I didn't own a cast iron skillet
until a friend bought me this one for my 32nd birthday.
Does this make me a poor excuse for a Southern woman?

"You are not a real Southern woman!" my mother-in-law said when she learned that I'm not a fan of collard greens. How could a girl born and raised in Alabama not like collard greens, she asked. 

Though my mother-in-law was joking, this wasn't the first time I was accused of not being a true Southern woman and it certainly was not the last. I'm a liberal feminist who doesn't want children and who hates to cook. By the stereotypical notion of what it means to be a Southern lady, the only thing Southern about me is my drawl. And some folks even claim not to notice that, which is crazy because I can add extra syllables to words with the best of them.

Though I did feel quite at home when I lived on the West Coast and in the Mid West, I am glad to be back in Alabama, back in the Deep South -- my true home. And I love being from the South. I am proud of my roots. I am proud to be a Southern woman, and, yes, I am a real Southern lady, at least by my own definition. 

I am the woman who understands the value of family, food, fashion, and faith. And this is what makes me a true Southern woman.

I may not want children, but I still value family. I believe in honoring my parents and my husband with all that I do. My brother is one of my very best friends. And, as I've mentioned before, I get really annoyed when people say to my husband and me, "Don't you two want to start a family?" We have traditions, great memories, and unconditional love for each other. We are a family.

And I keep my family fed, even though I don't like to cook. And if you come to my house, I'll feed you too because I believe in Southern hospitality. And I believe that people bond best over food, which is why if you want to hang out with me I'm going to always suggest we go out for brunch, lunch, dinner, or any other meal I can think of.

And when we do go out, my outfit will be cute. In the South dressing inappropriately for an occasion is considered just downright rude. Thus, down here fashion isn't about vanity, it's about good manners. So if you've invited me to an event in July, you better believe I've already started thinking about what I'm going to wear.

Though I am liberal on several social issues, I am a woman of faith. I'm a church-going gal and proud of it. My relationship with God directs my decisions and colors my worldview. Albert Einstein once said "There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle." I believe everything is a miracle and I believe that because of my faith in my God. 

And in case you're thinking I should have added football to my list, I have that covered too: Roll Tide!

Proud Southern Lady!

This post was also published on my new blog on The Southern Coterie, "the social network of the SOUTH." This online community is for Southerners and all those who love the South. 

Image via Flickr/Creative Commons

If you're like me you're always looking for a new blog to follow. This week I added a new site to my list of recommended reading: The Daily South. 

Launched by Southern Living magazine, The Daily South is a new blog that Southern Living editors hope will become the go-to destination for Southern culture, food, home, travel and style.  

As a Southern fried feminist I'm not only dedicated to empowering women but also celebrating and promoting the South. 

And as Erin Shaw Street points out in the inaugural post, "The South is hot." And we're not just talking summer weather. From our award-winning chefs and emerging musicians to our decorators and trendsetters, the nation just can’t get enough of the South. 

But you don't have to take my word for it. The Daily South has all the proof you'll need. 

Be sure to check out The Bees Knees, a list of things to watch for in the South this week. This will likely be a regular staple of the blog. This week's list features Man in the Blue Moon, a new novel by Alabama-based Michael Morris. Set in World War I-era Apalachicola, Florida, the story follows Ella Wallace as she struggles to defend her land, home, and peace after her husband disappears. The book is set to be released Friday, Aug. 17.

Oh, how I wish I had time to drive over to Atlanta this weekend. Also on the list is the world’s first all-female street-art conference. Living Walls, an organization that promotes urban art in Atlanta, hosts its second The City Speaks conference, August 15-19. This year’s conference will feature film screenings, block parties, and a focus on female street artists with 27 women taking over the walls of Atlanta. 

So swing on over to The Daily South and let me know what you think. 


What do you love about the South?