Sunday, January 10, 2010

Stereotypes

Don't you hate widow stereotypes? Months before my husband died, I pictured myself as a widow, and the image certainly wasn't flattering. A dried up, sad old lady with lips turned down and shoulders hunched. But isn't that the connotation of a lot of widow synonyms? Dowager, beldam, crone, hag. Even matron doesn't sound too cool.

Then there are the other words for widow, words that imply she's a woman on the make. Words like vamp, vixen, flirt, siren. And of course there's the evil black widow.

Personally, I prefer the word survivor. The basic definition is "one who survives." That doesn't tell you much. The legal definition is "one who outlives a spouse."

But the definition I like best is "a person who continues to function in spite of opposition, hardships or setbacks." Folks, that's us!

See you in seven.

3 comments:

Debbie said... [Reply to comment]

I remember hours after my husband died when it dawned on me that I was a widow, and I hated the images that the word conjured in my mind. I like the idea of thinking myself as a survivor. Thanks for the new word!

Boo said... [Reply to comment]

I am still introduced to people as Cliff's wife (by his friends) and I LOVE that :-)

Widow in the Middle said... [Reply to comment]

I very much like the words to the last definition. I always refer to myself as a "widowed mom."

 

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