Respect...

Respect. That's really what it's all about. Especially for a Bond grrl, who in reality, is irreplaceable. Think about it -- Bond is one of at least 9 (he's 007, there is a clip in one of the films with 001 through 009 all waiting on assignment from M). He doesn't, really, even have a name. But the Bond grrls, who are in a "supporting" role (to James) really are irreplaceable to him.

In my mind, that's part of the Big Deal about being a Bond grrl. In reality, the only time you are "irreplaceable" is when you're supporting someone else. And Bond grrls are secure in that.

I often have women "get their back up" when I talk about being "#1 at being #2." So why the defenses?

If you feel "broken," is that because you feel, deep down (or not that deep) that a woman without a man is “broken”/not whole/etc? I think that's the crux of this - and in my reality, the crux of being a “Bond girl”. Bond girls are 100% complete without a guy - good thing to, as Bond never sticks around. They "support" him (and are indispensible) -- but then when he moves on, they remain complete.

Though a guy might look at this from a “women are disposable” standpoint, I actually don't think that's right. I think that Bond, if his job would “allow it,” wouldn't “discard” any of these women - though he's a lot shallower than the women are in a lot of ways. The women, however, are 100% themselves and will continue to be 100% themselves, with or without him or a man in their lives.

Think about it -- he actually needs them - they don't “need” him. When Bond is gone, Pussy will still be running her airshow, Octopussy her circus, Honey Rider searching for shells, all perfectly content and congruent in their lives though it was “nice he came on through.” Bond, however, has no “life” - he goes where he's sent, to do what he's sent to do...and for what, ultimately? A government pension?

All Bond has, he has because he has an expense account. All Bond grrls have, they earned. And they're not pining away for him -- far from it -- they have completely complete lives without him.

That is a Bond woman - to ME. She has her own life, her own fabulous life that doesn't depend on any man - but when one comes, what an enjoyment! And she enjoys it to the fullest -- she "pampers" him and "supports" him -- because she gets pleasure from it, too. I remember once hearing Dr. Laura, who (to paraphrase) said that if women would just get over themselves and support their men for even a nanosecond, instead of complaining how hard their day is, that they'd find that he would fall all over himself to lay down his coat on the mud, so to speak.

So when Bond leaves a Bond grrl, is she "devastated"? No -- she has her own, whole, wonderful life. That life depends on her -- her and her own specific skills and interests. (Which is why Bond chose or found her in the first place.) Bond? There are 8 other guys out there “just like him” - generalists, fungible. They don't even really get names.

And think about this -- Bond is in fact so “interchangeable” that 5 guys can play Bond - but each Bond grrl is so unique, she's never repeated. She is complete within herself, and indispensible.