Southern Belle Syndrome

Caroline Graham Swann

One morning last week I turned on the TV, to see what was going on in the world.  Much to my surprise the topic was about a column written by a southern woman that brought about great controversy.  Subject being, the difference between southern women and northern women.

The anchor woman of a world known network had a  glint of hostility in her eyes as began the interview with the southern belle whom had ignited a flame with her comments and a northern woman to debate the issues.  Ahem, the anchor woman was also a northern woman.  Need I say more?

Hostility began to leave the anchor woman’s eyes as the sugar sweet magnolia belle manipulated her way out of the negative comments she had written about the calm northern woman. She sure did put on an act of grace being a southern belle.  Now being a southern belle I have a right to voice my opinion, Miss Magnolia was just a tad too syrupy and an almost fake constant smile gave the impression she was not genuine.

As a matter of fact it was certainly an “act of grace” and I felt embarrassed for her,  She failed the true southern belle delivery, that of genuine grace.  Calm, certain and without anger the northern woman debated the issues of dress, hair, keeping fit , being mannerly etc…

True grace, manners and genuine charm is the honest hallmark of a southern belle.  An image that goes over board in all aspects needs to be corrected about the southern belle.  Actually a camp exists for a week each summer in middle Tennessee that teaches young women to become a 19th century Southern Belle

The camp operates out of the Athenaeum Girls School, which was founded in 1852-1904 and was considered revolutionary for its time, because it taught  a rigorous curriculum in the sciences and math  to women.  This was unheard of at the time, the feminine gender was too tender for such masculine subjects

Its reincarnation teaches manners, etiquette and dress.  The instructors stress these seemingly antiqued lessons still apply today and I agree.  There are those perplexed by the concept of contemporary  girls choosing to return to a time they would have very few rights and freedoms.  Some simply want to play dress up for a week to wanting to connect to ancestors that fought in the Civil War.

What the women experience can better understand the motivation and logic of a long standing American culture.

It is my belief the women of that era gained their power through their men, that is the reason  the image of the Southern Belle is one of catering to men.  Of course any woman with common sense  would know one can gain more with honey than flies.  Men of all cultures from all over the world want a woman that caters to them, compliments and flirts with them, it is the nature of the beast so to speak.

The Civil War is over, as we are one country undivided , so we, as women should be undivided and not branded by the region .  Miss Magnolia please go the camp and take a refresher course in the true art of femininity.