Mommy Blogger April B. – Always Keep It Classy

Ohhhhhhhh social media. Much like my creaky knees, it's one of the many things that reminds me of my age. Every time I log on, I am horrified by at least one thing posted by at least one twenty-something. My tolerance for certain behaviors just keep shrinking.

Duck faces are among the most frequent of offenses on social media. Who ever told anyone that was cute? Multiple photos of drinks in hand and tongues sticking out also rank pretty high. There's also the, "I'm sitting in my car and I look really awesome today so I had to take a photo" photo that may or may not include a peek down said subject's shirt.

Sigh.

Why do I care, you ask? I care because it seems like the up-and-coming generation of females is going in reverse. They're working really hard to over-sexualize themselves. If Facebook is any indicator, and I think it is, today's 20-somethings have abandoned any and all regard for what women have worked for decades to try and overcome.

And it's not that they're not smart. More women have college degrees than men these days. A good chunk of 20-something chics are brilliant.

So why do they still feel the need to show more skin than brains?

Earlier this week, an intern I recently hired asked me if I had scanned her Facebook page before I offered her the position. She then told me how she was taught in college to strongly consider what she posts on Facebook.

Smart girl.

She's right. These young ladies need to think not only in terms of not posting things they wouldn't want an employer to see, but to also consider how their profile is sort of like a personal billboard. Does the billboard say Vegas showgirl or super chic and ultra creative? Does it say "'working' girl" or hire me?

I realize this lapse in judgement isn't limited to social media, and sometimes, not even to the 20-somethings.  There's a whole genre of TV reserved for bad behavior. That would be the "Real Housewives" franchise, of which I am actually a fan. But not because I have any kind of respect or admiration for those women. I just like to unwind with trashy TV. But that's not the point.

Women--especially very young women--seem to think they have to take something off to be taken seriously. But men don't think that way at all. For example, I had my car washed at Quick Quack today and even the guys spraying down cars inside the wash were wearing button down shirts and ties. Yet, at another place, I noticed some local women, whose very professional job puts them in the spotlight, dressed like they were about to unveil prizes on cheezy gameshow. And what were their male co-workers wearing? Polos or button down shirts.

The thing is, I remind myself all the time of how I'm raising a husband in my son. But I can't forget I have two girls who will one day move about freely in a world that's apparently spinning by testosterone.  I would hope from me they'll learn less is more, to always, always keep it classy, that if you have to tell people you are something, you're probably not that something at all, and that smart is both sexy and cool.