How I Did It: Rachel Schwartzmann Turned a Tumblr Into a Business
In 2013 the blogger relaunched The Style Line as a website. She's been unstoppable since.
The Style Line, helmed by founder Rachel Schwartzmann, a New Yorker with an eye for style and an ear for storytelling, is all about bringing authenticity back to the web. Think of the site as the perfectly tailored dress every woman should have in her closet. There is an elegance to the content, curating a gallery of the most "passionate and creative people in the world." She also runs CONNECT(ED)ITORIAL™, a consulting business that helps brands strengthen their editorial arm.
How did she do it: a pep talk from dad, hard work (always, hard work), and making sure she catches up on her zss.
I got my start: My start was a little out of the ordinary. I started The Style Line on tumblr as a high school senior! I was obviously working on it in a very different capacity than I am now, but hey everyone has to start somewhere right?
How did you make the jump from tumblr to site? Since it’s very first inception tumblr was so supportive of our early mission and content. I grew up in New York so I had access to the industry very early on and was fortunate to reach out to them and luckily I was able to maintain a very significant relationship. They helped spotlight the tumblr page which allowed for rapid growth - enough that I think I felt there was a core audience there that would want to grow with us as we entered a more “official” phase in 2013.
Decision that changed everything: The catalyst for taking on The Style Line full-time came right before entering my junior year at FIT. Up until that point I had been doing the usual: schoolwork, interning and working on The Style Line has a side-hustle. I knew that I wanted to see The Style Line through to its full potential and at that point it was just a matter of when. So with the encouragement of my dad, I decided to forgo the program and form a company. In August 2013 I relaunched the site, formed our LLC and haven’t looked back.
Scariest moment of my career: I won’t share any specific anecdotes, but the scariest moments have come when loss has occurred. Loss of control, loss of motivation, etc. But what I’ve learned is that even when faced with loss you quickly learn to turn these moments into opportunities and in turn, you have that much more to gain.
Most euphoric moment of my career: In retrospect it’s all really just starting! But anytime I have the opportunity to work with or feature people I admire or those I think our readers would really identify with. But if I had to choose a few highlights would include: our sustainable design collaboration with Melissa Joy Manning (in partnership with CFDA), being a finalist for the Shorty Award’s Best in Fashion category and recently, launching our consultancy business CONNECT(ED)ITORIAL™.
That nagging voice in my head tells me: Get out of your comfort zone, but don't lose sight of your values. One of the biggest compliments we receive about The Style Line is our continued efforts to maintain an authentic sense of community, one that I think so important in a rapidly evolving landscape.
"Get out of your comfort zone, but don't lose sight of your values."
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Every morning: Coffee.
The last time I took a break: Last year I came up with a resolution inspired by my work to travel every month of 2015 to a different city in the U.S. Naturally I didn’t really feel like working when this was happening and it allowed for me to take a step back, a deep breath, and regain some clarity.
The last time I felt overwhelmed: I slept for 13 hours. That’s my big coping mechanism - letting my mind and my body rest.
The most rewarding part of The Style Line: I feel so fortunate that we’ve been able to cultivate so many great friendships, partnerships and stories. It’s been even more amazing to see how many connections our collaborators have made with one another through a shared interest in our values and mission.
My go-to zen spot: I’m not sure I have one! I really enjoy having a hot chocolate at Cafe Orlin. I don’t live anywhere near St. Marks Place or ever have a distinct reason to go that far but there’s something about the cafe that makes me feel at ease.
What impact does style have on your life? A huge one! It’s essentially at the core of my work (we love exploring how it relates to other industries/conversations) and I consider it to be my primary form of self-expression.
How do you make sure The Style Line stands out? I make sure there is a balance in our content. Our stories are pretty lengthy so we work to have each story serve as an experience (by including dynamic visuals that illustratively help bring these stories to life!). Speaking more to this: our premise is showing how personal style can play a role in some of the world’s bigger conversations but getting people interested in the other side of that (the harder conversations) is a tall order. So I’m constantly making sure that what we publish is relevant, responsible but still totally rad… so far I think we’re on the right track!
Be sure to check out Rachel at Create Cultivate Dallas at the end of this month! Where she'll be speaking on finding a fresh approach in a crowded market.
Look At These Betches Now: Madlibbing Jordana Abraham and Aleen Kuperman
We Mad Libbed the biggest Betches on the internet.
Jordana Abraham, Aleen Superman, and Samantha Fishbein (NY Times)
In 2011 Jordana Abraham, Aleen Kuperman, and Samantha Fishbein started a "college humor" blog called Betches Love This. Just a few years and a name change later, Betches, is now the satire site for women who have a sense of humor. With articles like, "10 Healthy-ish Food Instas To Keep You On Your Resolution To Lose 3 Pounds" they are on to something good. Or maybe they're already there. If we are to believe a 2013 NY Times article, the .com has its founders laughing all the way to the bank.
We caught up with Aleen and Jordana ahead of their appearance at Create Cultivate Dallas. And because we don't like mad-dogging other women, we Mad Libbed them. 5th grade style.
Make sure to catch Aleen and Jordana on What's your angle? Finding an fresh approach to a crowded marketplace at Create & Cultivate Dallas January 30th!
Just Not Sorry: A New Plugin Helps Edit Weakly Worded Emails
Will removing "just" from your vocab help you climb the corporate ladder? Maybe.
In October of 2015 Academy-Award winning actress Jennifer Lawrence penned a now famous open-letter addressing the wage equality, titled: “Why Do I Make Less Than My Male Co-Stars?”
It was brave, honest, to the point, and unequivocally Lawrence.
Missing from the letter was one word we’ve been recently taught as women to eradicate from our vocab: sorry. Present in the letter was another qualifying word: just. It appeared twice.
In the first instance Lawrence writes, “A few weeks ago at work, I spoke my mind and gave my opinion in a clear and no-bullshit way; no aggression, just blunt.”
The second is the very last line of the letter: “For some reason, I just can’t picture someone saying that about a man.”
In the first instance it can be argued that the word is being used less as a modifier, and more in the word’s traditional sense: “deserved or appropriate in the circumstances.”
In the second however, it cushions the final blow and avoids committing, even if she is being sardonic.
It’s something that a lot of women have taken note of lately.
JUST NOT SORRY
Not too late now.
In December of this past year, a plugin for Gmail that highlights words that weaken your writing was released by Cyrus Innovation. The idea was first conceived by CEO Tami Reiss at a League of Extraordinary Women brunch when Reiss and many of her colleagues were noting the still prevalent use of "undermining" words.
In a blog post explaining the plugins origins, Reiss writes:
"We had all inadvertently fallen prey to a cultural communication pattern that undermined our ideas. As entrepreneurial women, we run businesses and lead teams — why aren’t we writing with the confidence of their positions?"
She then asked her colleagues if they would use a plugin that had a simple feature that would mitigate the chance of using undermining language. The response was yes, and Just Not Sorry was created. The plugin underlines any words or phrases considered not effective.
After downloading, step 2 is committing to a pledge to send better emails. It reads: “In 2016, I will be a more effective communicator. I will only use "sorry" in emails when I mean it. I will not say "I think" things that I know. I will be more conscious of my tone and it's impact.”
It so happened to make a few women mad.
“So you’re telling me,” a friend said the other day, “that I can just install a man in my keyboard?”
Speaking with another work peer who asked to remain anonymous, she said: ”This war on the "J" word is interesting to me. In my c-suite both men and women were banned from using the word “just” to describe any work because it implied a lack of conscious thought. But to ban it in other instances, is strange to me. Language is not that cut and dry.”
OPINIONS ARE LIKE AHOLES
Everyone has one. *raises feminist hand.*
Jessica Grose is the editor of Lenny. The same site that published Lawrence’s letter. On January 4th in a op-ed for The Washington Post Grose took issue with the plugin. The lead-in read:
"Telling women to apologize less isn't about empowerment. It's about shame."
Grosee claims that unwarranted scrutiny, not specific words, surrounding female speech works to undermine female authority. She includes counter-arguments from linguists who claim that words like “sorry” can be used as “conversational smoothers,” and that women have found a way to make their speech work for them at work. She also links to a study from linguist Cynthia McLemore who found that Texan sorority girls used uptalk to “cement authority.”
She argues that language is fluid, depends on environment, and if certain women feel more effective using “undermining” language, then so be it. None of this is wrong. Men and women have distinctly different work styles, and some studies have proven that a woman's approach is more effective in leadership positions. What Grosse glosses over (a criticism she makes of Reiss and the simplicity of the plugin) is a complicated history of gender politics in the workforce where women have occupied subordinate positions, both figurative and metaphorical, and have adjusted their vocabulary to fit said positions.
More so, giving women the OPTION to apologize less is not about shame, it's about choice. (Also, though women are the target demo, the plugin isn't only for women. Last I checked men can download it as well-- plus it's free.)
"Giving women the OPTION to apologize less is not about shame, it's about choice."
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If Lawrence hadn't qualified her final sentence with "just," it would have been a stronger finish. That's my opinion, and as just a woman, I'm entitled to it and a plugin if I so choose.
The Ride of Their Lives: How SoulCycle Founders Killed the Startup Game
They built it, and everybody came.
Julie Rice, left, and Elizabeth Cutler, right. Co-Founders, SoulCycle.
Julie Rice and Elizabeth Cutler are the co-founders of SoulCycle, that chain of luxury indoor cycling gyms that inspired just about everyone you know to get their butt on a stationary bike. The experience has been likened to a drug. The rooms are dark, hot, and sweaty. The music is loud and the instructors have more energy than you on a good day. But what SoulCycle has proven itself capable of is providing its clients with a riding high that translates into day-to-day wellness. It's not a business, it's a "movement."
The co-founders started with one studio in 2006 on the Upper West Side in New York, and in July of 2015 the lifestyle startup filed for a 100 million dollar initial public offering with the goal to expand from 46 studios on the East and West coasts to 250 nationwide.
Who knew that a couple of moms could reshape the way we work out? They did.
We checked in with Elizabeth and Julie, who both now serve as SoulCycle's co-chief creative officers, in anticipation of Create & Cultivate Dallas where they'll be diving into the story of their success and the soul behind the cycle.
You both changed careers, which can be scary at any point, for anyone. What advice would you give women looking to make a big switch?
EC: Act on your gut and commit. If you make a mistake, learn from that mistake and move on. Don’t let it paralyze you.
You saw a profit after six months, which is amazing and crazy! How did you manage such accelerated success?
JR: We always had a very clear vision of the brand we wanted to create. We innovated indoor cycling and created the ultimate customer experience.
EC: SoulCycle was built on word of mouth! Our best marketers don’t work for the company; they’re the ones riding in our studios.
Can you recall moments of self-doubt? Confusion?
EC: Of course—there were a lot along the way. Julie and I have complimentary skills and where she excels, I often lack and vice versa. When one of us had doubts the other always pushed us along!
JR: Elizabeth is fearless!
A lot of SoulCycle die-hards love it because they get out of their heads and escape. But when that escape is your business, are you able to separate the two and immerse yourselves in the experience of a class?
JR: Definitely—we created SoulCycle because we were looking for a workout experience that didn’t exist. We were users from day one! When the lights go out and the beat drops we lose ourselves in the workout.
EC: A lot of my best ideas have come to me on the bike!
For those that say luxury exercise is a fad, how would you respond?
JR: Investing in your health isn’t a fad! It’s important that people find joy in exercise.
"Investing in your health isn’t a fad!"
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How do you balance business and all the day-to-day of life?
JR: It’s always been about about integrating the two, and I mean that literally! When we opened our first studio we worked the front desk and brought our daughters to work with us. They grew up in the business.
EC: One of our company’s core values is to “recharge.” We have surrounded ourselves with the best team to scale and grow the business. It enables us to spend time with our families and take vacations.
SoulCycle was originally self-funded. For those without startup capital, what’s the best piece of advice you have?
EC: We had some startup capital from an investment I had made into the soft drink brand, Izze. After that we relied on our American Express cards! Every time we needed to up our credit limit, they were there, and truly we would not exist today if weren’t for American Express!
JR: In the beginning, we worked in the studio and didn’t pay ourselves. My advice to an entrepreneur is to get dirty and keep expenses down!
Business advice: "Get dirty and keep expenses down!"
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Favorite song to Cycle to right now?
JR: I’m obsessed with Hamilton the musical and love cycling to the soundtrack. We keep adding Hamilton theme rides to the schedule and they sell out instantly!
Elizabeth you’ve admitted to be “anxious and scared,” about going to the gym postpartum. SoulCycle classes can be a little intimidating for women getting back to gym (whether because of baby or otherwise). What would you say to them?
EC: We ride in candlelight--I promise that no one is watching you! It is the one place you can go and be completely anonymous.
Are there any plans for global SoulCycle? How do you see the business growing from here?
JR: SoulCycle is a lifestyle brand. We have brick and mortar studios, a retail line, and content. We are working hard to bring SOUL to as many people as we can, as quickly as possible. We want to connect with our riders in many areas of their lives, not just when they are in our studios.
What did SoulCycle mean to you when you started? What does it mean to you now?
EC: SoulCycle has evolved but has stayed true to our original vision. It’s the meeting of physical strength, mental health and spiritual wellbeing.
JR: SoulCycle motivates riders to be the best version of themselves.
"SoulCycle motivates riders to be the best version of themselves."
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What does Create & Cultivate mean to you?
JR: Inspiration and community.
5 Apps That Will Make You Look Like an All-Star This Year
Move over, paper resume. This year, we’re taking our portfolios digital with these apps that are perfect for displaying your work right at your fingertips.
Move over, paper resume. This year, we’re taking our portfolios digital with these apps that are perfect for displaying your work right at your fingertips.
Are you a creative who needs a chic way to show off your designs? Are you a frequent networker who’d rather have your resume at the touch of a button? These apps let you carry around your tools at all times, so you’re always ready to show off your work, whenever you might need to.
For any designer or artist, Behance Display is a convenient way to showcase your portfolio wherever you go. All you have to do is set up your portfolio on Behance.netand then download the app so you can access it at all times. You can choose exactly how you want to style your portfolio on your phone, so the next time you’re out networking, you can use this and avoid showing someone your work in your Photo Library.
2. Worklets
Worklets’ easy-to-use interface allows you to create PDF brochures in a matter of minutes. With the app, you’re able to choose your own photos and text in order to design a professional brochure that can show off any type of work experience. It’s also easily shareable, so you can send your projects off to a new colleague right away—so much better than a boring text simply explaining what you do.
One great way to showcase your work in a mobile-friendly way is to set up a website on a platform like Squarespace. Though it costs money to join, it’s customizable, user-friendly and you don’t need any coding experience to make something that looks great. And if you do happen to have a Squarespace account, you can then take advantage of its companion apps, like Squarespace Portfolio. This app allows you to sync the galleries from your account into a sleek presentation that you can bring anywhere, even if you don’t have an internet connection.
4. Dripbook
All you need is an account on Dripbook.com to bring your creative portfolio straight to your iPad or iPhone. This app will automatically sync with your online portfolios so you can present your work even when you don’t have access to a computer. Primarily used by creative professionals, Dripbook allows you to set up a visual representation of your work right on your phone.
5. Levo Resume
We had to throw in a little #LevoLove and mention this app that allows you to create a beautiful resume on the fly. Just plug in whatever information you want (education, skills, work history, etc.) and the app will automatically generate a resume with everything you need, including a place for a picture and contact info. Now you’ll never have to be without your resume, and you can quickly tweak it, as needed.
Like A Boss: 10 Women We Love Who Made Forbes 30 Under 30
In case you needed a little more motivation for 2016.
Forbes 30 Under 30 is the list that kicks off the new year for enterprising young people. We are proud to say that C & C Founder and CEO Jaclyn Johnson made last year’s list (hello, #humblebrag). This year, we are even more proud to see that many past speakers and professionals that we work with have landed a coveted spot.
When we asked Stephanie Korey of Away what making the list meant to her, she said: "What I'm most proud of at Away is the early team that my co-founder Jen (who was Forbes Under 30 last year!) and I have brought together. It's great to start the year with well deserved recognition for everything the team at Away has accomplished up to now, and it's awesome momentum for all the even greater things we have up our sleeves 2016. Stay tuned!"
Danielle Duboise and Whitney Tingle of Sakara Life felt similarly. The founders said, "Wow, it's almost impossible to capture how we feel. We started Sakara as two childhood best friends going through our own personal food journeys, making meals in our tiny NYC kitchen, and delivering them ourselves on bicycles. Today, we're not only feeding thousands of people across the country, but helping them live healthier, happier lives and feel amazing in their bodies. Being recognized by Forbes is such an honor and truly an example of the meaning of Sakara - 'the manifestation of thoughts to things.'"
Our hats and heels are off to this fine group women. We look forward to seeing what 2016 brings you.
C+C Classifieds: 33 Positions To Get Your 2016 Job Hunt Started
The new year is here - are you on the hunt for your next venture to make 2016 the best year yet for your career?
How's this for a little monday motivation? If everyone you know went back to work today, and you're still on the J-O-B hunt, we have the keys (a la DJ Khaled) for making 2016 the best year yet for your career? In fact, we can't think of a better way to kick-off January than by cracking down on the job hunt.
Check the listings we’ve collected below and get that cover letter polished up. You're about to be employed.
Joie
(California)
Joie has established itself as one of the most sought after contemporary brands that caters to the savvy, fashion-minded, modern woman. It's been 15 years since its inception and the co. still holds the same values, thriving on an aesthetic that draws on both vintage and modern inspiration. The Southern California brand now has a strong global presence, both in department stores and their own boutiques, and most recently, their e-commerce website that launched in January of 2012. If you’re looking to be a part of this company’s expansion, check out their listings below!
Snapchat
(Venice, CA)
Have you ever imagined what it’s like to work right on the Venice boardwalk for one of the most successful tech companies in Silicon Beach? If you’re not only an avid user of Snapchat, but are also looking to contribute your amazing talents to make the company even better, check out the listings below! And then snap your friends at work.
+Events Manager, Business Marketing
+Recruiting Operations Manager
Gimlet Media
(Brooklyn, NY)
If you’ve ever tuned in to the podcast Startup, you’d know that Gimlet Media is the brainchild of Alex Goldman. If you’ve been following the growth of this podcast media company, you'd know it has produced other amazing shows like Reply All, Mystery Show, and Surprisingly Awesome. So if you avidly speak (or rather, listen) podcast, Gimlet Media is for you. Check their current listings below!
Maker Studios
(Culver City, CA)
Recently acquired by Disney, Maker Studios is one of the leading multi-channel networks that are taking the digital space by storm. Maker Studios has helped change YouTube by bringing some of the best content to the internet, along with helping represent some of the best content creators. From Jenn Im, Camila Cohelo, Timothy DeLaGhetto, Andrea Brooks, Pew Die Pie, and many more. If you’re looking to leave your footprint in the world of YouTube, check out where you can join the Maker team below.
mitú
(Santa Monica, CA)
mitú is one of the leading media sites for the U.S. Hispanic and global Latino audience, bringing content, news, and viral videos to the digital space. Since 2012, mitú has been reshaping the Latino media landscape, and has thrived from building a very niche audience, making it the number one Latino Network worldwide. If you’re looking to contribute to the largest group of Latino content creators and social influencers, check mitú’s listings below.
Vice
(Brooklyn, NY)
For over 22 years, Vice Media Inc. has revolutionized the way news and media has been voiced to the millennial audience. After expanding beyond their initial Vice magazine offering, Vice created their multimedia network Vice.com along with nine other channels, including i-D magazine, Vice News, Vice Books, Vice Music, Noisey, Motherboard, The Creators Project, and most recently Broadly. If you’re looking to be a part of one of the leading media networks in the world, check out Vice’s listings.
Clique Media
(Los Angeles, CA)
As the parents of Who What Wear, Byrdie Beauty, and Domaine, Clique Media owns the digital space for the latest in fashion, beauty, and decor news. Not only that, but it’s most successful outlet, Who What Wear, has over 300,000 readers every month (and did we mention its founders Hilary Kerr and Katherine Power are our keynote speakers at Create & Cultivate Dallas this month??). If you want to be a part of this dynamic media powerhouse, check Clique Media’s listings below.
For Love and Lemons
(Los Angeles, CA)
For Love and Lemons has designed some of the most coveted and beautiful lingerie and knitwear in the world of fashion. Their pieces are so unique, that it's obvious from first glance that someone is wearing For Love and Lemons. Founders Gillian Rose Kern and Laura Hall have made an incredibly successful brand with their unique eye for design and hustle, and are looking for new team members who hold the same values. If this sounds like you, check out their listings below!
#CreateCultivateDTLA: Complimentary Luxe Valet for VIPs
#CreateCultivateDTLA is only a few weeks away, and we want to make sure that you're ready for the big day from what you need to bring to where you park your car. That's why we partnered with our friends at Luxe to ensure that your VIP experience at the conference nad provide you on-demand parking for the you!
HOW IT WORKS
First thing is first, make sure you download the Luxe app here for your $20 credit.
Before you start your drive, make a request through the app for a Luxe valet attendant to meet you at Hudson Lofts (1200 S. Hope St. Los Angeles, CA 90015). Upon arrival, pull up to be greeted by your Luxe valet, who will be pictured in the app. While parked, you can request a car wash, gas up, or even an oil change - just select in the app!
WHEN YOU'RE READY TO LEAVE
When you're ready to leave, place your return request at least 15-20 minutes beforehand and have your car brought to you anywhere in Downtown LA, or schedule your return in advance to be brought to you at a specific time and place.
And just like that' you're set with getting your complimentary VIP parking thanks to Luxe!
If you have questions, feel free to ask us hello@thereisnosubject.com
15 Girl Boss Moments of 2015
2015 was a notoriously BIG (or notorious R.B.G., as it so were) year for females. We laughed, we cried, we banded together, we kicked some corporate ass, and we had some fun in the process. As we're gearing up to say goodbye, we tip our hats and kick off our heels to the women who owned this year. You make our future look bright.
1. Patricia Arquette started the year off on the right fancy foot. When the actress won Best Supporting Actress at the Oscar's she took the time to address wage inequality and a rallying cry for all women. "It's our time to have wage equality once and for all," she exclaimed, which got both Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lopez out of their seats.
2. Jennifer Lawrence continued the wage convo, when she penned an open-letter about the Hollywood pay gap for Lena Dunham's Lenny Letter, entitled: STORIES Hollywood’s Gender Wage Gap Jennifer Lawrence Letters to Lenny Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner Get That Second Wave Style Laia Garcia How Sports Gave Me Swagger Gina Prince-Bythewood Becoming Grace Jones Doreen St. Fél
"Why Do I Make Less Than My Male Co‑Stars?"
“Are we socially conditioned to behave this way?” she wrote. Not if boss women have anything to say about it.
3. During the Superbowl Always #LikeAGirl commercial struck a chord with the nation. And then the U.S Women’s Soccer Team showed the whole world what playing like a a girl really meant. The U.S. team defeated Japan to win the FIFA wold cup. According to some news outlets it was the most watched soccer match in the history of television— men or women. Annndd then Obama mic-dropped everyone: "This team taught all of America’s children that 'playing like a girl' means you're a badass.”
"This team taught all of America’s children that 'playing like a girl' means you're a badass.”
4. In 75 years of ABT (American Ballet Theater) there was never an African American female principle dancer. In June of 2015 Misty Copeland broke down that barrier. “I’m here to be a vessel,” she said at the April 2015 TIME 100 gala, “for these brown ballerinas who have come before me.”
5. Adele said FU to the male gaze on the cover of Rolling Stone, and sold 3 million album copies in one week. Hello. It’s me. The boss.
6. United we stand. 35 women banded together to fight Bill Cosby and a history of sexual assault. On the July cover of NY Magazine, 35 women sat in chairs facing the world: "I'm No Longer Afraid," they told announced. Together. One chair remained empty for all voiceless victims of sexual assault.
7. Hillary Clinton announced her run for the 2016 Presidential bid. "I'm running for President," she said in a video that also featured a diverse group of American stories.
8. Gloria Steinem dedicated her book, "My Life On the Road," to Dr. John Sharpe who performed her illegal abortion when she was 22 years old who made her promise him: "you will do what you want to do with your life."
9. In March Monica Lewinsky gave a TED Talk: The Price of Shame, where the now 41 year old took back her narrative.
"Public shaming as a blood sport has to stop."
10. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg has been known for her “incrementalism,” -- a slow-but-steady approach to feminism that really hit its stride in 2015 (thanks to the Internet and a few great memes). As an architect for the women's rights movement in the '60s and '70s, Bader Ginsberg has been fighting for gender equality for decades. The now 82-year-old is the oldest Justice on the bench, bit that's not slowing her down.
"Now I happen to be the oldest. But John Paul Stevens didn't step down until he was 90."
11. Viola Davis became the first African-American woman to win an Emmy in the Best Actress in a drama category. “The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy for roles that simply are not there,” she told the crowd.
12. Female-friendly, safe place on the Internet, HelloGiggles- the website founded by Sophia Rossi and Zooey Deschanel, sold to TIME Inc. this year for a reported 20 million dollars. These ladies proved that you can play nice on the Internet and win.
13. Nepal made history when it elected its first female President. A long-running proponent of equal rights for women, Bidhya Devi Bhandari is seen as cultural shift in male-dominated Nepal politics.
14. The Pentagon announced that women can now serve in front-line ground combat positions.
15. Saudi women not only registered to vote for the first time (in a country where they still aren't allowed to drive), but Saudi women also won a monumental 20 seats in the municipal polls.
AND finally, our hats are off to the following female CEOs and leaders of HUGE tech companies, proving that women have broken through that glass ceiling once and for all: Marissa Mayer, CEO Yahoo!, Meg Whitman, CEO HP, Virginia Rometty, CEO IBM, Susan Wojcicki, CEO YouTube, Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook, Angela Ahrendts, Senior VP, Apple, and Ursula Burns, CEO, Xerox.
A Natural Eye: Tammy Price of Fragments Identity
For interior and product design veteran Tammy Price, owner of Fragments Identity, "pillows are like art. They can transform a space, they can make a plain sofa come to life, they can change the texture of a chair." Which may not be true of every pillow, but the detail of the textiles Tammy choses make spaces feel special in a way that mass produced goods can't. She has an eye, and it's one that caught our attention.
We checked in with the designer to find out where she catches that inspiration train and the story behind the piece of furniture that got away.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND. HOW YOU CAME UP WITH FRAGMENTS IDENTITY, AND HOW THE BUSINESS FITS INTO YOUR IDENTITY.
I have been an interior designer, showroom owner and interior home product developer for the past 29 years. Design was my passion and when I created new products it was always a “piece of this, with a piece of that”, which I felt were the “fragments” of different elements. It is a complete reflection of things that I love. A mix of old and new, crispness and awesome textiles. I am a lover of all textiles!
WHAT IS IT ABOUT INTERIOR TEXTILES THAT APPEALS TO YOU?
Absolutely everything! Tone, texture, the way they fabricate. In a way they are a blank canvas that you can create into many many things. They can become incredible art!
WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION?
I think that when you are so deeply passionate about something, you can find inspiration in absolutely everything. There is no shortage.
WHEN YOU RUN YOUR OWN BUSINESS IS IT POSSIBLE TO SEPARATE WORK AND PERSONAL?
Well, design flows 24/7 for me, but I still make sure that I always take the time to prioritize for my family. It’s really great to surround yourself by people who understand your creativity and let you be who you are.
WHAT'S THE MOST SURPRISING ELEMENT--SO FAR-- OF BEING A FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR?
By being a female entrepreneur, you can find a way to make everything happen and open every door you want to go through.- there is always way!!
WHAT'S A SURPRISING PAST JOB YOU HAD THAT BENEFITS YOU TODAY?
During college, studying for my degree in design, I worked retail management and visual merchandising. While it wasn’t interior design, that job really gave me the platform and opportunity to learn about design and product development.
WHAT'S THE BIGGEST MISTAKE MOST PEOPLE MAKE WITH INTERIOR DESIGN?
Not being patient enough to wait for it to all come together. The designer has the whole vision, but it takes time for it to all come together and you have to wait for it to unfold.
YOUR BEST PIECE OF ADVICE FOR YOUNG FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS?
Never let somebody tell you that you can’t do something, because you can. Just do it and go for it.
"Just do it and go for it."
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WHAT'S A PIECE OF FURNITURE YOU FOUND, DIDN'T PURCHASE, AND HAS HAUNTED YOU FOREVER?
While I was driving through Napa, I spotted a vintage club chair that I had to have! At the time, I was driving a rental car and I tried to fit this chair in that car every way possible until I had to give up :( I still want that chair!
Be sure to check out Fragments Identity in the Create & Cultivate Office and Guest Bedroom!
7 Office Trends You Can Expect to See in 2016
2015 has been a great year for office trends. Many ditched behemoth leather chairs for standing desks (and scored chiseled leg muscles along the way), waved goodbye to real pants in favor of athleisure, and kicked off super-interesting side hustles. Now that we’re right on the verge of 2016, there’s even more to look forward to.
Some of the internet’s favorite career experts chimed in on the changes we can expect to see in the workplace throughout the next 365 days —and honestly? We’re pretty excited about what’s to come:
A SHIFT TO HEALTH-CONSCIOUS OFFICES
Companies know their employees are starting to focus on healthier lifestyles, and they plan on helping with that. “Through group wellness challenges, the workplace is becoming a bigger part of everyone’s plan to get healthy. In the coming year, employers are going to find more ways to encourage and facilitate their employees’ fitness, be it through healthier snacks in the break room or sanctioned exercise breaks,” says Heather R. Ruhman, founder and president of Come Recommended.
A GREATER USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO WORK REMOTELY
Three cheers for working from home! In 2016, being able to do your job outside the office will become even more of a norm, and technology is to thank. “I think we’re going to see a greater adoption of video technology that allows us to work more remotely. In a recent study, the use of video conferencing and project management on apps is really low. In order for flexibility for increased remote work to happen, we have to adopt that technology,” says Cali Yost, CEO and founder of Flex + Strategy Group.
According to Yost, right now employers and their employees are mostly using email, work documents, and Excel spreadsheets to update each other, but the problem is they’re not saving those documents on a Cloud-based, easily accessible platform.
“With this inconsistency, it’s hard to collaborate. If we change the types of platforms we’re using, the way we’re communicating with each other, and the way we store our data so it’s easily accessible, remote work will succeed.”
Kimra Luna, a personal branding and online business strategist, agrees.
“Employees who work virtually is becoming even more popular—especially among startups—because it’s lower overhead and you don’t need to rent out an actual office space until the startup begins to grow,” she says.
AN INCREASE IN WORK PERKS
Employers are starting to realize if they don’t make their employees happy, someone else will. Because of this, companies continue adding offers that are hard to pass up, like unlimited vacation days and in-office happy hours. Not to mention casual workspaces that allow you to not only get your work done, but ramp up your ping pong skills. Instead of feeling like work, offices are starting to feel more like home.
A RISE IN FREELANCING
As working remotely increases, freelancing will become even more popular in 2016 amongst twenty-somethings as well. Instead of having someone else in control, the power is shifting to the individual to make money and advance their career on their own time. “Young professionals who freelance gain more freedom and flexibility around when and where they do work—and they can protect themselves from only having one employer who could drop them in an instant,” says Dan Schawbel, Millennial career and workplace expert, speaker, and New York Times bestselling author.
A WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY TAKEOVER
With the Apple Watch and other wearable technologies at the top of everyone’s shopping list this year, it might be harder to find work-life balance in 2016. Since it’s becoming easier and easier to stay constantly connected—whether you’re on your lunch break or trying to fall asleep at night—completely shutting off could become more of a challenge. One bonus, though? With the advanced technology comes more freedom, so even if you have to take a call or respond to an email at 9 p.m., at least you won’t be sitting in a cubicle doing it.
AN INCREASE IN EMPLOYER BRANDING
Instead of cookie-cutter offices, employers are looking for ways to show talent their workplace is a great place to be. “One of the easiest ways to do this is through office designs that are unique and show more of the company culture. We’ll see fewer white walls with beige carpet, and more workplaces that are customized to what an individual company does and that are a reflection of their core mission and values,” says Ruhman.
A FOCUS ON GIVING BACK
Workplaces are amping up their power to give back, and employees get to come along for the ride. More companies will show their humanitarianism side by promoting feel-good challenges to raise money for charities. In fact, many will take things to the next level and adopt small non-profits of their own, creating a partnership that allows them to use their workspace as they grow.
Content in partnership with LEVO.
Getting the Raise You Deserve in 2016
Did you know you should ask when you're hungry...?
2016 is right around the corner, which means you’re about to be in the midst of drafting up those resolutions. Beyond the standard eating healthy and working out, this NYE make the goal to ask for what you deserve, especially on the job. If you have been waiting to ask for a raise because of company layoffs or downsizing, or you simply don’t enjoy the dance of negotiation, don’t let fear stand in the way of an amazing -- and economically fruitful-- 2016.
According to a study conducted by Payscale, almost half of the American workforce never ask for a raise. Moreover women are more likely than men to state that they are uncomfortable negotiating salary – 31 percent vs. 23 percent.
It's time to get out of your head and into the money. You know if you deserve it. So don’t be afraid to ask.
1. Be realistic. Does your work merit a raise? This the most crucial question you need to ask yourself. If there is any hesitation— we’re not talking self-doubt— it might be critical to wait until you’ve proven you worth. However, if you can say without fail that you meet and go beyond the requirements of your job description, are a key team player, benefit your company in multiple verticals, and know that you are indispensable to the business, what are you waiting for? Start jotting down your talking points now.
2. Do the research. Simple but important. The average yearly salary increase is 3% a year. However, if you’ve done your homework and know that you are being drastically underpaid, it’s time you let your employers know that you know your worth. Averages vary from state to state, but there are many websites— like glassdoor— that can help you figure out just how many zeros should be at the end of your check.
3. Ask in the morning, before you’ve had lunch. It may sound odd, but not only do people tend to be more “moral,” in the AM (and therefore more likely to take your proposal into serious consideration), but according to a study out of Cornell and Dartmouth, hunger tends to make people feel entitled. How does this benefit you? While that hangry feeling may not serve you best while meeting with clients, if you’re feeling at all hesitant or nervous, it could make you more assertive, firm, and all the more likely to get a raise.
4. Know the boss’s workload, schedule, and temperament. Is your boss a morning person? Or does she really hit her stride in the afternoon? Does she like to answer emails without interruption for the first couple hours of the day? Schedule your meeting during a time period that works for your boss. If you’re the kind employee who deserves a raise, you’ll know the right time to ask.
5. Don’t focus on the negative. Don’t complain. Sitting down with the boss to talk money isn’t the right time to air grievances, talk about how something is unfair, or how you’re doing someone else’s job for them. A salary negotiation should focus on everything you’re doing to benefit your company. Whining is not going to work in your favor. Ever.
When Your Office Feels Like Home: Touring the C & C Home Base
With everyone home for the holidays, we wanted to give you a peek into our second home: the Create & Cultivate office.
To design a space where the C & C team and guests were happy to hang, Veronica Valencia of The Design Hunters chose a blend of smaller, LA-based companies as well as larger brands. Companies like Fragments Identity, Park Studio, Parachute Home, CB2, Framebridge, Helix Sleep, and Artfully Walls. It's a space that doesn't feel like an office -- but also one where work gets handled.
Be sure to check out The Founder's Office as well as the C & C Guest Bedroom.
Create & Cultivate: Looking Back, Looking Ahead
December is like the Friday of months. Everyone's brain goes on a bit of a vacation, or on a nostalgic walk through the last year. It happens to the best of us-- the holidays tend to bring out the dreamer.
It's even happening around the Create & Cultivate office. In part because we've always got C & C on the brain, and the conversations that happen on site at the conferences keep up invigorated year-round. But also because prepping for Dallas is making us a wee bit nostalgic for our favorite moments of 2015.
So, raise a glass, put on your female alpha hat, and toast to an amazing last year and an even better 2016.
there's room at the top for everyone; it's harder to get there all by yourself.
Merry Christmas from everyone at Create & Cultivate!
A Little Gift for You: Last Minute Holiday Wrapping Help!
Wrapping gifts last minute? We've got you.
You've got the tree. The stockings. The hot toddy glasses (a must). You've even got your gift-wrapping corner set up and ready for playing Santa. What you DON'T have are the tags. Instead of opting for making cards out of wrapping paper (with the old fold over trick), we have a simple and stunning solution for your Christmas packages. All you need is a printer.
Danielle McWaters from Design Sake Studio is gifting C & C readers with the most holiday happy gift tags, because no detail should be overlooked.
Danielle McWaters is the creative behind Designsake Studio, a boutique studio specializing in design, direction, and branding. Danielle is a believer of design and it’s ability to create new connections and lasting impressions. It drives her to create things that are not only authentic, but that matter. Working alongside her clients, she develops strategies and solutions to transform big ideas into stand out design.
Boss Dating Tips from Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe
Whitney Wolfe is the Founder of Bumble. The dating app where women have to make the first move (because you only live Beyonce, amiright all my single ladies?). Which seems to be an approach that many women are taking in both their business and personal lives. But when you’re busy hustling, it’s highly possible that dating falls at the bottom of a very long to-do list. So we checked in with the CEO to find out her tips for dating when you’re a boss, like her.
1. When you’re busy, throwing paint against the wall to see what sticks isn’t the best approach. Part of the point of dating apps is to suss people out, “break the ice, keep it lighthearted, and let us be your wing woman,” says Wolfe. Use this opportunity almost as a first date that doesn’t require you to leave your house. (If only dating was actually that easy. *sobs in ice cream.*)
"Use dating apps as an opportunity almost as a first date that doesn’t require you to leave your house.”
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2. There are plenty of fish in the sea, and the pool of Bumble men is on point. But with over 1 million users just about evenly split between men and woman, remember: mercury poisoning is also real— we’re looking at you Jeremy Piven, emoji wink. So you need to manage your expectations about what a dating app can do, in the same way you manage your stress, employees, work load, and email inbox. There’s no magic bullet for anything. Mitigating expectancies is crucial, especially when you’re first starting out.
3. No group photos. Do you head into an investor meeting with a posse? Do you bring your bestie to your business brunch? Nope. If you want to be taken seriously, be serious. Show your face in your profile pic. Wolfe says, “If you have six photos of you and all your friends, it’s going to be harder for you to make great matches.” Beyond that, it’s fine to show that you have friends and you *woop Drake voice* know how to cut a rug, but as a HBIC you should also know there is such a thing as over-selling it. Be confident in you. That said…
4. You’re a Boss in the boardroom. There’s no reason you can’t be Queen Boss on Bumble too. Wolfe says, “There is nothing more attractive than confidence and intelligence.” We’d have to agree. If a man is intimidated by a powerful woman, then he’s not the man for you. Going on a date with him is just a waste of your time. If in in your initial convo he’s trying to one-up you, give him the the ole “BRB” and never come back.
5. Time and again female CEOs reiterate how important it is to be authentic. When you’re looking for investors, when you’re starting a business, when you’re pitching a client— authenticity and honestly are key when making smart business decisions. Wolfe says, “I would never wear red lipstick in real life, so for me to then put photos with a full face of makeup and red lipstick would be ridiculous. Sure, it might get more right swipes, but it’s not the right kind of men I’d be attracting. It’s not important to have a first date—it’s important to have something authentic and real.”
It’s not important to have a first date—it’s important to have something authentic and real.”
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6. Use your time wisely, and be online during peak times. There are good times to Instagram (ahem, 12nEST when Europeans are home from work, the east coast is heading to lunch and the west coast is rising and shining), and there are smart times to Bumble. That sweet honey hour for Bumble according to Wolfe, “is at 6pm.” Which just happens to be Happy Hour. Coincidence? Nope.
Be sure to check out Whitney on the Main Stage this January at Create & Cultivate Dallas, where she’ll be dolling out much more than dating tips. Think: How she landed a spot as the first female guest on Trevor Noah’s “The Daily Show.”
5 Tips on Landing The Job You Want (& Then Keeping It!)
Soniya Monga is busy. After helping launch LinkedIn Canada in 2010, she was named one of Marketing’s 2013 Top 30 Under 30. Now based in New York, she's been with the networking company for five years, successfully growing her own brand within its ranks. She's now working on global agency partnerships and spent time cultivating and growing global experience based out of Hong Kong for LinkedIn North Asia. From Day 1 (which she spent grabbing office supplies) to Day RN, Soniya's professional triumphs are impressive including speaking at the internationally recognized One Young World (Davos for the cool kids). Which is why we wanted to find out from her just how to land that dream job-- because she's got know-how in spades.
Be sure to check-in with Soniya at Create & Cultivate Dallas, where she'll be a mentor and panel moderator.
PICK WHICH GAME YOU'RE PLAYING
A big part of success is picking which game you’re playing. In the tech industry people refer to this as pivoting, but I think it can apply to careers. If your current plan or company isn’t working for you, pivot to a new one where you can win. Choose to be somewhere where you’ll be valued.
"Choose to be somewhere where you’ll be valued."
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BE UN-CONFIDENT WHEN TRYING SOMETHING NEW
Let yourself see how things become less scary through experience. When I was working at LinkedIn in Asia, doing business in Korea felt scary and was the definition of being outside of my area of comfort. I didn’t know the language, understand the cultural nuances, or frankly feel qualified to have a seat at the table. But trip after trip, the challenge became subsequently less intimidating. It taught me to always to consider your audience and who you’re talking to, and to respect that audience immensely.
CRAFT A CAREER ACCORDING TO YOUR STRENGTHS
Growing up, I always thought that having a profession was the ultimate pinnacle of success. By calling myself a doctor, lawyer, etc., I was under the assumption that this would be most fulfilling. For some, this is true, and that’s wonderful, but I quickly realized that following passion projects, thinking about ideas and finding a way to package that into a job I love, has been most gratifying.
DON'T BE AN IDEA STEALER OR KNOW-IT-ALL
Instead be a question asker – asking questions is simply the best way to break through, challenge yourself and the environment around you. I think the art of inquiry is often the most underrated form of expression. Whenever I've asked the most questions being new to a job, team or country, I've found it helpful in breaking barriers and learn 10x faster. Also, know-it-alls aren't fun to be around or work with - give credit wherever you can.
"The art of inquiry is often the most underrated form of expression."
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WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT, YOU'RE SELF-EMPLOYED
Think about picking a career where growth is dependent on the quality of your decisions – this can ensure you’re positioning yourself to over-index for skill vs. time, and can potentially generate a higher pay off. At my time at LinkedIn specifically, I’ve been fortunate enough to work in multiple “start-up like” environments, which meant doing everything from ordering envelopes to talking to CEOs of global companies in the same day. You may not be an entrepreneur in the traditional sense, but it’s important to act like one.
Whether you want to lead and build a company some day or make high impact in your current job, self-improvement is for everyone. There are clearly more than five things you can and should do to optimize for career success, however, making intentional choices throughout your career will hopefully help you land the job you want...and keep it!
Since 2010, Soniya Monga's career journey with LinkedIn has grown exponentially. The maven built their presence in Canada and took the helm as the company's global agency partnership lead. She was also named Marketing's Top 30 Under 30 when she was regional account director for LinkedIn, North Asia. Hear some of Soniya's best tips for building strategic partnerships and how she's been able to expand the brand internationally at her mentor session at Create & Cultivate Dallas.
Spend the Night: C & C Has a Guest Bedroom You'll Want to Stay In
Seinfeld Apartment has nothing on Create & Cultivate's guest bedroom.
It's not every office that has a guest bedroom. Sure, some offices have break rooms and play areas. Like the Google office-- which insists that its employees having fun at work. But office dynamics have changed. Gone are the days (or so we hope for you) of drab little cubicles.
"We want the office to feel comfortable," says Jaclyn Johnson, Founder and CEO (and tenant of a pretty boss office herself). "We have so many people coming in and out from out of town, some who crash here, others who need a brief respite, and it's wonderful that they can wake up here, feel inspired, and walk downstairs and have morning coffee with the crew."
It's a logic that follows the flow of Create & Cultivate's mission: to be an inclusive, enterprising, and empowering space for all, especially those trail blazing female entrepreneurs.
To make this space a reality, Veronica Valencia of The Design Hunters opted for a blend of smaller LA-based companies.
"It's not the most standard," says Veronica, "to be asked to design a bedroom in an office, but that's the magic of Create & Cultivate. There's nothing standard about it."
Accounts Director Hope Evans says, "It's like having a sense of familiarity in your office. So when we work long hours and burn the midnight oil-- even if we aren't napping-- it still feels like home. And C & C is like family, so it make sense."
Companies like Fragments Identity, heralded by 28+ year design veteran Tammy Price, Venice-based luxury bedding co. Parachute Home, Framebridge, and Artfully Walls, deck out the space.
Veronica says, "We wanted the guest room to feel cool and calm. You can never go wrong with white bedding.... especially in a concrete loft. It really brightened up such an industrial space! The white bedding, and mix of bold art work and rustic side tables, worked well together and gave off such good Cali vibes. Perfect for out of town guests!"
Click through the above photos to take a little tour and check out some of the products used below.
Fragments Identity: Mali Indigo Blues Pillow, Black and White Natural Mud Cloth Pillow, and throw.
Parachute Home: Percale Venice Set.
Framebridge & Artfully Walls: Veronica teamed up the two again in the guest bedroom. Watery Bliss in Irvine Slim White Custom Frame.
Photos courtesy of Ala Cortez.
An Office Fit for a Boss: Peep Inside C & C Founder's Creative Digs
An exclusive look inside Jaclyn Johnson's LA office.
When Jaclyn Johnson, CEO and Founder of Create & Cultivate and (No Subject) moved the office HQ to Atwater Village, she turned to Veronica Valencia of The Design Hunters to really make the space pop.
As the former Lead Designer / Art Director for ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Veronica knows how to make spaces feel like "home." Something she says, that is extremely important, even in an office. "As a boss you want your office to feel professional, that's a given, but you also want it to feel like an inviting, creative space. One where ideas can grow, where employees and visitors want to stop by." To really make the space come alive, Veronica turned to CB2, Artfully Walls, and Framebridge --as well as some amazing palm leaf wallpaper from Anewall. "When designing her space, finding that WOW wallpaper was a must," she says. "I'm usually not a fan of accent walls but in this case it was perfect. I wanted something that was powerful, rich and inspiring. Your office environment is so important, especially when you are a creative. It could be that little push to an even better day!"
The result is an office fit for a creative like Jackie. "Good ideas inspire," says Veronica, "but good spaces, bring the ideas."
Moreover, when you spend as much time at work Jackie does (no such this as a 9-5 when you're in charge), the space has to be somewhere you're happy to call a second home. Click through the above gallery for some serious #officeinspo, and check out the below links to deck your office out in style.
Welcoming Front Entry Accents: CB2 Marble-Rose Gold Pedestal Table & CB2 Braided Fringe Wall Hanging
Storing Important Things: CB2 Suspend Media Console
The Boss Desk: CB2 Aqua Virgo Dining Table
The Boss Sits: CB2 Tayabas Can Side Chair with Black Cushion
The Guests Sit: CB2 Roadhouse Leather Chairs
Says Veronica: "When selecting CB2 furniture, I actually chose dining and living room furniture. Office furniture can sometimes be a little blah, and I wanted the space to feel more homey and welcoming. Jackie's desk is a dining room table, her guest chairs are dining room chairs and her office storage is a media console with a marble top."
Wall Storage: CB2 Revere Wall Mounted Magazine Storage
Art 'n Stuff: Framebridge Irvine Slim Custom Frame & Woman in Boat from Artfully Walls
Says Veronica: "The cherry on the cake was the lady boss oversized print above the console. When selecting all of the artwork for C & C, I wanted the art work to have meaning. It's amazing how much C & C has become such a trailblazer for women and I wanted the art to represent that. To capture those feelings, I chose portraits and paintings of different women."
The Great Bitch Conundrum of 2015
Cheers, bitch.
Let’s talk about the capital B word. Not boss— a word we use a lot around the Create & Cultivate office (because *high-five us* we meet a ton of Boss Women on the daily). We’re talking Bitch, a word that yes, means lady dog, but also one that has been used as a term of derision since the 15th century. Phrases like “son of a bitch,” were meant to chide promiscuous women. An 1811 dictionary refers to the word as "the most offensive appellation that can be given to an English woman.” conundrum
Fast-forward to the 1920s, when women gained the right to vote. During the time period of 1915-1930 the use of the word in print almost doubled— when men were all, let’s get rid of this Susan B(itch) Anthony.
Then came the second wave of feminism, where women like attorney Jo Freeman, who authored the book, The Bitch Manifesto in 1968, made a solid attempt to co-opt the word. In her book Freeman writes: “A woman should be proud to declare she is a Bitch, because Bitch is Beautiful.” During this period it looked like the term was ready to be shaped into something new. It had all the potential to align itself with feminist goals. In a way, this happened.
Since the 1970s women have steadily fought to reclaim the word, to shift its power. Think: Head Bitch in Charge, Boss Bitch, Bitch Media, Betches, books like, Bitch: In Praise of Difficult Women, on and on. (The word usage in print is at an all-time high.) Such reclamations turn negative words into positive affirmations. They create unity amongst marginalized groups while diminishing the power of the oppressor.
If we call ourselves bitches, it becomes ours.
Or does it?
For many, the social dynamics and gender politics of the word are still confusing. Can a man call a woman a bitch? What about when a woman calls a man a bitch? Can a woman call another woman a bitch? And what about when people call Hilary Clinton a bitch? In 2013, in a series of tweets, Kanye West asked the following question: "I usually never tweet questions but I struggle with this so here goes... Is the word BITCH acceptable?” Followed up by: “Is it ok to use bitch as long as we put BAD in front of it? Like you a BAD BITCH.”
"If we call ourselves bitches, it becomes ours."
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This is where we have to consider intent. The problem lies in how how the word is used and by whom. The problem is in the nuance.
As Cynthia Bailey from the "Real Housewives of Atlanta" explained, “In this group we use the term bitch as a term of endearment and also in a disrespectful way.” And that’s the gist of it. Context matters. Intonation matters. I can be a boss ass bitch. I can reclaim the word for me. But the most important word in that thought is not bitch, but "me." I can make a conscious decision for bitch to mean something different. I can own my bitch. But don't think for one moment that if someone else makes that decision for me, we're not going to have more than some bitchy words.