When we launched The Marjorie on November 6, 2017, we decided to take a hard line on jokes about #FloridaMan and #FloridaWoman. Our stance: they aren’t good jokes. More often than not, jokes stereotyping Florida people are more racist, classist and insensitive to mental illness than they are funny.

Since then, disparaging and incessant stories of Florida men and women have continued, and the idea has spread to the national consciousness, expanding beyond jokes or one-off stories hastily torn from arrest reports. Now these jokes have become TV shows, national news headlines and viral social media phenomena.

“Lighten up, Marjories,” you may be saying, “what’s the big deal?”

While we can all agree that laughter is an ever-needed salve in a world thirsty for salvation, the relentless ridicule of Florida people has caused us much more pain than relief. This narrative primarily distracts from the hardworking people who make our state a paradise that draws visitors from across the globe.

What good comes out of distilling the tragedies and missteps of women and men into a crude image of comedy? What’s lost when complex stories become clickbait? What happens when misfortune breeds contempt?

The result is that the legacies of the bold and intriguing women of Florida’s history are muddled. The laborious slope to power that women everywhere are forced to climb steepens. Respect and compassion become the exception.

Clearly, we are unabashedly salty about these depictions. So, buckle up. In 2020, we plan to do something about it.

When we developed our mission to reclaim #Floridawoman, we committed to focusing on the good. We tell stories of powerful women. Of women who give of themselves, who inspire others, who are resilient in the midst of so many causes for depression and frustration.

We write stories about these women, we feature their work, we collaborate with them, and we are them.

And we are not alone. Other Florida women ride alongside us in this cavalry. See, for example, our list of Florida’s 12 must-read stories of 2019 written by some of our favorite Florida women.

That’s why we are taking our efforts to reclaim this regional identity a step further. For The Marjorie, 2020 will be the Year of the Florida Woman. All year long we will be ramping up our campaign to represent Florida women through storytelling, events and community building.

We will be highlighting the power of Florida women every chance we get, and we want you to join us! Each month, we will unveil a new opportunity to celebrate the Florida you know and love.

Tune in for upcoming events, announcements and opportunities to pay homage to the fierce spirit of the Florida woman with us next year.

In Solidarity,

The Marjorie Team

Credits:

NASA [Public domain]