I’ll be tweeting about the book from @lizlewinson, so please follow me there. You can find me in a few days at my new author blog, www.lizlewinson.com, where I’ll also be writing about a biography I’ve been working on.   So feel free to hop over to the lizlewinson worlds.  See you there!

I was going full stream on a marketing and public relations career (and still do lots of work in that area) when it was suggested to me, by a Buddhist teacher that a career in technology would be ideal for a woman.

Did you know, female readers, that you can go to a computer trade school and get a certificate in computer programming in a relatively short time period? You CAN do this, and it will start your career.  It’s an exciting career because the field is always growing and changing.  You may think it’s about math, but it’s not.  Computer science and programming is about logic.   There are many aspects of the technology career  — such as business analysis or project management — that do not involve programming at all, although I think it’s very helpful to have programming as a background.

In the technology profession, I have never encountered sexism or ageism.  What is needed is people who can get the job done.

It’s a fast path, fulfilling career, and you should be earning six figures after several years.

I vote for computer science (the technical “T” in STEM) for any woman looking for an interesting career that will enable self-sufficiency for the rest of your life.

— Liz

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For those who have not yet seen it, the film “MissRepresentation” is a powerful and transformative depiction of the media’s effect on women and girls in the United States and — because of the influence of U.S. media — the world.

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What does this mean?  First, this is a perfect example of using social media to mobilize women of all ages and colors to work together to achieve a clearly stated goal — STOP putting imaginary ideals of looks and beauty there because it’s detrimental to women.  Second, this campaign highlights the deeper issue.

When we see  perfect photoshopped images of women, often their bone structure has been changed, their skin color changed, their complexion changed, wrinkles removed, waists slimmed.  This means that subliminally, we’re being told that real women are not OK.  Studies have shown that females of all age have a huge drop in self-confidence within 90 seconds of opening a fashion magazine.  True!  I remember as a teenager reading “Seventeen Magazine” and feeling flattened afterwards.  I don’t think it even took 90 seconds to feel ugly, poorly dressed, and leading a deprived life (unlike the gorgeous models).

I think it’s fine to be well dressed and look chic.  I don’t think it’s fine to be manipulated into a non-existent ideal of beauty.  And I truly don’t think it’s right to skew the power of women towards dress and looks alone.

I’d like to see not only MANY non-photoshopped images in ads and fashion layouts, but an emphasis on women in areas that will give them exciting careers for the rest of their lives.  STEM.  Science, Technology, Engineering, Math.  STEM is the future job arena in the 21st century and beyond.  Do Cosmo or Elle or Vogue talk about STEM?  No.  Should they — yes.  Careers in media, politics, law — all good.  The numbers in those fields are smaller. But STEM is where many, many educated people will be employed and  in productive, exciting career paths for the next few centuries.

NO on photoshopping in the media.

YES on STEM in the media.

You can find the #KeepItReal campaign at www.missrepresentation.org, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MissRepresentationCampaign and on Twitter.

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By portraying women in this way, a film becomes instantly DATED. So out of touch. True, the storyline of “Men in Black 3″ is happening back in 1969 (it’s a prequel), but are we saying there were no powerful women in 1969? Of course there were powerful women!

There’s no excuse. Film producers should realize that these outdated, shallow, cartoonish and awkward misportrayals of women are a front row ticket to instant obsolescence!

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In my last blog, I wrote about “Miss Representation,” the film (now available on Amazon and via Netflix, among other places) that is game-changing. I then signed up to receive tweets from @representpledge. Another game changer. Perhaps you’ve been getting tweets about someone’s trip to the dry cleaner or the book they liked. Pleasant but so what who cares. The majority of the tweets from @representpledg are about other women and organizations networking to achieve the same goal, true gender equality and awareness of what has been going on for the last couple of thousand years, which is the repression of women.

When you read about all the groups working together on this issue and see missrepresentation.org retweeting the information with dedication and persistence, you may get the same underlying sense that I did: this is going to work.

A couple of sites that I learned about through tweets that I think are of current, special interest involve teaching women to run for office.

http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/site/pages/2012Project.php

http://www.sheshouldrun.com/

Rutgers will assign you a coach if you are interested in working in the public service area. Women should be running countries. So let’s get started!

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Suppression and misrepresentation of the power of women is still the predominant global situation, but the situation is changing.  Ha!  Men and women should rejoice over this!  It is good news for everyone.

Attitudes change first, and the numbers will change later.  I see the work of talented younger woman focusing on socially responsible causes; the growth of powerful grant-giving groups like the Global Fund for Women; the work of the Pachamama Alliance representing the needs of Mother Earth; Hillary as Secretary of State; women leaders in spiritual communities and much, much more.

“Miss Representation.”  All men and women should see this film.  It shows the misrepresentation of women in the media, the powerful negative impact this had on all of us (most visibly seen in teenagers).  It touches on history in a wonderful view of all-male leaders in the United States and the fight for basic rights for women.   The filmmaker, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, was able to interview many women from divergent backgrounds ranging from Condoleeza Rice to Nanci Pelosi, and a range of women in media.  Men are also filmed, discussing their experience of women’s roles in media and government.  To see how wonderfully Ms. Newsom and team are handling the groundswell being created by this film, see their Facebook page.

The punchline of the film is absolutely accurate.  “You cannot be what you cannot see.”  Kids today (Generation C — connected) spend 10 hours a day immersed in various forms of media.  If all forms of media, from video games to film to cable — do not honor and acknowledge powerful women for their capability and brains, then what is left?  Brain dead bimbos?  Men who wield power and decision-making and women with insane bodies following along?  This is biologically and energetically wrong.  Untrue and detrimental to both genders.

I have been taught/have observed that men are innately suited for love and humility.  It is their highest and most effortless path.  Women are most innately and ideally suited to handle power.  It is their highest and most effortless path.

Somewhere in the last few thousand years, things got switched.

c 2012 Social Solutions Group

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If writing, please include your website, social media pages and other relevant links to provide a snapshot of where you live in the strategic/communications/fundraising growth cycle.

The value of an outside opinion is the ability to cut to the chase regarding where and how your wonderful group can fulfill its present and future goals.

• In-depth strategic planning
• Mission refresh workshops
• Fundraising opportunities and execution
• Media and communication plans
• Marketing and public relations for events and organizations

Please contact the Social Solutions Group team for further information care of liz@socialsolutionsgroup.com.

The Coming Home Project today announced a special retreat for Student Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars that will take place March 28 to 31 near Yosemite National Park. Attending the retreat will be women and men veterans from around the USA. The Coming Home Project is a nationally recognized program that offers free, confidential group support and stress management retreats for veterans and families and their professional service providers.

Led by Dr. Joseph Bobrow, a psychologist and zen teacher, the retreat will include a multidisciplinary support team of previous war veterans, psychotherapists and interfaith leaders who help facilitate peer-driven support groups in which veterans can share stories and experiences.

According to Dr. Bobrow, “We put this special program together because we know that student veterans face a unique set of challenges. The headlines in the news today demonstrate the need to reduce isolation, connect with self and with peers, and learn stress management tools that assist veterans to re-integrate effectively back into civilian life. We offer our programs in beautiful settings with the goals of veterans coming together, sharing struggles and making breakthroughs in an atmosphere of mutual support, safety and trust. Our programs achieve these goals.”

Other transformative elements of the March retreat include – learning new skills such as mindfulness and yoga for reducing stress and anxiety and enhancing well-being; improving communications; expressing what cannot be spoken through arts such as journaling and drawing; enjoying invigorating outdoor recreational activities in a scenic, peaceful setting; and transforming the unseen injuries of war.

According to Bob Rodriguez, one of the veterans who participated in a Coming Home Project retreat, “When I returned from my tour in Iraq, I was in my own little world of distrust, anger, and sadness. I didn’t know how to come back from war and become a part of my family again. My relationship with my wife was strained not only by money and health concerns, but by how I had changed. The Coming Home Project brought us back from the edge. The retreat we attended helped my wife…sort of know the “new me”. During family holidays, I am reminded even more of how lucky I am that Coming Home Project helped me reconnect with my wife and kids.”

About The Coming Home Project

The Coming Home™ Project is a non-profit organization devoted, since 2006, to providing expert, compassionate care, support, education, and stress management tools for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, service members, their families, and their service providers. We are an experienced team of psychotherapists, veterans and interfaith leaders committed to alleviating the unseen wounds of war. Our nationally recognized, evidence-based programs address the emotional, social, moral, and spiritual injuries and the family challenges experienced during all stages of deployment, especially reintegration. The free programs are supported by individual donations and organizations. You can learn more about the program at www.cominghomeproject.net.

For additional information contact:

Dr. Joseph Bobrow
jbobrow@cominghomeproject.net
415-353-5363

Liz Lewinson
415-944-3991