Michele Zive, PH.D.

Telling My Story

Hello Rebels, Click here to find the SD Voyager article featuring my story and our work on Representation Rebellion.  As I mentioned, it was not an easy story to tell, but I’m glad I did.  I hope you are inspired to tell your own story, join the Representation Rebellion Facebook page, sign up for the…

Back of girl with angel wings

Shh

Be a good girl. Don’t tell anyone. Shrink yourself. Be pretty. When I’m shushed, it brings up years of being silenced.  Let me translate this for you.  Telling me to be quiet is equivalent to “Your voice and story don’t matter.  You don’t matter.” The men in my early years told me to be a…

woman behind curtain

What is Representation?

Here’s the truth, I didn’t pay much attention to representation until it affected me.  I was born a heterosexual, cisgender, white, middle-class woman.  I have my health.  I gave birth to three robust and wonderful children.  I earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees.  I had a job as a director at a prestigious, world renowned…

Beautiful young woman with red lipstick

Face Off: Part I*

Justine Bateman is embroiled in a scandal.  Bateman is best known for her role as Mallory Keaton from the television sitcom Family Ties, a role she had from 1982 to 1989 (ages 16 to 25).   For those of us in our 50s, we remember Bateman as the cute, fashion-conscious, airhead, who was the butt of…

Black and white photo of sexy woman

Stop Calling Me That

Over almost six decades on this planet, I’ve allowed you to call me names. When I was born, you said, “Oh, she’s the oldest, too bad she’s not a boy.” You called me insignificant. When I was a between the ages of six and eleven, you said, “It’s the 60s, man, free love. Peace.” You…

Melda Murphy Arick and Maureen Murphy Renden

Kickass Aunties

Hello Rebels, Meet my “kickass aunties,” Melda Murphy Arick and Maureen Murphy Renden.  I gave them this moniker, because the world considers them “seniors,” but they have created their own story and have no interest in retiring from their work, passion, or life.  Instead, they say, “…we do hope to always be life-long learners in…

Woman holding her shirt up to show her belly with the words "out of order" written over her stretchmarks

Seeking

Long ago, and before dating apps, there were personal ads. Through newspapers and magazines, those who were single (or not) or ready to settle down (allegedly) took out personal ads. So, let’s say I decided to go old school and take out a personal ad for friendship, here’s what mine would say: Invisible Middle-Aged Woman—Married,…