What Everybody Ought to Know About the “Every Woman” Contestants

How does it feel to be a woman in the 21st century?

Fantastic, we have the opportunity to do or be anything we want. There is so much help for us if we just have the ambition to do it. -Karen R., TX

Extremely challenging. The opportunities in every area of life are open to us! -Darlene E., WI

Being a woman today means feeling alive and ready to face each day with passion and the joy of living. Linda B., GA

It's exciting to be a woman of the 21st century, there's more opportunity for any thing we want to do. We just have to reach out for it and ENJOY! -Kathleen S., HI

It feels good to be able to handle a job and a home! -Tami V., LA

Empowering! - Melanie R., FL

Frustrating, scary and a little exciting. -Tanya H., IA

I feel extremely blessed to be a woman in the 21st century. I am living in a time when a woman can run for president, be governors of states, head bishops of churches. -Jackie f. W., GA

Enervating and irritating. To be a woman in the 21st century is to feel pushed, stressed, restricted and judged. BUT we have more opportunities and support than we have ever, historically, had. So much is expected and are limits are less then they were only twenty years ago.
-Alice K. M., AR

Great! -Gail J., AL

Great! There are so many opportunities for us. -Lisa M., 0H

I feel like we have more opportunities than ever before. For example, we have a woman running for President this year. That would have never happened in my mother's day. I believe we still have some things to conquer yet. I believe that wages have still a little way to go as to paying women just like men are paid. We are there in some industries but not in all of them, but I don't feel like that's too far away. I love being women in the 21st Century because of the fact that I have choices. For instance, growing up as a little girl all I ever wanted to be was a housewife and mother.......In my grandmother's day that was a given. I had a choice in the 21st century. I could go into the work force, go to college, start my own business, etc... I did still make the choice to be a housewife and mother. I was able to do this by first of all starting my own business. You see, I was a daycare provider. When my children were under school age, I had my own business as a daycare provider and therefore accomplished my goal. Thank God for the opportunities offered to Woman today in the 21st Century!
-Jeri L. S., FL

About the same as in any other century, I am sure. -JoEllen T., TN

It feels like you can do anything your heart desires. -Karen B., TX

It’s pretty good. We have more freedom. -Deb F., MO

Great! -Patricia S., TN

It feels so frustrating to be in the 21st century. Woman are view as trying to assert their independence and survialness, causing some of us to be force in to independence and really it isn’t what they want. I still want the traditional role of being considered a lady. Not a trend setter. Not someone who is trying to be on top. It’s ok that there are women leaders out there doing a great job, but somewhere men are forgetting the role of being a man and treating a woman special. It is causing a competition between the two. Men against the women and vice a versa. It is like the end of a tradition of culture and refine. It’s sort of sad to see it go but exciting in other ways. -Laura C., WV

Great! -Linda C. J., OR

It sucks to be my age in the 21st century. - Kathryn M., WA

It feels like I'm blessed in most ways by the technology and medical advances available to humans now and ultimately to women and their children the most. And in other ways, it feels like something was lost in the transition. Families are live further apart, and even when living together, they sometimes live to far apart in their closeness. But being in the 21st century as a woman, is the place to be :-)
-Ellen M. L., CO

To be a woman in the 21st century feels great. I feel good about myself and I believe that I can do what ever I want to. I feel I am responsible for my life and my life is what I make it. When I was growing up my life was my Dad's. He controlled my sisters and myself. Even when we were teenagers and when we were 18 he stilled tryed to control us but today, I am my on person. If I want to dress up, I can, If I want to go shopping, I can. I am in control. I think we have come a long way in the 21st century for women. I would hate to think this freedom would be taken away from us. I love the way I feel and hope other women do too. -Annie C., NC

Great! -Lisa B., VA

It has been so wonderful with so many things to do, and being able to spend the whole day doing what ever I wanted. Not working now and all of the children married. It is a relief not to worry about keeping up with other people’s life style. It is such a refreshing lifestyle and a great time to be a woman in the 21st century. -Fay Z., PA

Great! -Tia C., MD

It feels awesome to be a woman in the 21st century! This is such a great time in our history to be a woman! I can have a family and the career of my dreams. I am able to be partners with my husband and be the wife; cooking and such, while I home school my kids. On top of it all, I have embarked on a career in freelance writing! All my life I wanted to be a writer, when my job with FEMA ended (I was working the Hurricane Katrina disaster in Louisiana) I took the plunge. Now I work for myself and have the life that I want. I look at my mother who is still reeling. She does not understand my independence, drive and assertiveness, a trait of my generation. Her generation was much more docile and less likely to take such risks. The only difficulty that I see is explaining to those who do from another generation and don't understand. Some people who are in my mother's age group are a little taken aback by a strong, secure woman, but I am educating her and liberating her as well! -Stephanie P., LA


I am glad I was not born 100 years ago. I can vote. There was a time when only men could vote. I can work and be the bread winner. I can speak my mind and not be tied down to an abusive man. Years ago divorce was almost unheard of. Women can now run for president or run a huge company. Men and women can now share household chores. We have moved forward so much more than anyone thought possible. So I am proud of myself and other women. We are a very strong bunch and we are FREE!!
-Kelly W., OK

It feels very empowering. Nothing is out of reach. Women enjoy the same freedoms as men, they just have to reach out and seek the opportunities. It is possible to be a woman and not have to depend on a man to support them. A woman can choose a man if she so desires.
-Kathy B., OR

It's really hard, because we are expected to give so much, yet we still aren't respected or paid as well as men. -Luanne H., MN

Difficult at times to live in this mixed up world. -Starlene H., OR

Liberated.- Mary A. F., PA

Fantastic! Lisa M., NJ

Being a woman in the 21st century has opened up doors that would have never been opened before now. I feel like I can do anything, accomplish whatever I chose to & earn what I want to earn. The ball is totally in my court. It is up to me to decide how quickly I want to become wealthy & how wealthy I want to be. -Jayne D., CA

We have more independence we don’t have to rely on a man for anything
Deborah L., GA

It is a joy. Kelley N., OR

As a women living in the 21st century I feel more independent and self-sufficient then the generations of women in the past centuries. I know I am able to live without depending on a man to support me and able to provide for myself and my children. Looking at my grandmother and ladies in her era I see that a lot were put upon the men to head the household and to provide for the family, not so with today’s women. I am proud of the fact that I am able to make a living and not be dependent on someone to have to provide for me. -Donneice M. O., HI
Its wonderful! We have so many opportunities that women years ago never had. We are more able to provide for our families and be independent in our finances. -Linda P., MI

I feel good to live in a time where education is available any one who seeks it. Where health issues can be addressed better and religion is free to serve. -Brenda G. F., MI

Good! -Josephine G., MA

Sometimes it works FOR you! But it can work AGAINST you just as much!
-Jamie H. B., MS

Very confusing. Society sends conflicting messages to woman. If you're strong and independent they call you names. If you leave it to the man they say you're weak. You have to be strong enough to find your way in this world and be content with who are without overly worrying about what the world around you think. –Dena C., CA

Great! Sometimes it can be a little stressful. –Ann W., WI

Very stressful. -Bobbette E., IL

Good! –Joan P., CT