The origin of women’s casual wear is not difficult to trace. In fact, women’s casual attire emerged as a reaction to the stiff upper lip approach to women’s apparel. A complete look at casual wear history indicates that casual garments became popular during the late twentieth century.

Casual wear has been defined as the dress code in which new forms of gender expression are attempted before being accepted into semi casual or semi formal situations. Women started to look for alternatives to the uncomfortable clothing they had been wearing for centuries prior to the 1920s. These alternatives included skirts, pants, to the knee hem and lower waistlines. American women’s rights and temperance advocate Amelia Bloomed is credited with introducing trousers for women as a casual alternation to skirts and formal hoops. In the 1930s expensive fabrics such as silks emerged as an immense luxury for women’s clothing. People made garments out of items they had on hand. For example, women started to make do without hosiery because of the rationing of nylon during World War II.

In the 1950s movie stars such as James Dean and Marlon Brando popularized denim jeans. The look quickly caught on for ladies. Casual wear continued to appear and gain acceptance during the 60s. Throughout the late 60s and 70s women’s casual clothing became more androgynous. Women began sporting pants, and the most fashionable clothes were denim, hot pants and bell bottoms. After this period, casual wear became a niche area for upper income women, while the gender expression continued by the music industry rock and roll inspired ripped jeans and hip hop ushered in baggy style pants.

Casual wear has come a long way and women’s clothing brands such as Contour Wear affirm this. Contour Wear has a line of women’s casual apparel that’s not only excellent for daily use but is practical for travel wear. What makes Contour Wear unique is they are a team of women who travel and work in cloths that are designed and manufactured in the USA. What began as a desire to construct a travel wardrobe that could withstand multiple wearing for different occasions, evolved into a line of apparel that empowers women to travel savvy, look fabulous and own their adventures! Contour Wear’s functional cloths transition from board meeting, to safari or dinner date effortlessly.

Contour Wear makes casual wear to the busy lives of women. The introduction of synthetic fabrics such as nylon and polyester allows more freedom in make and style. For example, Contour Wear Chamois Lounge Capri is stretchable and wrinkle free. Casual yet fashionable, this is no fuss attire at its finest.

Comfort and style go hand in hand. The history of women’s casual wear has proven that over the ages laid back clothing became essential in the closets of women regardless of social and economic background.

Multiple sclerosis is still an extremely strange disease. Nobody is certain why most people with MS are female, but we recognize that spotting the symptoms of MS in women is vital if these people are going to get a fast MS diagnosis. The earlier MS is diagnosed, the sooner multiple sclerosis treatment can start. This is a necessary factor in identifying how well a patient is able to maintain well being when managing MS. Multiple sclerosis is a degenerative autoimmune condition. Nobody understands why it expands, and there’s no evaluation to ascertain who is the most at risk for acquiring it yet. Actually, there is not also a single test for MS, itself. MS diagnosis is based on a patient interview, physical exam, and diagnostic imaging. If, soon after all of these steps, a patient demonstrates evidence of neurological conditions that can’t be produced by another illness or injury, then they may be identified with multiple sclerosis.

In MS, the immune system turns on the body itself. Rather than shielding the body against invaders, like viruses or bacteria, it starts to attack the nervous system, ultimately disintegrating the myelin sheaths that cover nerves, producing nerve damage. Scarring in the nervous system is what brings about the variety of symptoms and these symptoms vary depending on what nerves become destroyed. Roughly two thirds of MS patients are women, and scientists still don’t understand why. All humans have immune systems, so, all other things being equal, it is reasonable to expect that there would be an equal number of men with multiple sclerosis as women. Having said that, this is not the way it is. Research into why, and just what results in MS, is still ongoing.

Many of the symptoms of MS in women are physical. Things such as balance problems, muscle weakness, pain, spasms, or vision problems are all common. Various other symptoms aren’t, and MS can bring about memory problems, fatigue, and depression, among other things. Most likely, these symptoms of MS in women will appear in unexpected attacks. For some patients, they may arise slowly after some time as nerve damage accumulates.

How the symptoms of MS in women show up often influences how fast an MS diagnosis is achieved. Since multiple sclerosis impacts the nervous system, the symptoms of MS in women may be easily wrongly diagnosed for symptoms resulting from another neurological condition, or even an injury. This is especially valid if symptoms form steadily. Without having a simple test for MS, MS diagnosis relies upon working with a good physician who is experienced with acknowledging the symptoms of MS in women. MRIs can indicate which areas of the nervous system have been attacked, but it is depending on the doctor to figure out other creates before they can point the finger at MS.

Soon after the symptoms of MS in women have been appropriately recognized and identified, multiple sclerosis treatment usually starts right away. Any postponement in treatment just leaves added time for the immune system to carry on to invade the nervous system, resulting in more damage and more severe symptoms. Therefore rapid treatment can slow down how MS advances before it has a chance to result in more damage, resulting in much better analysis for the patient.

Elizabeth Wurtzel's 'Bitch: In Praise of Difficult Women' celebrates strong and defiant women from biblical femme fatale Delilah to beloved Princess Diana to notorious Courtney Love. Deriving evidence from literary and theologian scholars to empowered women portrayed in music, literature, and the movies, Wurtzel argues that society tends to devalue women who break the rules, diminishing their power and strength to sexual wiles and manipulative destruction of men as a means of keeping them down, beneath men, beneath power. This book chronicles and defends strong, virile women who have lived outside and beyond the prescribed rules society inscribes upon their bodies and individuality, and who have been punished for it, one way or another.

A Harvard graduate and social commentator, Elizabeth Wurtzel's prose is like poetry – not the whimsical and romantic type that is expected of women, but that of a force to be reckoned with. It is not romantic or soft, but fine and intelligent, sometimes harsh and biting, but continually knowledgeable and well-researched. Wurtzel points out that historically, biblically, socially, and politically women continue to be blamed for men's destruction. Like Eve, the belief continues, women use beauty and sex to seduce and destroy men in power, men with strong resolve. She argues that men should be held accountable for their own demise. If women are weak and inferior and men are strong and superior, then how is it possible for little women to have such power over tough men? If men can fight wars and govern nations, then how is it that they cannot overcome the seduction of a minor character, an inferior being. She argues that "this notion that women drag men down with sex … is the basis for too much silliness – it is the reason why rape victims are not named but alleged rapists are – implying that the former, not the latter, should be ashamed because she must have made him do it – she drove him to a felonious act … Women don't bring men down; for whatever reason, men bring themselves down, and then all of a sudden it's cherchez la femme (64).

This is a powerful book with an even more powerful message that articulates how female strength and power has been appropriated and misinterpreted by male writers, theologians, and scholars. Since the time of Eve and Delilah to the present, strong women have been looked upon with negativity and derision, their power over men diminished to the manipulative use of their beauty and sexual prowess, even if they were not beautiful or sexy to begin with; but the blame had to go somewhere for man's downfall, and of course, the man could not blame himself. It's a great book with an empowering message towards redefining the way we look at female sexuality and female strength, and I recommend it to all women and young girls who want to find their power and agency outside of the wiles of their femininity.

Quite a number of marriage relationships become sexually stale with time and need external stimulation. This is not necessarily because of lack of love for one another. It is more because of the pressures of life that a woman has to deal with- work, children, church or volunteer work, extended family. It is difficult to juggle all these and still be sexually alert. She does not pay much attention to herself or her surroundings. However, every wife must always remember that she creates the atmosphere in the home. It is even more so, for the sexual environment that the relationship with her husband can thrive in. What are the things a woman can do to create this environment?

REVAMP HER PHYSICAL SURROUNDING

The appearance of the home is so important to a good sex life. An untidy home is very uninviting and can be bad for good sex. Taking it a step further, a home could be tidy and still feel like a boarding house or hospital or an office instead of a warm inviting place a man wants to come to. A home should be warm and inviting- a haven in which love can thrive and sex can happen spontaneously. It is the woman who can put this kind of home in place. Creating the right environment goes a long way in the sex equation between husband and wife. Most men do not have the ability to create it but enjoy it when the wife has done so because they are stimulated by things they see. That kind of environment allows things to happen naturally.

Not every woman has a natural flair for creating this environment, but there are a lot of resources available these days-magazines, books, the internet. Any woman can get really creative with color in her bed sheets, room walls and furniture. It does not have to cost too much, if women put on their creative hats. However, a woman who prefers to get professional help should do so. It is worth every penny. Women should make the effort to have the best looking home they can have within their budget.

It is difficult to maintain a cozy home when children are growing up. They can get very messy and make it difficult to keep the home clean and smelling nice. For women who live in Africa, the situation is even more difficult. They live with extended family and maids besides their children. They occupy every available space. They take out the coziness of any home. But women must still try. Even if the whole house is taken, there is the room called the Holy of Holies, meant for just husband and wife. Wives should be the ones luring their husbands home by the environment they create by using everything at their disposal- the beauty and fragrance of the flowers, works of art, music, colors and shades. It will help both man and wife relax, forget the crazy world outside and enjoy one another.

GET A MAKEOVER

That men are stimulated by what they see cannot be over emphasized. At the time a man gets married, he likes what he sees in his wife. However after a few years his wife is no longer the woman he married. All the pressures of her married status give her less time for her appearance. Then children come and she begins to put on weight and the looks suffer even more. Such a woman looks at herself in the mirror a few years down the line and feels bad because she is not pleased with what she sees. She drives down the road, sees younger, prettier women with their flat abdomens and begins to wonder what happened to her. The magazines and television adverts don’t make it any easier for her to accept what has happened to her. Of course at this time, her sex life is almost nonexistent. The fire went out with the third child. When last did her husband take a good look at her? When last did he pay her a real compliment? When last did he tell her she is beautiful? When last did she spend a good evening with him?

Her life has become a cycle of work, chores, children, husband, and the one thing that suffers is the woman’s body. She has no time for herself. In trying to get through her daily responsibilities, she does not have time for regular salon visits. She can’t afford the time to shop for nice things, so she flies into the shop and picks up the first thing she finds to buy. Her wardrobe is dreary and lack-luster. However every wife must remember that being and remaining beautiful is paramount to a vibrant sex life. Women don’t all have to look like Naomi Campbell or Jennifer Lopez, but they all need to make some effort to look after their bodies, keep them beautiful and healthy. The husbands appreciate the efforts their wives make.

They should take the time to nurture their hair, skin and nails. Most women go to bed with their make up on, not paying any attention to the damage being done to their skin. They do not follow any skin care routine to keep it young and vibrant.

Shopping for clothes is supposed to be an exciting experience, not a quick detour to the shops. No woman will ever be able to get clothes that bring out the best in her body or accentuate her figure, without spending quality time in the shops. To get the best value for money, a woman must set aside time to enable her buy what is best for her.

Some women dress so drably when they’re home and only dress up when they’re going out. They wear very uncomplimentary boubous (long African gowns) or big t-shirts or shirts and old jeans. Who are they dressing up for? They have forgotten how they used to wear their best clothes whenever their boyfriends were coming over to see them. They have changed from the women who wanted to impress the men. After all they have seen everything.

The husbands leave home every day and see all those pretty girls with their flat tummies and perfectly dressed and made up faces and then come home to a wife with disheveled hair in a boubou or old t- shirts and jeans. This is what a lot of men have to deal with, wives who no longer make the effort to attract them. It should not be so.

Most women never get to enjoy the pleasure of buying underwear. They buy black and white bras. They do the same with their panties. Meanwhile God went to the trouble of creating a beautiful variety of colors between black and white-red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet, the primary colors. Then in between, we still have the peach, turquoise, mauve, marine, mustard etc. Women must get creative in the color spectrum of their under wear. It creates a lot of exhilaration for the husbands. Creativity is the watchword. It is important that women should change their overall appearance every once in a while- hair, nails, clothes, underwear and everything else. It will get the husbands to look again and remember the good old days when it all began.

PAY ATTENTION TO BODY SMELL

A woman’s body smell is so important.Men respond to their senses. Husbands should be able to describe their wives smell to be appealing and sexy. However, smelling good takes quite a lot of effort. To start with, it costs money. It is something women should work at all day, every day, especially in hot and humid weather. It is worth every penny that one can afford. It starts with the soap or detergent with which they wash your clothes, to their bathing techniques and then the use of perfumes and deodorants. It is very important that women smell right to attract their husbands’ attention. It is also essential to stimulating a good sex life.

MAKE THE EFFORT TO MANAGE EXCESS WEIGHT

Whenever the weight issue comes up, some woman will go, ‘here we go again’. It is true every woman cannot be as slim as those girls on the magazine covers. It is also true that fat women are not a cursed species. However, if a woman was a size 12 when she got married, then she should not move too far from there after marriage. It is only fair to try to keep it as close as possible to what the husband saw in the beginning.

Apart from the health implications of being overweight, it does not do any good for the relationship. He still wants to fill like the boy who chased her on campus but he can’t feel that way when she just doesn’t look like she used to. It is difficult to stay there but women can stay close to it. It takes time, effort and a lot of discipline to stay the same but it is worth the effort. It will keep things going in the bedroom. There will be few dull moments because the husband is constantly stimulated by what he sees.

It is possible for the husbands to see even more beautiful versions of the lovely women they married. After all when women get older and more sophisticated, with the weight properly managed, they will look a lot better than they did when they first got married. Remember what they say about old wine. It tastes better the older it gets. That is how the woman is supposed to be-irresistible and even more attractive as she gets older. As they begin to take off the weight the results will be amazing. Much more attention than they’ve got in a long time. Better sex too. It comes as a total package.

MAKE THE EFFORT TO BE A FRIEND NOT JUST WIFE

Sometimes women become so ‘wifey’ that their husbands no longer see them as friends and companions. Of course in that type of relationship, sex can never be interesting or sizzling. At best, it would be routine. So many married men feel they are useful to their wives to the extent that they pay bills and do the needful. But they don’t see them as their trusted friends. Every woman must make the effort to be the one her husband wants to talk to about every and anything. When a husband has great rapport with his wife, lovemaking becomes better. He’s relaxed, He’s himself and there are no false airs and no hidden barriers. There is openness and oneness. It can only make the experience better. Being his friend makes being his wife much easier and is definitely a plus for a stimulating the sexual experience.

At the end of the day, the home should be a place the husband really wants to come back to. It should be warm, inviting and friendly. It requires some work but the benefits are worth it. Women should take cue from the woman in Proverbs 7 who diligently sought the face of the man and found him. She enticed the man ‘I have spread my couch with rugs and cushions of tapestry, with stripped sheets of fine linen of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come let us take our fill of love…’ The man bought her lines. She went to great lengths to get response from the man. She went as far as getting linen from Egypt. That is the same way women should prepare to entice their husbands with everything they have. They will enjoy the rewards of sexual excitement that every married couple should enjoy.

The most important thing you should know about women's plus size swimwear is that everyone can feel comfortable and special when they step out into the sun and have a splash in the water at a swimming pool or at the beach. There are no boundaries and designers are working hard to create designs that are fashionable, fun and flattering for your figure.

Swimming costumes for those who are curvy, bigger busted, wider hipped, with a problem tummy area and so on, can definitely be found without too much trouble these days. The online world has opened up so many opportunities for women, especially those that are not comfortable when it comes to shopping and trying things on in the change rooms.

There is often nothing more humiliating and frustrating than being in a fitting room getting all hot and sweaty trying one thing on after another and leaving the store sad and empty handed. Local shops or department stores only give you limited choices for women's plus size swimwear, especially it happens all too often and this is particularly sad when there actually are some fabulous options for full figured women, you just need to know where to look and start doing some research of your own.

If you are someone who has experienced the scenario above and stay away from the stores and the dreaded change rooms, consider shopping for the perfect swimsuit online. You will be able to compare many different beach wear websites at your own comfort zone; the first thing is to look for a good website which provides beautiful styles besides giving some styling tips and tricks that will help you find a perfect swimwear for your shape which will make you look fabulous.

Find clever ideas such as use colors or prints to help camouflage trouble spots and also discover the types of materials used in the creation of swimwear that will help to flatten and smooth out trouble spots on the body. How this fabric is worked with can also make a big difference when it comes to the creation of a flattering design. Ruching in particular is a design element that is fabulous for curvy women around the tummy area to make it appear smaller.

Not everyone is comfortable with the idea of ​​purchasing an item like a swimsuit online; however you could find it to be the most easy and rewarding way to find the exact design you have been searching for. Always read terms and conditions carefully, plus, ensure you purchase from a reputable seller and designer by reading their websites reviews.

Once you have done a good research on women's plus size swimwear and have found bathers that suit your style and shape, you will be ready to enjoy all outdoor activities under the warmer weather. It is time to step outside with confidence, jump in the pool with the kids and be happy with your curvaceous body and your choices. The curvy figure of a real woman in beautiful bathers will cause admired eyes to turn towards her and the once a plus size mom who preferred to stay indoors now will turn into a nice looking lady at the beach.

We females, go after or seek out, have experiences, create attachments which then lead to commitments forming great bonds with each other, our family, our friends and much more. Why is it so hard to find a strong man who will commit on a deep level with his whole heart?

Let’s look a little deeper. A broken chain can never create a strong link.

Sisters, we must first find the weak link that will strengthen the chain, for a powerful deep- rooted commitment. For men, they bond first. This is what we need to understand. They do not go about this bonding experience the same way. The process is the same, but the order is different. Take some of these for example: sport teams, friends, mother or fathers, jobs, belief systems, money, cars, dogs and so on. They become loyal to these which create many experiences that build attachments with strong feelings.

Take a look at what is known as the “man cave” (if you can get in, ha ha ha ha!) What you will find is his deep feelings that has been displayed all over his man cave, right from his heart. This only happens after he has built the bond, carefully analyzed, and has gone through all of the process. Then, and only then, is it accounted worthy, for it to be on display.

Now let’s say you buy a gift for a man, and there is no bond in that gift. That gift will produce the feeling of happiness, but with no deep root. If you continue to do this, there will be no deep commitment, the link in the chain will be tender, remaining weak.

So what can we gals do?

1. Buy him a gift, but not on a holiday (consider the bond in it)

2. Build up your relationship where you see there might be a lack of trust.

A lack of trust is a sign of weak loyalty towards you. You do need that spot in his “man cave” (his heart). You can start with buying a gift that shows loyalty to him. (We really underestimate this one)

3. Start looking into his “man cave”. See where his heart is at, and buy a gift that he may consider placing in his man cave.

4. Build on doing activities where his heart is at, so deep experiences will take place.

Then buy a gift that symbolizes that good time! But give the gift to him at later date, perhaps a month or two later.

Men like gifts as much as we do! They are just different to them in their connection and process placement patterns.

4.1. A gift can have a deep powerful impact on men.

5. Talk with him about his beliefs, but don’t just talk, if possible, get involved where you can.

I would go on and say some more, but it’s time for me to close the door. Happy travels, I’ll see you soon! Remember! Men bond first, the commitment is last. Woman, we commit at the start, then bond in the end.

Is the lack of confidence around women holding you back in pursuing the woman of your dreams? You are not alone, many men have this problem. They get tense, anxious and feel insecure in front of the woman they adore. If this keeps on happening to you, you won’t be able to act the way you want and you will appear unattractive to most women. Confidence is a trait that women admire most and building self-confidence around women is necessary if you want to succeed in dating women.

How to build self-confidence around women?

Know that most people lack self-confidence. Your lack of confidence shouldn’t be an excuse for not approaching the woman you like. You have to know that it is normal for people to feel unsure, uncomfortable or shy in front of another person especially if this person is someone you like so you do not have to feel less of a person for feeling less confident. Who knows, the person that you are afraid to approach might be as shy as you are. In building self-confidence around women you have to muster your courage and conquer your fears.

Dress like a confident man. In everything we do we have to set the mood to be able to feel it and get in action. We get into the mood of sleeping if we are in our sleeping clothes, we wear school uniforms or working clothes to get into the mood of going to school or working. It is the same in building confidence around women, you have to wear a confident persona to get into the mood and one way of accomplishing that is to dress well and appear confident. Wear something stylish and classy but be sure you are comfortable and confident pulling that off. Groom yourself from head to toe. Put attention to your hairstyle and even to your shoes. Trim your facial hair including the hair in your nose and cut your fingernails to appear clean and fresh. Remember that grooming yourself doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune. There are ways to look great on a budget.

Believe in yourself. Lack of confidence stems from not believing in yourself and in building confidence around women, you have to change your mindset. The way we think affects our behavior. If you do not believe in yourself, it shows in your action. If you will start to believe more in yourself, you will start to act more confident. This is easily said than done but you have to start changing your mindset if you want to build self-confidence around women. If you will start now and will keep on doing it, you will eventually become better and will naturally act confident around women. Believe that you are interesting and likeable and it will show in your actions. Once you start believing in yourself, women will find you more interesting and attractive.

Accept that rejection is a normal part of life. Fear of rejection is the major factor contributing to the lack of confidence of most men. They do not want to be rejected so they just stay away and failed to muster the confidence to approach the women they find attractive. Accept that rejection is a normal part of life and dating or approaching women is not an exception. Almost everybody gets rejected but those who succeeded are those who refused to give up. In building confidence around women, you have to change your outlook about rejection. Think that in every rejection, you get one step closer to meeting “the one” for you.

Practice, practice and practice. Self-consciousness around women can prevent you from acting confident around them but if you will expose yourself to socialize more with women, this self-consciousness will be reduced if not eliminated. You probably already know the common saying that constant practice makes it perfect and you probably have done that on some of the things that you want to learn in school or at work. In building confidence around women, you also have to practice constantly to get the hang of it and to become more confident. Practice being around women more and socialize with them more. Practice having conversations with your women friends so that when the time comes that you have to face the woman you are attracted to, you will not be too overwhelmed.

Once you’ve learned to be confident around women or in front of people in general, it will bring positive changes in your life especially in your social or dating life.

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It is indeed a wonderful revelation in the history of world cinema that immensely talented women filmmakers of Africa and the African Diaspora are making it really big in innovative filmmaking. Not only are they challenging old cinematic prescriptions, they are also using their superior art of cinema to create and establish new visions of their people and the world. The journey of black women filmmakers began as early as 1922 when Tressie Saunders, a black woman director made the exemplary film 'A Woman's Error'. It was the first attempt of its kind in that era to decolonize the gaze and to ground the film in the black female subjectivity. However, today even after a long history of evocative work, black women directors have had a long, slow path to the director's chair, where only a handful of black woman filmmakers have been able to break through the racial barriers in Hollywood.

But apart from Hollywood, many of the black women from Africa and in the United States have been able to stand out in respect of world cinema. In fact, filmmakers like Julie Dash (originally from New York City) has long ago won the Best Cinematography Award with her much acclaimed film "Daughters of the Dust" at the 1991 Sundance Film Festival. On the other hand, Cheryl Denye from Liberia has received worldwide fame and accolade with her film The 'Watermelon Woman' (1996), which happens to be the first African American lesbian feature film in the history of world cinema. Another woman filmmaker, Safi Faye from Senegal has to her credit several ethnographic films that brought her international acclaim and earned her several awards at the Berlin International Film Festivals in 1976 and 1979. Besides, there are independent black women filmmakers like Salem Mekuria from Ethiopia who produces documentary films focusing on her native Ethiopia and on African American women in general. In 1989, Euzhan Palcy became the first black woman to direct a mainstream Hollywood film, 'A Dry White Season'. In spite of all this success, it is still true that the state of things isn't all that rosy for African American women filmmakers. A documentary named "Sisters in Cinema 'by Yvonne Welbon has tried to explore why and how the history of black women behind the camera has been made strangely obscure in all of Hollywood.

"Sisters in Cinema 'happens to be the first and a one-of-its-kind documentary in the history of world cinema that attempts to explore the lives and films of inspirational black women filmmakers. To commemorate the success and the colossal achievement of black women filmmakers throughout the ages, a 62-min documentary by Yvonne Welbon named "Sisters in Cinema" came up in 2003. The film attempted to trace the careers of inspiring African American women filmmakers from the early part of the 20th century to today. the first documentary of its kind, 'Sisters in Cinema' has been regarded by critics as a strong visual history of the contributions of African American women to the film industry. "Sisters in Cinema", they say, has been a seminal work that pays homage to African American women who made history against all racial, social barriers and odds.

While being interviewed, the filmmaker Yvonne Welbon admitted that when she set out to make this documentary, she had barely knew there were any black women filmmakers apart from the African-American director Julie Dash. However, in pursuit of seeking those inspirational directors, she set out to explore the fringes of Hollywood where she discovered a phenomenal film directed by an African American woman Darnell Martin. Apart from that film 'I Like It Like That', she discovered only a handful of films being produced and distributed by African Americans. Thus saying, the monopoly of Hollywood by white filmmakers, producers and distributors inspired her in a way to travel the path of independent filmmaking. Surprisingly, here she uncovers a wide range of really remarkable films directed by an African American woman outside of the Hollywood studio system and thus she found out her sisters in cinema.

Within the 62-hour documentary, the careers, lives and films of inspirational women filmmakers, like Euzhan Palcy, Julie Dash, Darnell Martin, Dianne Houston, Neema Barnette, Cheryl Dunye, Kasi Lemmons and Maya Angelou are showcased, along with rare, in -depth interviews interwoven with film clips, rare archival footage and photographs and production video of the filmmakers at work. Together these images give voice to African American women directors and serve to illuminate a history of the phenomenal success of black women filmmakers in world cinema that has remained hidden for too long.

In recent times, there has been the Eighth Annual African American Women In Cinema Film Festival in New York City in October 2005. It was another remarkable event that showcased exceptional feature and documentary films as well as short films made by African American women filmmakers like Aurora Sarabia, a fourth generation Chicana (Mexican-American) from Stockton, CA, Vera J. Brooks, a Chicago-based producer, Teri Burnette, a socialistic filmmaker, Stephannia F. Cleaton, an award-winning New York City newspaper journalist and the business editor at the Staten Island Advance, Adetoro Makinde, a first generation Nigerian-American director, screenwriter, producer, actress, among others. And in more recent times, from February 5 to March 5, 2007, there has been the celebration of the Black History Month by the Film Society of Lincoln Center & Separate Cinema Archive, in which the center presented "Black Women Behind the Lens".

A seething documentary, "Black Women Behind the Lens" celebrates the uncompromising cinematic labors of love created by a group of brave African-American women. Gifted with rare determination and undaunted spirits, these black women filmmakers were committed to speaking truth to power while offering alternatives to the stereotypical images of black women found in mainstream media. They resorted to Guerilla filmmaking, an artistic rebellion in the face of the long established network of Hollywood and have challenged old cinematic perceptions, using their art to erect new visions of their people, their heritage and their world. Noted theoreticians, sociologists, women writers, directors are saying that it is good to know that women filmmakers of Africa and the African Diaspora are challenging old cinematic prescriptions and creating their own visions in the cinema they love to make.

However, while a significant number of women in Africa and here in the United States have been able to carve out successful careers in filmmaking, the hurdles are particularly daunting. The problem, says Elizabeth Hadley, the chair of Women Studies at Hamilton College in Clinton, NY, is not particularly about black women making films, but the issues of marketing, distribution and funding. As a result, the majority of these women are finding money independently and working on shoestring budgets. However, all said and done, it is enough encouraging to know that at least some of these women are daring to decolonize the gaze of Hollywood and to ground their films in black female subjectivity. Any attention or recognition that comes when these women desire to communicate their ideas about black people's history, heritage, with an emphasis on women's experience, must be welcome!

Fashion dictates what clothing and accessories that a lot of women buy and wear. Women’s shoes are a large part of the changing styles of fashion, but like most articles of clothing if you hang onto the women’s shoes for long enough they will come back into style.

Women’s shoes are generally fashionably coordinated to the outfit that the lady is wearing. This has always been true and will always be true. The height of the heel, the shape of the toes, and the thickness of the heels are the main characteristics that change with the whims of the fashion world.

Women’s shoes were once made more like a pair of boots. These items buttoned up the sides and in order to fasten those buttons you needed to have a specialized tool. It was all the rage among the fashion industry for ladies to wear these items, and luckily these items have never returned to style after they were no longer fashionable to wear.

Heels are a fashion statement at times and they are the perfect shoe choice for most outfits. When you are in doubt of what footwear to choose you can always fall back on a selection f heels. Heels look great with jeans and they are amazing with dresses. There is something unique about a woman wearing shorts and heels and most people agree that these types of footwear make the woman walk in what is considered a more feminine manner.

Athletic footwear like sneakers have their place in the gym, when the female is out hiking, or participating in outdoor sporting activities, but when she want to make a fashion statement sneakers are not to be put on her feet. You can wear these items with jeans and shorts, but fashion dictates that you get colors and styles that match the clothing you are wearing and the activity the lady will be participating in.

Flip flops are a southern girls favorite footwear, and they are fine for the beach, a picnic, or wearing in the back yard, but you need to consider another alternative if you are going out in public. These are not fashion sandals and even if they are decorated they are still a casual item meant for casual clothing and activities.

Most women wear a lot of flats with things like jeans, shorts, and even sundresses. Fashion tells us that the ballet flats are appropriate attire with these ensembles and the age of the woman does not change the fact that they are stylish.

While I’m working on my dating skills, I’ve been pleased to notice that being open and honest, in conjunction with creating a list of desired qualities, is still a winning dating strategy. The good news for boomer men is that single boomer women aren’t jaded about relationships and they’re looking for guys who have the right stuff. Dating boomer women is more fun now than it was decades ago, and for many reasons.

I’ve met amazing 60-something women, most of whom are evolved, accomplished in their fields, comfortable in their own skins and in shape. Much of what I’ve experienced dating is in sharp contrast to the comments from women that insisted the boomer woman described on my dating list doesn’t exist. She does, and in great numbers. These women understand that creating a durable relationship requires some amount of give and take, but that settling for a man who isn’t emotionally evolved or in shape is a non-starter. They’re tough-minded, in a positive way, and are interested exclusively in men they consider their peers.

I respect and admire these women, and I enjoy their company even when we don’t mesh on a relationship level. Meeting so many amazing women has reassured me that creating an enduring friendship/romance with a woman in midlife is still possible. So many boomer women are aging with grace and dignity. Many work hard to keep their minds and bodies in shape, and nearly all know in very specific terms what they want in a man. And, guess what? Money is way down on their lists.

Many midlife women have begun new careers harnessing their previously-learned skills and are accomplishing new goals. An art teacher has become a working artist. A successful therapist has developed a therapy/tutoring business working with children. Many volunteer to help less privileged women identify their new dreams. There’s a powerful sisterhood between women that men would do well to emulate.

The complaint from these remarkable women is that too few boomer men meet their requirements and that unlike many men, they prefer to be alone than in a relationship with someone who is lacking relationship skills. The biggest sticking points seem to be related to limited emotional discourse and a distinct lack of personal growth. Some men are living in a time warp and think that men just need to show up to be appreciated. Aging with well-developed emotional skills requires an effort boomer women no longer consider optional. Being in shape matters, too, because it reflects a man’s self-esteem.

But not every woman fits in the aforementioned group. I’ve also met a few who wasted our first date telling me about every guy who treated her badly. That they would do this instead of wanting to learn something about the man sitting in front of them felt pointless. A woman yelled at me on a first date when I asked if we could stop talking about all of her physical ailments. Another complained about an old boyfriend who bought her a cloth coat instead of the fur coat she wanted. No man is going to step into a brand new relationship knowing that his primary task is to save a woman.

Based on what I’ve gleaned from women, a note of caution is in order for boomer men who only date younger women: You’re missing the mother lode, guys. Boomer women have all the qualities a man could want in a partner, and more. A younger woman may be easy to impress and control, but that points to an insecure man. Some Boomer guys erroneously believe a younger woman is the antidote for their waning sexuality. What they failed to learn is that depending on visual stimulation for sexual performance in midlife is a surefire way to end up alone.

If it doesn’t live in your heart, your sexuality is going to falter once the novelty of a young body wears off, and when it does, what’s left is a young, sexually frustrated girlfriend. How do you suppose that’s going to play out? I admire powerful boomer women and I find them far more attractive than their younger counterparts. Being secure in your manhood is the defining quality that helps a man discern the difference.

I’ve recently met a special boomer woman who’s a real firecracker, full of positive emotional and physical energy. She actually has all twenty characteristics on my list, so kindly refrain from insisting that lists are worthless. They are a road map for relationships that help guide men and women to their destination, the most perfect partner. Navigating relationships is difficult enough. Letting life just happen is pointless. There are so many terrific, available boomer women, and being prepared in order to meet the one that most closely resembles your lifestyle is smart dating. Boomer women, I salute you.Dati