Staying Classy Through Thick and Thin

I love old movies from the 1930s thru the 1950s. There's an special elegance to the black and white medium, but that's for another post.

There's something really special about the women in some of these films too. As you watch them on screen walking with their heads held high in a tailor suit and a look in their eyes that shows they're ready to take on the world. One of the best examples of this type of woman is in the 1954 film Them! Yes, the one about giant mutated ants living in New Mexico who spread to Los Angeles.

In an era where female characters (especially in Science Fiction) had the primary role of screaming in fright and clutching nervously at the hero's shoulders, the leading female character of Dr. Patricia Medford (as played by Joan Weldon) is a standout. Not only is she a scientist in her own right, but she maintains a cool-headed professionalism throughout the film. When the hero tries to tell her she can't do something because she's a woman, she points out to him that he lacks her technical expertise then pointedly tells him she's doing it spite of his objections. She's also a great character because she doesn't stay in any stereotypical boxes. Not only is she a scientist and tough, she's also compassionate, loving, and feminine. She's just an overall classy lady.

I love that phrase - classy lady. There's so much it implies like good manners, strength sophistication, kindness, understanding, an unwillingness to accept defeat, and graciousness that makes people want to be around a woman like that.

This last week, I had the opportunity to see the contrast between a real classy lady and one who claimed to be classy. A friend of mine was diagnosed with a very serious illness a few weeks ago but didn't immediately share it with her family. She kept silent through her son's birthday party, her daughter's school play, and her husband's big presentation at work that he needed to concentrate on preparing. In the background, she gathered information and prepared herself to answer the questions she knew her family and friends would have. She emotionally braced herself for the storm that was coming. When she finally did talk to her family, she was able to soothe their fears and upset and steer them towards an optimistic outlook. She shared her fears with them and let them know she would, from that point, share what she learned as soon as she knew it. She also promised them that their illness would, whenever possible, fit around their life as a family.

In contrast to this, a female coworker of mine was informed a few weeks ago that her position would be eliminated and she would be given a few weeks to pass on her knowledge and responsibilities. In the beginning, she worked hard to download the processes and knowledge she had built up to her coworkers. As the days progressed, her true character and feelings emerged and she began to display bitterness, laziness, and vendictiveness. ON her way out of the office on she proclaimed as she walked out of the her last day she proclaimed, "This place will crash and burn without me!"

Both women received bad news and were entering into circumstances that could only be described as difficult. Their reactions were a world apart. One owned what was happening to her and showed tremendous consideration towards her family. The other became angry and spiteful towards people who had nothing to do with her circumstances.

In today's society, there seems to be indecision about how we want women to be and how women want to be. Some believe that people should always act as they are "naturally" and let all the emotions and dirty laundry out for all to see. Others, like myself, think that woman have a role in setting the tone for society and that women don't have to be one extreme or the other.

I guess it all comes down to how you want people to think of you. I would LOVE for someone to someday describe me as a classy lady and for someone to call me that, I guess I'll have to act like one.

Photo courtesy of Them! Copyright © 1954 Warner Brothers. All Rights Reserved.