• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Espresso and Ambition

A not-so-serious gal with some serious dreams.

  • Food
  • Fitness
  • Organization
  • Productivity
  • Etc.

The “Basic White Girl” Dilemma

November 25, 2016 by Taylor 2 Comments

I started this blog with a warning that there might be a few rants on it, and today, I’m glad I included that disclaimer. Today, I read a tweet condemning the nomination of both a female U.N. Ambassador and a female Secretary of Education because “one woman in that level of power is enough.” Today, I was told that I should be careful what I publish online because “no one’s going to take a girl seriously if she discusses lipstick undertones on the side.”

And good gracious, I’m sick of it.

I’m sick of the dichotomy in today’s society that a woman can either be powerful or feminine, but never both. I’m sick of the idea that I can’t embrace my love of silly things like makeup and jewelry and editing the perfect Instagram picture while simultaneously being seriously interested in legal codes and economic trends and international politics. And most of all, I’m sick of the immediate assumption that because I’m blonde and can frequently be found with a Starbucks cup in hand, that that somehow speaks volumes about my intelligence level.

I’ve gotten used to proving people wrong. I’m no stranger to the phrase, “you know, when I first met you I expected you to be one of those dumb basic white girls, but you’re not.” And don’t get me wrong, proving people wrong is fun. But I hate that I have to do it in the first place. I hate that society has somehow decided that liking certain things is an immediate signal of intelligence level.

When did we decide that the color pink was synonymous with being stupid? Since when do leggings and blanket scarves provide an indication of someone’s vapidity? Why does paying attention to fashion mean that suddenly you’re incapable of keeping tabs on important global issues as well?

I can see some justification for judging a book by its cover (artful book covers are my weakness). But for goodness sake, can we please stop judging people by their cover?

For the time being, I’m just going to keep doing me. I’m going to wear bows and bright lipstick and lots of polka dots, and I’m going to keep proving people wrong. But I look forward to a day where I don’t have to. And I hope you do too.

Related Posts

Filed Under: Etc., Thoughts

Comments

  1. Ann Morgan says

    November 25, 2016 at 4:06 pm

    Thank you for refuting so many of the stereotypes that are rampant these days. Do go right on being you and continue to stand up on the issues that touch on the lives of women and all people of good will.

    Reply
  2. Joe Jackson says

    December 5, 2016 at 1:01 am

    So your argument is that by acting very feminine, people undervalue your intelligence. That’s like what men deal with when they act very masculine. People think just because a man likes guns and hunting, he’s a “hick.” Or if he likes lifting weights, he’s a “meathead.” What do those things have to do with intelligence? I really wish both genders didn’t have to experience this. You’re right; we shouldn’t always judge a book by its cover. At the same time, stereotypes stem from actual trends, so we probably shouldn’t get too upset over it. Good post!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow

Meet Taylor

A real-life combination of Elle Woods and Hermione Granger. Recent graduate of the University of Georgia, currently living and working in DC. New blog posts every Monday, new YouTube videos every Thursday. Subscribe by clicking the link below for post updates and exclusive content!

Instagram

tayy_kay

📍 dc
🔥 life + fitness
✨ nasm certified personal trainer
🎥 new vids weekly!

Instagram post 2195844312121366575_7729751 it’s not a real mirror selfie unless it comes with a free where’s waldo game of my cats 😸😸 they’re truly excellent little photobombers, lol
.
shop this look by following me on @liketoknow.it or by copy-pasting this link into your browser: http://liketk.it/2I02c 🖤 #liketkit
Instagram post 2192513994027168715_7729751 ⏩ swipe ⏩ to see a magic trick! ✨ok ok, not actually magic, but @teamiblends butterfly tea DOES change color when you add a squeeze of lemon, thanks to pH-sensitive butterfly pea flower 🌸 so maybe it’s not ~magic~, but it is ~science~ 👩🏼‍🔬
.
get your own (and get experimenting) with the code taykay20 for 20% off an order of $24+ or taykay30 for 30% off an order of $34+! 🤑 #teamipartner
Instagram post 2191777887535233534_7729751 full workout, one machine!! 😛 smith machines are honestly great, and they don’t get enough love - they’re excellent when you’re first starting out with lifting and need that extra bit of stabilisation that comes from keeping the weight on a fixed track, and there are a number of exercises i find i like better on a smith machine than anywhere else - especially some of these!
.
ready? let’s go:
.
1️⃣ 3 sets of 6 sumo squats to narrow squats (so 12 squats total) - the narrow ones are death for your inner thighs in a way that no other leg exercise can match ☠️
.
2️⃣ 3 sets of 10 curtsy lunges per leg to 10 good mornings - drop your hips back and keep your spine flat as you get as close to parallel with the ground as possible, and really focus on contracting your hamstrings to bring yourself upright again
.
3️⃣ 3 sets of 10 kneeling kickbacks per leg - i forgot how much i love these they are just so!! good!! - into 10 single-leg incline glute bridges per leg

4️⃣ 4 sets of 12 half squats to finish this off - mind muscle connection is key here, really focus on squeezing your glutes at the top of the movement to make the most of this one! also if this hurts your knees skip it altogether - sometimes these aren’t for everyone and that’s perfectly ok!!
.
🎧 woah - neffex
Instagram post 2188165587741361151_7729751 nobody likes you when you’re 23 🤷🏼‍♀️
Instagram post 2187385382881912295_7729751 got a whole lot to be thankful for this year (including but not limited to these pants) 🌟
Instagram post 2185989836220911104_7729751 that dead lil plant in the corner is a mood. i don’t know what kinda mood, but it’s a mood. ☠️
.
new youtube video just went up on my channel - it’s a fun core + cardio workout that you’ll def wanna try! link is in bio ☺️
Instagram post 2184435918311263145_7729751 world’s cutest cover photo amirite?? 😅 ok but what IS actually cute is all these exercises targeting your gluteus medius, which is the muscle on the sides of your booty that play a crucial role in hip movement and also can help give the illusion of wider hips (which is super helpful if you’re built like me and have no natural curves whatsoever!! fake it til ya make it babyyyyyy)
.
do all four exercises back to back with no rest, then rest for ~1 minute, and repeat 2 more times! throw this in the middle or the end of your leg day ☺️
.
1️⃣ 12 lateral leg lifts - even though you’re holding the plate with your arm, it shouldn’t be lifting the weight up at all, that alllllll should come from the legs. also make sure you’re not swinging your leg and are really focused on feeling it on those side glutes (and also a little in your obliques, bonus ab work!!)
.
2️⃣ 5 4-step squat walks - so two steps to the left two to the right is one rep. resistance band isn’t 100% necessary but man oh man does it make it 10x harder 🔥
.
3️⃣ 10 fire hydrants with a pulse at the top - focus on keeping weight equally distributed on both hands so that you don’t sink into the opposite hip too much. also maybe don’t use an extra heavy resistance band for this one because i was DYING SO MUCH and i couldn’t even get my leg up to 90 degrees 😂
.
4️⃣ 15 frog pumps - feet together, knees out, you look like a weirdo but it really is an excellent exercise i swear
.

#legday #legdayworkout #workoutsforwomen #glutes #glutesworkout #gymlifestyle #exercisemotivation #exerciseroutine #gymworkout #musclebuilding #fitlifestyle #bootygains #bootybuilding
Instagram post 2182074781179766218_7729751 my very good and obviously 100% correct logic: if i wear long sleeves and long pants it’ll obviously make up for the fact that i’m literally wearing a crop top and i won’t get cold even though it’s like 40 degrees out!! 🥶
.
shop this outfit (and maybe buy a jacket to go with it) by following me on the @liketoknow.it  app or by pasting this link into your browser: http://liketk.it/2HaPV ❣️ #liketkit #LTKunder50 #LTKholidaystyle #alsoidkwhyimstandingsoweird #whereismyspine
Instagram post 2179321133647360332_7729751 first of all, can someone please tell me where the HECK the first half of november went?? i’m lost 🥴 but i’ve got an ABSolutely stellar ab circuit for you on this fine sunday (will i ever not use that pun? doubtful), be sure to bookmark and save for your next gym session!
.
1️⃣ 10 plank walk outs to commandos - focus on keeping your core tight throughout this entire movement to really maximise the effect!
.
2️⃣ 10 3-part mountain climbers per leg - leg goes outside, across, then straight, and that’s one rep!
.
3️⃣ 15 pause sit-ups - sit up approximately ¾ of the way (so that there’s still tension in your abs) and hold for 1 second before finishing the movement
.
4️⃣ 10 single-leg hollow crunches per leg - these are SO MUCH HARDER than you expect them to be omggggg. if this is too tricky, use the modification at the end of this clip and put your feet on the floor.
.
5️⃣ 12 1-1-2 leg lifts - drop one leg down, then the other, then lift both up at the same time! make sure to only go down as far as YOU comfortably can without your lower back lifting off the mat - going past that point will actually make the exercise LESS effective for your core. 😉
.
cycle through this 2-3 times for a 10/10 burn 🔥🔥🔥 .
shop this workout outfit by following me on the @liketoknow.it app or by entering this link into your browser: http://liketk.it/2H0H3 ❤️ #liketkit
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Search


Disclosure

Some of the links featured in my posts may be affiliate links. The links and the products they lead to come at no additional cost to you but help this gal continue to make Espresso and Ambition happen. Your support means the world to me! <3

Pages

  • About
  • Contact
  • Espresso and Ambition
  • Subscribe
  • Disclosures and Privacy Policy

Blog Design by TinselPop