All over the world, today will see observances of International Women’s Day, and being that I am an international woman I plan to observe the heck out of this 8th of March.
It’s very interesting timing … not that the 8th of March doesn’t always fall on the 8th of March, but that this one dawned with some Girl Power Squared.
Yep … today is all about “Sisterhood”, women putting aside perceived differences and bonding in ways that can wrest power from the penis-laden and put the balls more squarely in their court.
Far too often women let themselves be divided, then conquered, a tendency that not only weakens us all, but also isolates us as individuals. In isolation, our judgement may be more easily manipulated, our value downgraded, our confidence eroded; a slow and insidious process that frequently leaves us feeling powerless.
I’ve written before on the problems women have with women:
Truth be told, women don’t like women much, and trust them even less. Sure, we have girlfriends … and FFS! we do need and treasure them … but women in general? Not so much. If to men we are the sugar and spice of life, to each other we are arsenic; in controlled amounts helpful and healing, but otherwise poison.
Divide et impera, hey, Ladies? That is the result the lack of sisterhood leaves us with. Playing into the hands of men … in any old way … has done us little good as a gender, and it’s only when we make the effort to join hands and hearts and minds that we have any luck at all in climbing ladders or breaking ceilings or gaining control of such basics as our own bodies.
So, if you’re a woman today is a day to reach across divides, to offer a hand, a heart, a hug, to your sisters no matter if a divide is as narrow as a garden fence or as wide as an ocean, because if we’re not in this together, we’re screwed, and not in fun or productive ways.
I give thanks today to all the women in my life whose hands I know are always there, whose hearts are true and whose minds encourage mine to stretch beyond limits imposed when there’s not a woman around to slap them down.
And I offer my hand, my heart and my strength to any girl who could use a hug, a round of applause, my time, energy, hopes or fearlessness.
Thank you … and bring it on!!!
A collection of my short stories:
I'm in this one, too ...
And I'm in here, as well ...
Paradise Preoccupied 
awesome post from an awesome woman!
Thanks, Amy … and back atcha on the awesome woman thing!
Very inspiring article, Sandra!
Here’s to “nurturing each other’s ascent.” May we honour ourselves and each other with the loving and caring feminine essence that we truly are.
Amen, Marianne!
I have found, in my few decades on this rock, that men are temporary fixtures in my life. What I can always count on, what I can depend upon most when life throws me one too many sucker punches, is the women.
They are scattered across the globe and they are my connection to my truth. They see me, as I am – faults and all, and yet, I am still amazing to them as they are to me. They see past the superficial crap and whenever I’ve allowed a man to take too much, they connect me to my source and help me find myself again.
Though we have never met in person, you are one of those women.
Thank you.
And you, mine, Lisa.
“… whenever I’ve allowed a man to take too much, they connect me to my source …”. That is a beautiful truth.
Right on! The women in my life have seen me through hell and back, always there and always ready to listen. To have good friends you have to be one, so it’s important to keep them a priority, even when it’s not pretty or easy.
Exactly, Alexa … exactly.
Amen Sister. Thank you.
Thank you, Dena …
Alright, I am probably going to be hanged on this one, but nothing ventured nothing gained. I find the whole idea of women day just as ridicules as African history month. Why? not that I have anything against the whole girl power, or powerful women (actually my dream partner would a girl that can stand up for her self, someone strong minded and strong willed, again nothing against protecting a women or pulling out chairs. just I prefer being that extra strength for a girl rather then a shield )
I am for equal standing between men and women and feel that a women day actually undermines the whole equality thing. Same as black history month, I mean what the hell is that all about? its history, should be part of you know… regular history.
Now girls….. be gentle….
Bobby, you’re so cute when your confrontational.
If you check out the 100 year history of this day, you’ll see the reasoning behind it, and the impact. Here in Seychelles it’s a public holiday, and in other countries it’s a chance to make some points that seriously need making.
And, Bobby, if it weren’t for Lent, I’d go on and on about how gentle I can be.
I am not being confrontational and I am not cute (rugged and manly maybe, cute… no no) hehe
I am not saying I do not understand the reasoning, I just feel that when you bring something out and try empower it by dedicating something to it, it might at times have an adverse effect. Though I will agree that a fight for female equality especially in the work place is far from done. A part of the problem is that confrontation between the want of equality and still keeping the respect of male female difference.
I kinda feel the same across the board, IE gay pride parade, I am all about equal rights, I think its practically horrible how same sex couples are discussed in politics as if they where some other species. But I think the whole parade aspect in way creates a sense of difference. If you know what I mean.
Hehe I guess in many ways this is also about the cynic in me meeting the romantic. I feel that we live in 20 and freaking 11 and we are still fighting the same fights just on a different level. To put my view in simple terms I feel no product at the super market should be marked Fairtrade, because anything then fairtrade should simply not exist. For me the solution for the problem is not to support fairtrade products, but to not accept anything less.
Oh my… is that so? Well my dear Sandy teamosemper@msn.com is my mail addy (and msn for that matter) anytime you feel like explaining your gentle ways in any length, feel free to drop me a line ~grins~
I don’t disagree with you, Bobby, other than on the cute thing.
Any sort of commemoration of one segment of the population IS excluding, not including, but it is a way to draw attention. Often the attention of a much wider audience is needed to prompt change, and things like Gay Pride and Women’s Day do have people looking. I remember years ago when the Gay Pride parades first began, and strongly suspect that they had a lot to do with the advances in granting of rights we see now. Of course, there is a long way to go, which is why these things keep happening.
In a perfect world such events would be completely unnecessary, insulting even, but not yet, and not by a long shot.
Cynic meets romantic … if that’s not cute, what is?
As for MSN, we’ll have to see what the Easter Bunny has in mind. 😉
I see your point Bobby. I’d prefer to balance the ledger. Let’s introduce a Men’s Day. Let’s have a Latino History Month and a Native American History Month. I do see a problem with that, in you (and we) would run out of months pretty rapidly, so some may have to share.
I think Black History month still has a valuable contribution to make until education as a whole catches up.
I’m a firm believer in equality – but I’ll be damned if I will accept that equality = sameness. We are not a homogenous lot – we are different.
Equality SHOULD be about being able to enjoy and celebrate our differences. We shouldn’t all have to be the same.
~laughs~ Wont give in on the cute thing are you dear Sandy?
I completely agree with you on that to change an issue you do need to shed light on it, and I also agree that years ago they did their part. But now in this age do we not need something new and different to keep the change moving forward? just saying from a nutrition/training point of view, repeat something often enough and it becomes routine and stops having an effect.
I agree we are frar from a perfect world….
hehe I find use of Easter bunny ironic in the context which we are talking about. Well played ~grins~
Nope. You ARE cute, so live with it, Babe!
I agree on the repetitive loss of impact, but sometimes that’s all there is to do … try to keep hammering in a point, and if some get the dull end of it, others might just get the point.
Tusen takk on the bunny thing …
~laughs~ I think we will have to agree to disagree on this one 😉
Point (or blunt end depending who is reading 😉 )
damn Norwegian from Sandy, you are full of surprises my dear. Makes me even more curious about the gentleness explanation and other surprising capabilities you may poses….
Sure, we can disagree on the cute thing.
You Norge are too easily surprised sometimes, Bobby, but that’s the cute think about you. As for my capabilities … those will have to wait until after Lent.
Totally agree. Men are much better at the brotherhood than we are at the sisterhood. Men are competitive at sports, we seem to be more competitive at snaring men.
Unfortunately for all of us …
Hello there, I recently blogged on this subject too at http://www.samanthalyster.co.uk
Good to know that other women see these dicussions as a positive move rather than trying to find another angle to take a swipe at one another. If we can check our own behaviour towards one another, then we are in a stronger position to tackle the issues we face. Best, Samantha