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After watching Gayle King interview Barbra Streisand on CBS Sunday Morning, I asked ChatGPT the following question: What is the female equivalent of the expression “he’s got balls”?
The answer? “The female equivalent of the expression "he's got balls" is "she's got guts" or "she's got courage." Both expressions convey a sense of bravery and daring. However, it's worth noting that this type of language can be considered offensive or sexist, as it implies that being brave or daring is a trait that is typically associated with men rather than women. It's important to be mindful of the language we use and to strive for gender-inclusive language.”
Oy vey…gimme a break! Babs has balls as big as the set of pipes that made her a mega star, and more power to her! “The singer praised for her peerless voice is also known as an exacting perfectionist, and she makes no apologies. In her memoir she writes, "A man is forceful – a woman is pushy. … He shows leadership – she's controlling. …. If he acts, produces, and directs, he's called a multitalented hyphenate. She's called vain and egotistical,” pulled directly from the interview transcript by me, who only wishes I had an eighth of her “ball-age.”
Her recently released memoir, My Name is Barbra is 1,000 pages, and I will read every word. Actually, I wish I had worked on it with her, not that I even know her… although I feel like I do, given that over the years I have had several dreams in which we were BFF’s. Yeah, yeah, I know…that doesn’t make it real, but I do feel oddly connected to her.
In the Gayle King’s interview, I learned that when Barbra got her first record deal at age 19, she told her agent, “I don't care what they pay me, I just need creative control.” I mean come on…I totally get where she was coming from, and she got there over and over and over…
“In 1984, Streisand became the first woman to win the Golden Globe for Best Director for her work on Yentl, and still remains one of only three female winners in history. In 1996, her direction on The Mirror Has Two Faces led Lauren Bacall to the first Academy Award nomination in Bacall's then five-decade career. By the time all American women had won the right to open a credit card without a husband, Streisand had already founded two production companies. When I asked Streisand about her legacy as a trailblazing businesswoman, she insisted that her goal wasn't to become a mogul, but simply to serve her ultimate artistic vision. "I just never thought about, really, the business aspect. I just thought about it from the control aspect," she said”… from a book review for NPR by Brittany Luse.
And there it is, Control vs Controlling!
As defined by Clear Inner Focus Mindset Coaching, “Being in control requires making decisions that align with your values and goals, exercising patience, and taking responsibility for your thoughts, feelings, and actions. It’s about recognizing that you have the power to create the life you want, while also trusting in a higher power/the universe, and others to play a cooperative role.
On the other hand, being controlling involves trying to manipulate or dominate others or your environment to get what you want right away. This often comes from a place of fear, insecurity, or a need for power, and can harm both yourself and those around you.”
While most men find women with balls controlling, I suspect that Barbra can attribute her legacy of success to knowing the difference between the two.
Mazel Tov on your memoir, Barbra…and for never letting anyone rain on your parade!