Didigrn
At eighteen, I was the youngest female ever to be accepted into my union's local (I work in construction). I am still one of the youngest members, and by far am the youngest actively involved participants. I am one of five founding members of the local's Activities Committee, which is a grassroots effort at, among other things, informing our members why our pay and benefits have been taking a dive while the industry continues to thrive, and at exposing misdealings in the union's hierarchy. When we decided that we needed to have a web-site, I learned how to build it so that the members would have complete control over its content, and when the local's business rep said we needed to submit our topics to him for approval, I reminded him that we were operating independently, and that while accuracy was vital, limiting the content would rend us ineffectual. I continued to post issues brought up by members, even when it was controversial, and in doing so stood as one of a handful o
f voices speaking out against our present leadership and its tactics (I do the same on a national level, writing my representatives on a number of issues).
Union issues aside, I am a Heartless Bitch because I have taken up my causes and fought for them with every verbal tactic I have at my disposal, and I will soon participate in my first political march. I know that the things I stand up for are what I perceive to be true, and the people who disagree with my opinions are perfectly entitled to do so, but if they want to make an issue of it they'd better be prepared to support their thoughts.
Last year, when my best friend and I were readying ourselves for a trip down the aisle, it was not so that I would have a man to take care of me, nor was it because I am insecure on my own - it was because we are two people who have stood side by side for nearly a decade, and we both felt compelled to do so hand in hand. Though I called the wedding off, it was not out of nerves or a fear of settling down, but a need for both of us to function independently just a little longer.
The ways I may NOT be a Heartless Bitch:
1- I have reclaimed the title of "Princess" to describe someone who is confident, beautiful, and strong enough to carry some clout. In this context, I am a Princess, and if that disqualifies me as an HB, I lament it terribly (but I will not relinquish my title, especially not to whiny brats who won't put it to its proper use).
2- There may be a heart in me somewhere, because my devotion to my family, friends, coworkers, and fellow human beings is unwavering. Then again, maybe it's just that I have a big chest.
3- (this may be the clincher) I subscribe to Martha Stewart and Vogue magazines (I think Martha is a closet Heartless Bitch - she certainly has many of the defining characteristics, and I have this thing for fashion photography)
Even if, by some chance, I am deemed unworthy of status as a Heartless Bitch, I still "get it" - I know it in my chest.
Yes! I want to read more from Real Life Heartless Bitches
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