Modern Women

We modern women wear our badges of honor

with all the pride and sometimes pomp of 

a Scout or 

a soldier.

Gold rings on our fingers are the symbols of 

our greatest accomplishments. 

Class rings with 

 Dates 

  gems 

   symbols

Lockets with photos of our precious babes

Daily dangling at our throats

Gently tumbling between breasts that nurse no longer

But remind us of that sweet time when they did

And of the intensity of the love, pleasure, and pain

That only a breastfeeding mother can know

Regardless of how long that time lasted,

Whether five weeks, five months, or five years.

Wedding rings that we often think can symbolize 

what we hope to or in fact have accomplished:

The stronger, more expensive the band, 

the stronger the marriage

The higher quality the diamond,

The higher the quality our relationship

The cut of the diamond; an expression of 

individuality, 

character, and 

temperament.

Signature pieces of jewelry that note our 

independence from social norms

Whether these are bracelets, bags, photos, electronics, 

Pedicures, manicures, hairstyles, colors,

Clothes,

Shoes!

We have another badge, too.

Our names speak volumes to you.

We honor our mothers, fathers, husbands, children, families

We change our names

We hyphenate

We incorporate

We relinquish

We punctuate with letters

Meaning we are 

 Learned

  Professional

   Experienced

    Proud.

What's in a name?.....An identity.

We have paper badges, too:

Degrees,

 Certificates,

  Resumes,

   Records,

    Licenses,

     Documents,

      Decrees...

       Manifestos.

We have fabric badges, too.

Our scarves we drape around our necks

Regardless of the weather

Our scarves we tie with fumbling grace 

Covering our hair, 

Covering our faces, 

entwined with the tendrils of our hair you like so much to

Run your fingers through or

Grab and pull

When you take your pleasure.

We are modern women.

We are more than 53%.