My students tell me that Midwestern Female Syndrome doesn’t exist anymore. Or, rather, they looked at me cockeyed when I explained it. So today’s women don’t feel a need to hide their accomplishments, or fear being honest on a job application because it’s ‘bragging’. As one student put it, “Damn right I’m proud of my good grades!”

I am very glad to hear this, and a bit envious. As a member of the generation that was brought up to fear of being caught being successful, I laud my students’ lack of baggage. They never had to put up with a parent saying, “Maybe you shouldn’t act so smart” or “Maybe you should lose once in a while.” They never hid their grade on their exam sheet (thus the quote in the first paragraph) hoping nobody would see it. They will not struggle in a job interview.

I have never felt such an acute difference between generations.