I Need A Big Loan From A Girl Zone

Women and work is one topic that's always hot. Speaking of which, I recently watched the movie 9 to 5, starring Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin as disgruntled corporate employees whose boss is a serious case of institutional sexism. The movie is a big feminist high five and a legit comedy at the same time. The ladies seek revenge on their egotistical boss, pick up some laughs along the way, and prove themselves in the company while they're at it.

Workin' 9 to 5 in 1980.

Now, the corporate male chauvinist is a pretty obvious target, and he's as powerful in 2011 as he was in 1980. But there's also the odd truth to consider, which is that in the professional world, the most powerful way females have found to cut another woman down is to remark on how she doesn't fit into the beauty/sexual acceptability quotient - like, by dismissing her clothes as matronly, slutty, or outdated. On the other hand, the way to gain another's woman appreciation or to establish a rapport with her is to compliment her hairdo, accessories, or outfit.

This ain't middle school anymore, ladies, but this is still how reps go down. When ladies diss another woman's appearance and that diss diminishes her talent, ability, and authority, the result is that women themselves are not only perpetuating but enforcing the gender stereotype that a woman's worth and power is rooted in how she looks. Now, keeping mum unless you've something nice to say may seem like an obvious etiquette lesson, but you'd be surprised at how politically loaded the language of the female compliment/female diss can be.

Is it lunchtime or hagfest?

All of this probably sounds like a weird thing for me to talk about, since I write a style blog that's based upon the premise that it's pretty cool and worthwhile to look cool and worthwhile. So, to clarify, is it dandy to dress creatively, have a rad sense of style, and to genuinely give and accept fashion compliments? Heck yeah! Is it also nifty to creatively and humorously diss, boo, and give the thumbs down to certain styles? Absolutely, as long as it's not done with the intention of undercutting a woman as a person. And that's my whole point.

Chill out, ladies. How's about you and me go back to Dolly's house and smoke a joint?

And as for the enigmatic title of this post - it's a reference to the Tori Amos song "Caught A Lite Sneeze." It's a song about a bad break-up. I know, what does that have to do with anything? Well, I've always interpreted that lyric "need a big loan from a girl zone" to mean that the song's subject needs support from her girlfriends. Or maybe it's that she's going lez because boys suck. Whatever, I guess that still works. Let's go with option A, women being supportive of each other instead of being catty.

Not that I'm advocating some kumbaya, friendship-bracelet collective sisterhood in the workplace. Just some human decency would be pretty alright. And that goes for both sexes. Turns out, a sassy attitude only flies when you work in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana.

Via hipster parks and rec.