Last week on the show, I spoke about the extremes in the way women are seen in Muslim countries and in western European countries. In certain Muslim cultures, women either choose to or are forced to wear a garment called the "burka" which covers the entire body and face, leaving only a slit for the women to see through. The costume leaves no room for even a mouth, leaving the women voiceless both metaphorically as well as literally. On the other hand, we women who live in the United States are forced to confront the opposite extreme on a daily basis- women who flaunt their bodies as pieces of sexual meat, allowing themselves to be used to sell movies and magazines. We hear from women who brag about their extra-marital exploits without a shred of remorse for the wives and children, who are often innocent bystanders to these affairs. Who are these women? Is it any wonder that some people point to these images and say to their sisters and daughters- "See the way they treat women over there? Is that what you call respect?" Neither extreme shows respect for women. The burka disrespects everything about a woman, from the beauty of her body to the beauty of her mind. Gratuitous images of half-naked women in provocative poses do the same, and become easy targets for finger- pointing at the worst of our culture. The solution? For me, it begins with self- respect. Self-respect means communicating that women are not for sale. They can't be bought with fancy trinkets, and they can't be sold by those who would take advantage of their poverty or ignorance. Self- respect also means that for most women, most of the time, the act of sex is intertwined with love. While men may not always see life that way, most women do. This week on the show, we'll be talking about love, and sex, and the meaning of both, with prominent people who have devoted their careers to these matters. They include Patti Stanger, the Millionaire Matchmaker, noted author Jackie Collins, Ellen Whitehurst, astrologist, feng shui expert and best-selling author of "Make This Your Lucky Day", and Margaret Wagner, founder of Bedroom Matters. Join us for a most stimulating week of conversation. Love Week
Last week on the show, I spoke about the extremes in the way women are seen in Muslim countries and in western European countries. In certain Muslim cultures, women either choose to or are forced to wear a garment called the "burka" which covers the entire body and face, leaving only a slit for the women to see through. The costume leaves no room for even a mouth, leaving the women voiceless both metaphorically as well as literally. On the other hand, we women who live in the United States are forced to confront the opposite extreme on a daily basis- women who flaunt their bodies as pieces of sexual meat, allowing themselves to be used to sell movies and magazines. We hear from women who brag about their extra-marital exploits without a shred of remorse for the wives and children, who are often innocent bystanders to these affairs. Who are these women? Is it any wonder that some people point to these images and say to their sisters and daughters- "See the way they treat women over there? Is that what you call respect?" Neither extreme shows respect for women. The burka disrespects everything about a woman, from the beauty of her body to the beauty of her mind. Gratuitous images of half-naked women in provocative poses do the same, and become easy targets for finger- pointing at the worst of our culture. The solution? For me, it begins with self- respect. Self-respect means communicating that women are not for sale. They can't be bought with fancy trinkets, and they can't be sold by those who would take advantage of their poverty or ignorance. Self- respect also means that for most women, most of the time, the act of sex is intertwined with love. While men may not always see life that way, most women do. This week on the show, we'll be talking about love, and sex, and the meaning of both, with prominent people who have devoted their careers to these matters. They include Patti Stanger, the Millionaire Matchmaker, noted author Jackie Collins, Ellen Whitehurst, astrologist, feng shui expert and best-selling author of "Make This Your Lucky Day", and Margaret Wagner, founder of Bedroom Matters. Join us for a most stimulating week of conversation. 
