I am always happy when Gina Barreca, author of It’s Not That I’m Bitter and a Professor of English and Feminism at the University of Connecticut, weighs in on a topic of sure interest to OTBKB readers. At Huffington Post today, she pens a column about Nora Ephron, who was certainly one of her heroes. Leave it to the very funny, very smart Gina to open with a great lede. Here’s an excerpt.

“Nora Ephron” was the answer the two-word answer to every ridiculous yet bizarrely persistent cliché concerning the ostensible fact that women

1. Have no sense of humor;
2. Have a sense of humor, but only if they are unattractive;
3. Have a sense of humor, but have no friends or family;
4. Have a sense of humor, but can never become successful based on their talents.

Ephron’s fiercely intelligent wit and ruthless cultural commentary braided together engaging personal revelation with topics so large they made several generations of women re-evaluate their lives. Her heroines were witty and perceptive even while being vulnerable and appealing; they were independent and capable, yet filled with that weird fear of overdoing everything or doing everything wrong that engulfs the most stunningly competent woman.