My Mom Was A Rebel, And Because Of Her, I Am Too

OBOS has been called one of the most influential books ever written. First published in the
1970s, it remained in print until 2018, and is now only available on line. My rebel
mom had it in her library back in the day, and it changed my life.

Today we celebrate International Women's Day, a day when we recognize influential women across history, and across the globe. 

Who would these women be? Mary Wollstonecraft perhaps, or Betty Friedan? Or Gloria Steinem? Yes, all of these and more. 

Today I pause to reflect on the most influential women in my life. While all the famous women have done amazing things, none of them has affected me as much as my own mother.

Every day of my life I give thanks for the achievements of Margaret Mooney, my rebel mom. You could call her an "early feminist" I guess, unless you realize that women have been fighting for equality for much longer than the 1970s. 

How about the 1770s? Yes, and no doubt, before then, too.

So mom was not the most famous, and she was not the first, but she was the sole woman to not only bring me into this world, but also teach me about the role of women (and men) in society.

My mom is one of the strongest persons I know. She birthed and raised 5 children, virtually alone. Since dad, a wonderful man, was a traditional 1950s guy, child rearing was not his thing. Bringing home the bacon was his sole domain, and he did it well. 

Not that it was easy for him, but come on, who had the more difficult job? Not only did mom raise 5 wild children, she also broke free of convention and went back to school to get a degree later in life. Then she entered the work place, as if she didn't have enough to do already.

Ultimately, she emancipated herself from her traditional role, and that takes some kind of strength. Just ask any woman, Rosa Parks, perhaps, about the struggle to be free of the bullshit of a racist, misogynist patriarchy. 

It is hard, but it is worth it. Where there is no struggle, there is no progress.

It was my mother's example that made me not only a feminist, but also helped me to emancipate myself from the same sick system that she railed against. If not for her, would I have even known that I was also in chains, that we all were, and that it was up to me, to each of us, to break those chains?

So today, I celebrate all women, famous or not. But mostly I celebrate the most important woman in my life - my mother.

Thank you, mom. I am, because of you. But not just that - I am free, because of you.

International Women's Day

How To Use Lipstick - by Anne Derenne

Art can be used to say things that may be uncomfortable to say with words. Sometimes, art is more powerful than words, as in, I think, these examples marking International Women's Day.



Silence Breaker, by Mary Zins

March 8 International Women's Day, by Oguz Gurel

Sad Celebrations, by Victor Ndula

Go Ahead, by Fadi Abou Hassan Faditoon

International Women's Day, by Galym Boranbayev

Like Earth Day, I think that every day should be Women's Day. The world will be a better place when we truly value the contributions of nature AND women. 

Thank you to all women for everything you do. I hate to think of what this world would be like without your strength, love, and ability to persevere through conditions that most non-women would find unbearable. 

I love you Mom. Thank you for showing me the way.

A Day Without Women - General Strike

Image selected by Linda.

"The protest on Wednesday stems from the efforts of the organizers of last month’s Women March on Washington. The group called for a national walkout a month ago to coincide with International Women’s Day. 

On their website, the organizers wrote that the protest is aimed at “recognizing the enormous value that women of all backgrounds add to our socio-economic system—while receiving lower wages and experiencing greater inequities, vulnerability to discrimination, sexual harassment, and job insecurity.” 

The organizers are encouraging women to refrain from both paid and unpaid labor and to avoid shopping—unless it’s at a woman-owned establishment. They’re encouraging those who can’t participate in the strike, and men hoping to show support, to wear the color red in solidarity. 

They also suggest that men start a conversation about equal pay at work and pitch in with housework at the office and at home. The organizers have also encouraged employers to close or give female staff the day off." - The Atlantic

The 100th International Women's Day

2011 marks the observance of the 100th International Women's Day. For me this is a day like Earth Day - it would be great if we could make changes that would render even noting these days unnecessary.

This will happen when every day sees us being aware of how we are treating the earth and each other. This will happen as we take responsibility for our role in making conditions better, or worse. This will happen when we take action.

Speaking of making conditions worse, the International Women's Day website was hit by hackers today in repeated attempts to shut them down through Denial of service attacks.  Looks like somebody is feeling threatened.

Where the hackers hired by the cosmetics industry? Plastic surgeons? Employers threatened by demands for equal pay for equal work? Or the shaving industry that wants everyone to hate leg hair, but only on women's legs?

That we need to continue observing special days indicates we have not committed to taking total action in making real, meaningful changes. Our goal should be to render these days obsolete as soon as possible because things have gotten so much better through our decisive changes.

Today we acknowledge that so long as women are not free, the people are not free. But special days emphasize awareness. What we need is action. Let that begin, or continue in earnest. Perhaps in another 100 years Int. Women's Day will no longer be needed.