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By Laura Stec

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About this blog: I've been attracted to food for good and bad reasons for many years. From eating disorder to east coast culinary school, food has been my passion, profession & nemesis. I've been a sugar addict, a 17-year vegetarian, a food and en...  (More)

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A Woman's Place is in the Kitchen, and in Lingerie

Uploaded: Jun 4, 2015
It's a step forward for all of us to see and accept Caitlin Jenner. Over 10 years ago, a friend's son-in-law made the switch from man to woman and I have to say I was shocked. Now, it seems?. well, empowering.

But why oh why did this new woman have to come out on the cover of a magazine posed in a Playboy Bunny suit? She waited all his life to say being a woman means, yet again, another stereotypical portrayal? My first show as a woman out to the world is me... in lingerie?

I haven't seen the Vanity Fair spread. Are there any pictures of her looking athletic? All I see online is a woman in long gowns and lots of makeup.

But Laura, you must remember, age and looks are what matters for the ladies. It's what we consider first when we talk about them.

So you go girl! Welcome to being a woman in the great US of A, and thanks for reinforcing the stereotype.

Time for me to get back to the kitchen, where I belong.




Community.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by Laura Stec, a resident of Portola Valley: Westridge,
on Jun 4, 2015 at 9:36 am

Did this just send us all forward and backward at the exact same time?


Posted by Kim Jong, a resident of Gemello,
on Jun 4, 2015 at 4:14 pm

What does this have to do with food? I swear the bloggers here remind me of that thing babies do with thumbs.


Posted by Laura Stec, a resident of another community,
on Jun 4, 2015 at 4:27 pm

Oh Kim Jong, sometimes we stir the pot a little in new directions.


Posted by Steve, a resident of Shoreline West,
on Jun 5, 2015 at 8:42 am

"Are there any pictures of her looking athletic?"

As an Olympic athlete, there are plenty of photos of Jenner looking athletic.


Posted by Laura Stec, a resident of another community,
on Jun 5, 2015 at 8:59 am

But not as a women Steve. And what if the whole spread was her in the kitchen in frilly aprons instead of in lingerie, gowns and makeup? Would that effect us differently?


Posted by Phil McCrackin, a resident of Shoreline West,
on Jun 5, 2015 at 10:39 am

Just you Laura, just you. I think people in general can care less about what she was wearing, she had just came out and wanted to show the world her beauty. Don't you get that? You can look deep into it and think all you want about how this holds women back and 1 step forward 2 steps back or however you want to make it seem. Let me guess, correct me if I'm wrong but your early 50s, don't live in mountain view, and are really disconnected, except for your internet connection? You have a lot of free time and look way to far into "things". Let the women have her omens and maybe just maybe, QUIT HATING! .....oh and NO coffee is not a date. It's just coffee! Must of looked to far into that one as well. LOL


Posted by Laura Stec, a resident of another community,
on Jun 5, 2015 at 11:19 am

Phil McCrackin, Thanks for the commentary and the laugh. I love you! Oops - that's not hate!


Posted by Angry Phil Grrrr :(, a resident of Blossom Valley,
on Jun 5, 2015 at 1:04 pm

I'm imagining Phil(funny).
Looks like the cartoon is over though so back to the main show:

I was thinking similarly about her spread. I thought, OK, she spelled her name with a "C" to distance herself from the Kardashians who all start their names with a K, so why is she acting exactly like a Kardashian tarting it up in her underwear?!?!

I guess I'll give her a pass this time since this was the big debut. Maybe it was a show of confidence and a sort of "In your face haters" thing. Sort of like how you stick it back into your hater's faces with humor and good spirits.


Posted by Steve, a resident of Shoreline West,
on Jun 8, 2015 at 11:01 am

Ben Dover and Phil McCrackin are indifferent to Jenner's new look for reasons that are self-evident.


Posted by Steve, a resident of Shoreline West,
on Jun 8, 2015 at 11:06 am

Caitlin Jenner is not an athlete. She is a Kardashian-type celebrity (?), and thus the Kardashian-type photos. If she was a cook, maybe there would be some cook-type photos.


Posted by Jennifer, a resident of Midtown,
on Jun 8, 2015 at 1:11 pm

I hope that Caitlin's breakthrough will open the door for plural marriage, which is probably one of the last taboos. Even some of those, who fully support gay marriage and gay rights and transgender rights, are still bigoted and hateful towards those who prefer to have multiple partners. I am monogamous, but I could care less if someone wants to be multiply connected.

What kind of stew have we created?


Posted by Alan, a resident of Menlo Park: Belle Haven,
on Jun 8, 2015 at 5:32 pm

Alan is a registered user.

It's a bit odd, that as Bruce Jenner, he achieved as an Olympic athlete what many men and women dream of, and instead, as Caitlyn, sought an image as a woman that many strive to escape. But maybe not too odd; we often want something different from what we have. Who knows if, in the long run, this brings her the contentment that she seeks, or if it's just chasing after the wind.

Sometimes people seek contentment by striving to be different than their nominally assigned lot in life, some seek it by trying to accept it. I'm not convinced either approach is perfect; we'll always be a little unsatisfied. That is, until we're dead.


Posted by Laura Stec, a resident of Portola Valley: Westridge,
on Jun 8, 2015 at 5:38 pm

Well said Alan!


Posted by pogo, a resident of Woodside: other,
on Jun 9, 2015 at 7:15 pm

pogo is a registered user.

Laura -

I have to assume you aren't "thin skinned." I enjoy your blog so please keep on writing - on any subject of your choosing!

And remember, you can't please all the people all the time. Don't even try.


Posted by Kazu, a resident of Downtown North,
on Jun 9, 2015 at 9:45 pm

"But why oh why did this new woman have to come out on the cover of a magazine posed in a Playboy Bunny suit? She waited all his life to say being a woman means, yet again, another stereotypical portrayal? My first show as a woman out to the world is me... in lingerie?"

It was his choice to become a woman, and her choice to dress like a Playboy Bunny. I don't see how criticizing the one is any different than criticizing the other. As long as she was not pressured into having the sex change or to dress a certain way, then it's OK. Not everyone will see things the same way others want them to.

"Time for me to get back to the kitchen, where I belong."

If that is what you really want, then it is your life and your choice. If a woman truly wants to be a housewife - and some do - then shouldn't she be allowed to do what she wants? If she wants to stay home, cook and take care of the kids, then it is no skin off of anyone else's nose. There are plenty of house/tennis/trophy wives in Palo Alto, by the way.

"I hope that Caitlin's breakthrough will open the door for plural marriage, which is probably one of the last taboos. Even some of those, who fully support gay marriage and gay rights and transgender rights, are still bigoted and hateful towards those who prefer to have multiple partners."

Yeah, I don't see how people can claim gay marriage is OK, but plural marriage is dirty, icky and evil. As long as parties involved marry of their own free will, and treat each other humanely, who is anyone else to throw rocks at them? Anyone who does not like plural marriage should simply not enter into one. Some folks sure do waste a lot of time judging others.

If you harm none, do what you will.


Posted by Laura Stec, a resident of Portola Valley,
on Jun 10, 2015 at 11:38 am

Thanks pogo. I think of The Food Party! like a dinner around a big table with friends old and new. Dinner parties are great formats to discuss issues of the day, and look more deeply into them. Insults don't make for good parties, but throwing around different viewpoints and talk openly does. So thanks for joining us and please enjoy the play. A glass of wine before or while Food Partying! is always an appropriate choice by the way - loosens up the banter even more. :)


Posted by Robert, a resident of Los Altos,
on Jun 10, 2015 at 11:58 am

Jenner (like the entire family) are media whores. And let's not forget he ditched his first wife (a Flight Attendant) a few months after winning the Gold in Montreal in 1976. She worked for years to support him while he was in training mode for the Olympics. He did not work. He/She doesn't work now and hasn't worked for a long time. Just another media whore.


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