Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current, August 15, 2012, Page 6, Image 6

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    ^lortlanb (¡Obstruer
Page 6
August 15, 2012
Opinion articles do not necessarily represent the views o f the
Portland Observer. We welcome reader essays, photos and
story ideas. Submit to news@portlandobserver.com
New Prices
Effective
May 1,2010
«
Martin
Cleaning
Service
Carpet & Upholstery
Cleaning
Residential &
Commercial Services
Minimum Service CHG.
$45.00
A sm all distance/travel charge
m ay be applied
CARPET
—
CLEANING
_
2 Cleaning Areas or
more $30.00 Each Area
Pre-Spray Traffic Areas
(Includes: 1 sm all H allw ay)
1 Cleaning Area (only)
$40.00
Includes Pre-Spray Traffic Area
(Hallway Extra)
Stairs (12-16 stairs - With
Other Services)-. $25.00
Area/Oriental Rugs:
$25.00 Minimum
Area/Oriental Rugs (Wooly.
$40.00 Minimum
Heavily Soiled Area:
Additional $10.00 each area
(Requiring Extensive Pre-Spraying)
UPHOLSTERY
CLEANING
Sofa: $69.00
Loveseat: $49.00
Sectional: $ 109 - $ 139
Chair or Recliner:
$25 - $49
Throw Pillows (With
th
Other Services): $5.00
% w
ADDITIONAL
SERVICES
• Area & Oriental Rug
Cleaning
• Auto/Boat/RV Cleaning
• Deodorizing & Pet
Odor Treatment
• Spot & Stain
Removal Service
• Scotchguard Protection
• M inor Water Damage
Services
SEE CURRENT FLYER
FOR ADDITIONAL
PRICES & SERVICES
Call for Appointment
(503) 281-3949
Stereotypes Stifle the Human Spirit
Making room
for what needs
to come
BY LOEY
P owell
It is often while
doing the most
m undane tasks
that we remem-
berthings learned
from loved ones who are no longer
with us. Like the other day when
I was “deadheading” our neigh­
bors potted flowers as part of
taking care of their house and
cats while they were on vacation.
All of a sudden, my father
was close by. Dad was an avid
gardener and he was the one
who taught me that snipping off
the dead and drooping blooms
made it possible for fresh new
blooms to burst forth.
“Deadheading” (no, this has
nothing to do with the Grateful
Dead!) clears out what is past to
make room for what needs to
come.
I was thinking about this along
with the recent death of Sally
Ride, the first U.S. woman astro­
naut to go into outer space.
Her death touched me for
many reasons. We are the
same age, and I know her
sister, the Rev. Bear Ride, a
Presbyterian minister who
lives around the comer from
my mother.
Sally Ride’s place in his­
tory and her dedication to inspir­
ing young people, especially girls,
to consider the sciences as a ca­
reer through the Sally Ride Sci­
ence
A cadem y
(sallyridescience.com), is a tre­
mendous legacy.
I recently read a report of
research conducted by Boston
Uni versity journalism professor,
Caryl Rivers and Rosalind C.
Barnett, senior scientist at the
Brandeis W omen’s Studies Re­
search Center, that shows de­
finitively that girls are no less
“hardwired” to excel in math
and science than boys. In their
co-authored book, “The Truth
About Girls and Boys: Chal­
len g in g T o x ic S te re o ty p e s
About Our Children,” Rivers and
Barnett show that it is the early
messages girls receive about
not being able to do math or
science well that contributes to
many girls scoring lower than
boys in these areas.
In other words, if young girls
did not get messages from par­
ents, teachers and peers that
they are inherently not suited
for achieving success in math
and the sciences, they would
likely be entering into the fields
of science, technology, engi­
neering and math in equal num­
bers as their male counterparts.
“Stereotype threat” can be a
c o n fid e n c e -k illin g a n x ie ty ,
which can set in at very early
ages. It is not good for either
girls or boys.
Sally Ride and her sister Bear,
were both encouraged by their
parents to follow their dreams
and pursue whatever interests they
had. God bless their parents, and
all parents, who give their chil­
dren ample room to discover who
they are meant to be.
A lot of old stereotypes need
to be deadheaded. Girls should
only wear pink. Boys should
learn how to rough-and-tumble
early on and never should cry.
Girls can’t do math. Boys are
best at building things. Men
should not show em otions.
Women are not suited for top
leadership positions - unless
they act like men.
Stereotypes kill creativity. They
stifle the human spirit. Sally Ride
reached for the stars and got
closer to them than most of the
rest of us ever will. Every child
should have the same opportunity
to dream, to reach, and to suc­
ceed.
We adults need to deadhead
old ideas so our kids can soar into
their own heavens of wonder and
possibility.
Loey Powell serves as execu­
tive fo r administration and
women’s justice for the United
Church o f Christ.