The Modern Southern Woman

Life for a woman south of the Mason-Dixon line has historically been portrayed as an existence of niceties, casseroles, cotillons, and looking polished in the sweltering heat. Southern women are often perceived as either well-mannered, obedient conservatives with a deep collection of recipes, or as cigarette smoking, non-working, undereducated women that can often be found barefoot and pregnant. Yes, there are other depictions of the southern woman but let’s be honest; the modern southern woman is not Scarlet O’hara, or Honey Boo-Boo. In 2022, being a Southern woman is a mixture of the past, present, and the future. We are evolving, and, to be honest, we are changing the game!

Tradition is respected in the South and as southerners, we look to the past to gain wisdom, inspiration, and to learn lessons. We honor family sentiments and cultural staples while simultaneously moulding them to our present lives and, at times, rethinking them for the generations to come. For example, Southern women value the cast iron skillet that was passed down from her Great Granny and we understand the importance of being sure that skillet is well seasoned and one day given to our daughter. However, we also understand the immense value in purchasing fried chicken from your local Piggly Wiggly. Frying chicken is hard, messy, hot, and no one has time for that. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot to be said for the time spent frying chicken in the kitchen with our Mamas and Grannys and Maw-Maws over that same skillet, but that is about the quality of time with the matriarchs of our family.This sentimental and significant experience can absolutely be achieved without sweating over said sacred frying pan and stringing flour and grease all over here, there and yonder.

The modern Southern woman is gracious, hard working, capable and independent. We fight stereotypes of being incompetent and inferior and, let me tell you, this coudn’t be farther from the truth! We are not coming out of Ole Miss, or Vandy, or UGA with a “husband degree” or with a degree to simply hang on the wall in our perfectly decorated home office. We are doctors, lawyers, pathologists, teachers, artists, business owners, writers, CEOs, activists, bloggers, politicians and, the most innovative of all, THINKERS! Yes, Southern women have thoughts and damn are they magnificent ones! Our brains are filled with much more than mint juleps and monograms and our words are more expressive than the token “Bless your heart!” (Although this phrase is quite expressive in and of itself). Don’t let that slow, sweet, enticing drawl fool you; we are powerful and knowledgeable and talented and deserve a more positive light.

The beauty of the modern Southern woman is how we gracefully blend the traditions of the past with our modern lives while keeping the future in mind. We were raised by strong Southern mamas who weren’t afraid to tell it like it is or put us in our place while reminding us to keep a pretty face and never show our weakness.Although we now know the value of mental health, that Southern tradition of feminine strength is presently translated into our ever growing presence in politics and business. More and more Southern women are emerging as small business owners, climbing the corporate ladder, and holding local, state, and national offices. We are raising our daughters to be open-minded, caring, free-thinkers, and to still hold onto the tradition of the Southern woman’s strength. The next generation of Southern women is being taught the importance of respect and sentiment. These young women are also being equipped with the tools to take charge of their own destiny without being bound by stereotypes that will pigeon-hole them as something they are, most definitely, not.

So, yes, Southern women may be well-mannered, sentimental, and over-indulgent in a monogram, but take me at my word when I tell you that only scratches the surface. We have so much more to offer.