then and now - Blue & White Online

STOP!New South,New BelleBlair Rumleyis a senior from Guilford.She can be reached at bmrumley@live.unc.edu.They’re timeless, yet evolving.They’re graceful, yet approachable. They’remannerly, yet outspoken. They’re the reasonmen travel below the Mason-Dixon Line.They’re the crown jewel of the South (evenranking above sweet tea). They’re Southernbelles.Now, this is not to say women from the restof the country do not possesses such attributes,as we’ve all heard the songs paying homageto our California counterparts. But Southernwomen are a distinct breed. And when one’sborn with Southern roots, there are certainexpectations.However, these expectations have evolved.Gone are the days of hoopskirts and plantations;those were the women of the Old South.We Southern belles are ushering in a new age: the New South. As times change, so do we.Time is always of the essence. We no longer have the opportunities to sit on theporch swing every day sipping on mint juleps and nibbling on pralines, though we oftendo every chance we find. We Southern belles are working women. Between our jobsand schoolwork, friends and family, rarely do we have time to relax, nor do we need to.Southern belles are the women who stay up past midnight to bake four dozen homemadecookies for the local school’s fundraiser and love every minute of it.Yes, we still cook, but our cooking has changed. As well-trained Southern belles, weall know the secret to a perfect plate of fried chicken (or anything else fried, for thatmatter). But only on rare occasions will you find us battering and frying everything insight. We Southern belles are finding ways to make our favorite dishes more figure flattering,rather than only using recipes from the butter-loving queen of Southern cuisine,Paula Deen. Don’t get me wrong, my skim milk biscuits are not quite as good as theirbuttermilk counterparts, but they surely get the job done. That said, unsweetened icedtea is still a sin in my book.And to aid our healthier lifestyles, Southern belles have become famous for growingthe finest vegetables in the South. Our love language is food, and in true Southern fashion,we Southern belles share the bounty from our gardens with our neighbors, eithervia a meal or a bushel. A true Southern woman works her own garden; it is her prideand joy, in addition to her family, of course. The outdoors is no longer a man’s domain.Southern women are not the frail, fainting type; we are hardy. The threat of a glisteningforehead doesn’t deter our motivation. We simply wipe our brow and keep moving.A hardy Southern belle—it sounds like an oxymoron to some, but for modernwomen of the South, it’s a way of life. Now, don’t misunderstand, we still exude femininityat all costs, but do so in a respectable manner. We are not vain, but we do takecare of ourselves. We try to never leave the house with wet hair, but we do realize that itmust happen on occasion (a fire, perhaps?). We have also been known to do our makeupin the car, because it has to be done. And those of us that have attended cotillion, weknow putting your makeup on in the car is frowned upon by past generations. But let’sbe serious, we Southern women do everything at a slower pace, so we often find ourselvesrunning a bit late, and that’s okay. After all, we’re first and foremost, women.There are, however, things that haven’t changed; we still know the value of manners.A displaced Southern belle using “ma’am” or “sir” will stop people from the North deadin their tracks, often followed by the question, “You’re not from around here, are you?”We still send handwritten thank you cards and know how to make a funeral casserole—and remember why it’s necessary. And if we encounter someone with manners that areregrettably subpar, our eyes say it all. We are only confrontational when necessary, and ifyou knock our football team, it’s completely necessary.From Scarlett O’Hara to Reese Witherspoon, the Southern belle remains a figurebound to history, still charming her way into our hearts.&For the latest updatesFOLLOW us on Twitter@bluewhitemagBefore turningthat last page,CONSIDERmaking this ad space yours!For advertising info, contactSallie King at shking@live.unc.edulike our style?is looking for new designers withPASSIONCREATIVITYandNEW IDEASIf you’re interested inlayout design, emailegalli@live.unc.edu30 April 2011www.blueandwhitemag.com 31