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Jen A. Miller Consulting

Tag: Colleen Viana

  • What They Want For Christmas

    Colleen Viana shares three superbly single Characters that deserve holiday presents
    PHOTO: Foo&Faff, HIMYMFans, Screened.
    PHOTO: Foo&Faff, HIMYMFans, Screened.

    TV is a big part of my life and always has been. Now this isn’t something one should ever really admit to—you know, being “lowbrow” and all—but growing up an only child, my weeknights would normally consist of me in front of the set watching anything and everything. I loved being able to grow up with certain characters and pretend like they were my friends in real life (I’m still mad at Kelly for what she did to Brenda). But really, I’d get so invested in their fictional lives. And I still do. Lots of life lessons I’ve learned vicariously through watching a ridiculous amount of television; in honor of that, I had to make this list of Christmas gifts each of my favorite, inspirational single girl characters deserve.

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  • Don’t Expect Me to Smile. Or Meow.

    Colleen Viana reflects on her experiences with catcalling and opens an important discussion about street harassment
    PHOTO: Ralph Crane.
    PHOTO: Ralph Crane.

     

    On any given day, there are three things I fear while walking the streets of New York City:

    1. Pigeons (better known as rats with wings)
    2. A sea of tourists (though less of a fear and more of an annoyance—if you work in SoHo on the weekends you’ll understand)
    3. Catcallers

     

    The inevitable “damn girl!” or “what’s up, beautiful?” while at first complimentary, is enough to ruin your walk to work, the bodega, the bars, or hell, even the laundromat. A shout-out to your derriere can even cause more frustration than those relentless pigeons, sadly. It wasn’t until recently that I started contemplating the pragmatics of these very uncomfortable situations. The other day, for instance, I had to stop myself from looking back to shout, “YOUR MOM’S CHEST HAIR” when asked “where did those luscious locks come from, sexy?” It’s a constant reminder to pick your battles; but when is enough, enough?

    There is no way to easily confront being sexually harassed; that is essentially what catcalling is, believe it or not. It’s a conversation that is easily avoidable, often uncomfortable in the same manner as experiencing it. They are not moments we wish to recount, yet it happens so often that this unhappened conversation needs to start happening.

    So here is my story about the first time I can recall being catcalled, and not liking it (but when do you, really?).
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