Success Struggles

The Native Aboriginal woman faces challenges in dressing for work. Depending upon her past and now a new future the choice of clothes can become quite a problem with walking in the two worlds of the *Rez* and *Town/City*.

The reasons for this is because some people get extremely jealous of the successful, educated and independent woman. They gather together and have *character* assassination parties with the intent to destroy her new found status as a employee and accompanying respect from her new fellow co-workers. This situation also arises for the successful Native Aboriginal man.

Reasons for such petty behavior arises from their own sense of low self-worth and attempts to feel better by the destruction of the womans' reputation. They will get on the telephone and regale friends of friends of the newly hired womans' colleagues with tales of one sort or another to plant seeds of disrespect and mistrust. Abusers are reknown for isolating their victims.

It is a hostility that is released openly and without thought, concern, regard or sensitivity towards this woman and with their own sense of deluded righteousness. They feel that this woman is not deserving yet this very woman is everything that they themselves are NOT.

A new job in town will require having to dress both professionally and respectably with the air of self-confidence. Therefore the new professional woman must choose wisely especially if she lives on the *Rez*. It only makes sense to wear clothing that is practical, elegant yet rugged to handle both the environment of the Rez and the office.

Footwear is important but can be easily addressed. She can run out in her running shoes or clumpy winter boots to the car with her office shoes stowed in a bag for use at the office. Clothes can be the latest fashions or mix of elegant and casual.

Word of mouth spreads quickly on the *Rez* for some communities. This woman has been targeted and may feel alone and friendless. She will struggle with her success and argue with herself on the worth of her new found success. She may doubt herself but her new colleagues will see and welcome her as their equal. This will strengthen her own resolve and the ability to laugh at the world, herself, others and with her NEW friends.

A new job and success come together naturally. It is a whole new circle that we enter with a new environment and people. We may leave others behind or just ignore them altogether. We reveal our own professional and personal sense of  individuality with others in this new environment and hope that the character assassination grapevine loses it's tempo and  is dropped.

Other times, friends of friends of the jealous one (instigator, back on the Rez), will make it through to the work environment but others, the smart, professional and wise, will dismiss any such comments and may lose respect for the one sharing in a character assassination grapevine.

We have only one Life and can make it exciting or confining. In the Anishnabe world, it's said that what we do to others will come back and not necessarily to you but to those we hold dear and near.

Please feel free to leave a comment or share your own observations, experiences and browse through my other articles.