Why Ivanka Matters

Kathy Riordan

Location: Florida, United States
Birthday: April 27

Bio: One woman's view of life and the universe. Follow @katriord on Twitter. Some nice people have said some incredibly nice things about me, which I appreciate, including being called "The mayor of Twitter" (@palafo), "The Queen of Twitter" (@lizadonnelly), "One of the funniest women on the planet" (@LATimestot), and "A friend to many" (@BillGatesZune).

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OCTOBER 26, 2009 11:38AM

Rate: 17 Flag

0191141255085

Forty years ago, the wedding of a wealthy New York socialite to the daughter of a wealthy New York businessman at her father's golf club in New Jersey would have been viewed as just another society wedding, the bride wore white, champagne all around, wasn't she lovely?

Attention would be focused on the dress (Vera Wang, inspired by Grace Kelly), the registry (the under $10 spatula at Williams-Sonoma, the footed sterling silver bowl from Tiffany), the guest list (Regis Philbin sang), and the famous families.

The wedding of businesswoman Ivanka Trump, 27, to publisher Jared Kushner, 28, Sunday at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, is different because of the bride, who is not only the happy beneficiary of the genetic lottery, but more importantly, marks our society's coming of age in a post-feminist world.

Ivanka Trump discusses challenges of the current business environment in a March 2009 interview with CBS News. Trump was married Sunday to New York publisher Jared Kushner.

Photo of Ivanka Trump courtesy Fred Marcus Photography, from handout made available on 27 October 2009 of Ivanka Trump posing for photographs during her wedding with Jared Kushner at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedmister, New Jersey, USA, on 25 October 2009. EPA/BRIAN MARCUS/FRED MARCUS PHOTOGRAPHY/

Author tags:

post-feminism, weddings, celebrity apprentice, trump, ivana trump, donald trump, ivanka trump wedding, jared kushner, ivanka trump

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Comments

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I had no idea! Thanks for enlightening me, Kathy. I guess she didn't go to the same school as Paris H. What a relief.
R

john blumenthal

October 26, 2009 11:57 AM

Well I think the whole thing was shelfish of them. Think about it; here was a really wealthy woman marrying a really wealthy man...to what purpose. I think it would have been really laudable of them had they each picked a poverty striken member of the opposite sex to marry, thereby doing their part to aleviate poverty in America!

Okay, okay, that was just my twisted sense of humor coming out.

Torman

October 26, 2009 12:02 PM

Interesting that she converted to Judaism. I guess.

Lea Lane

October 26, 2009 12:10 PM

Surprising how knowledgable she is. I don't know why -- she's beautiful and has brains, not a rare occurrence.

Now if she could just get rid of all that make-up! (Just sayin)

skeletnwmn

October 26, 2009 12:11 PM

Wow! To think back on how I would have conducted myself in an interview when I was 27. . .I wonder if she was given public speaking tutoring from the toddler years on.

Karin Greenberg

October 26, 2009 12:38 PM

I had no idea this girl was so smart. I remember she modeled one time and The Donald was mad. I thought she was another Paris, a celebrity for celebrity's sake. I guess all kids of billionaires are not simply spoiled brats!
R~

scanner

October 26, 2009 12:43 PM

Ivanka is such a well-spoken woman. Has anyone read her new book? (The Trump Card)

LindsTR

October 26, 2009 01:23 PM

Would anyone anywhere pay any kind of attention to her if her name was'nt Trump/ Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn...not with so many others who are equally are even smarter upon whom to lavish praise and attention......This one is doing and will continue
to do quite well without the celebrity worhship.......

RonP01

October 26, 2009 03:05 PM

I have a lot of respect for Ivanka and I agree that she is a great role model. I'm glad you posted this and hope that more people can see that young women are not all Paris and Kim Kardashian wannabes.

Stephanie Kuohujoki

October 26, 2009 03:22 PM

post-feminist world
I liked that line very much
It made me wonder

Sandy Bottom

October 26, 2009 04:35 PM

Good for her! She's pretty and smart! She amazed me years ago with the manner she conducts herself, not just your average girl!

Just Pamela

October 26, 2009 04:54 PM

I have no idea what she was referring to, but it sounded like an extended, if articulate, apologia.

I'll agree with everyone else: she's attractive and intelligent. And obviously extravagantly wealthy. Hopefully, she'll be able to overcome.

CarolinaBlue50

October 26, 2009 05:12 PM

Very, very interesting. I would like to have known what questions were asked, in order to know what she was responding to - and the back story.

Owl_Says_Who

October 26, 2009 06:17 PM

So?

OEsheepdog

October 26, 2009 06:38 PM

It is good to see a woman with all her obvious advantages using her brains. What a welcome change after so many years of Paris, Brittany and Lindsay. Maybe there is hope.

JK Brady

October 26, 2009 08:19 PM

I'm sure I'll get kicked for this, but I don't get it.

Anyone in her situation with an ounce of ambition and two ounces of brains could do it. To beat an old cliche to death, I just keep hearing 'woke up on third base and thought she'd hit a triple'.

More power to her for NOT becoming a Britney etc. But are we really at the point where we have to celebrate a rich kid not crashing on the rocks?

They have every advantage except obstacles.

Will Someone Feed The Cat?

October 26, 2009 08:23 PM

I'm with Cat to some extent. Old money always lived by the dictum that "to whom much is given, more is asked." They were expected to do good works, and the only time a "lady's" name appeared in public was when she married (once) or died.

I loathe everything Donald Trump represents, but to me it's not surprising that his daughter inherited some smarts from her mother.

emma peel

October 26, 2009 08:33 PM

I think she is cool and awesome. and to respond to Cat's rhetorical question, yes I think we have to celebrate even the rich being smart and accomplished. There are too too many examples of people throwing away all the opportunities the luck of their birth gave them for sex, drugs and rock n roll.

Ariana Paz

October 26, 2009 08:37 PM

Ummmm...errr... uggghhhh... ;)

iamsurly

October 26, 2009 08:43 PM

surly - cat got your tongue?

JK Brady

October 26, 2009 08:45 PM

I did not know that.
I admire wit and class regardless of the origins. I agree with emma that old money is generally classier; But--and that is a very big but--it all depends on HOW the money was made. HOW the money was made makes the difference between riffraff robber barons and the honorable and classy wealthy.

Thanks for posting this.

Rated.

Thoth

October 26, 2009 08:52 PM

She's very articulate. I'm not a fan of Donald Trump, but I give him credit for being a good father.

Steve Blevins

October 26, 2009 09:52 PM

I liked her in Born Rich. She was the only one , besides the auteur, who made me think there was some hope that the upper class won't collapse in on itself in an orgy of purchased self regard.