have never even looked at people like that for friends. I think my mom sort of always told me that I could do whatever I wanted and that I should be able to take care of myself. Even though she was a stay at home mom of the fifties era, she was very athletic and independent. Too bad I inherited my dad's lack of coordination as a kid. Of course, the only sports open to girls then were ballet and ice skating. So, I skated and rode my bike!

[massbikebabe]

on Robyns trend...

how about Dorothy Hamill??? I just watched a cool documentary about Greta
(last name escapes me) she was a jewish high jumper during WWII...awesome
story.


karen

[vie]

My mom and her mom will always be my role models. They are truly amazing women.
But I personally look up to a few Ironman women like Lisa Bentley, Lori Bowden, Heather Fuhr and the list go's on. There's nothing boring about those canadien women ! They inspire me to train and not give up my dreams and goals.

Sylvie

[Tuckervill]

There's a good book on this topic, Reviving Ophelia, by Mary Pipher

Amazon review:
At adolescence, says Mary Pipher, "girls become 'female impersonators' who fit their whole selves into small, crowded spaces." Many lose spark, interest, and even IQ points as a "girl-poisoning" society forces a choice between being shunned for staying true to oneself and struggling to stay within a narrow definition of female. Pipher's alarming tales of a generation swamped by pain may be partly informed by her role as a therapist who sees troubled children and teens, but her sketch of a tougher, more menacing world for girls often hits the mark. She offers some prescriptions for changing society and helping girls resist.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/034...lance&n=283155

[CorsairMac]

on Robyns trend...

how about Dorothy Hamill??? I just watched a cool documentary about Greta
(last name escapes me) she was a jewish high jumper during WWII...awesome
story.


karen

OT Drift: SAC!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was Just thinking of you yesterday.....either I'm whizzing by your posts or I just haven't seen any in awhile! I was wondering how you were doing??...go riding yet??...how the therapy is going? etc etc


and here's a good one for ya:

how about our own MassBikeBabe recovering from a stroke and refusing to let it take her down??

[massbikebabe]

aaaaaaahhhhhhhh, shucks.

Much has happened to me this past month that I haven't been able to post. Until last week I was having constant seizures...got that under control.
Then Me mum and dad went to Ireland to visit the family and I lost me dad over there. He went very quickly and painlessly so I take great solace in that.
I am hoping to get on me bike next week if the weather holds out. So much has happened in such a short time that my head is spinning. But I try to keep logging in because this space brings me so much comfort and inspiration!!


karen

[mtkitchn]

aaaaaaahhhhhhhh, shucks.

Much has happened to me this past month that I haven't been able to post. Until last week I was having constant seizures...got that under control.
Then Me mum and dad went to Ireland to visit the family and I lost me dad over there. He went very quickly and painlessly so I take great solace in that.
I am hoping to get on me bike next week if the weather holds out. So much has happened in such a short time that my head is spinning. But I try to keep logging in because this space brings me so much comfort and inspiration!!


karen

Wow, Karen, you've gone through a lot recently! Hope everything works out for you. Am sending good thoughts your way....

[sydney_b]

Y'all are awesome. Thank you for your suggestions and insights!

/s