In the lead up to
International Woman’s Day – Make it Happen (March 8, 2015) I was compelled to
write a piece that extols the worth of feminist values. In these times, where the “dumbing down”, the
social media bullying and the pervasive, crass sexualization of young girls, is
regarded (sadly - by many) as entertainment, it really does (more than ever) “take
a village” to inspire and lift up our girls to aspire to become strong,
accomplished, liberated adults. Whether
you are a parent, a relative, a friend of the family, or simply someone who
sees a child in pain, losing her way – empower the girl.
empower the girl:
Teach her to light a lantern and hold it high, to tell
the truth, to own up to her mistakes, to listen and never stop questioning, and
to be respectful, empathetic and fair in her dealings.
empower the girl:
Encourage her to find serenity in solitude and
introspection; but, allow her to explore her world and be exposed to – and
tolerant of – new ideas, so that she is inspired to think, create and innovate.
empower the girl:
Talk to her about making intelligent choices – with an
open heart – for a strong, nurturing woman, never surrenders to being a victim.
empower the girl:
Sprinkle positive affirmations throughout her life so
that she remains true to herself, puts forth her best efforts with confidence,
and recognizes the good qualities in others.
empower the girl:
Seek her counsel and advice, admire her laughter and her
wit, tell her that she is wonderful and give her unconditional love and
respect.
empower the girl.
"The story of women's struggle for equality
belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective
efforts of all who care about human rights" Gloria Steinem
"Equal means equal.
Older women get less money. The highest percentage of children living in
poverty are in female-headed households.”
Patricia Arquette
notes: Published in the Voices Project: Empowering Women through Self-Expression.
And yep, that’s me pictured, walking the line, at a legal Canadian Union of Public Employees job action, shortly before my retirement. CUPE is Canada’s largest union and women comprise over half of the membership.
And yep, that’s me pictured, walking the line, at a legal Canadian Union of Public Employees job action, shortly before my retirement. CUPE is Canada’s largest union and women comprise over half of the membership.
Pictured with me, is the WONDERFUL all-grown-up-girl in
my life – my daughter, Brynn (probably the most empowered woman that I
know) joining me, in solidarity. She is
a feminist, an activist and an organizer on several Provincial and Federal political
campaigns – and (the picture says it all) she is a dedicated Labour Unionist. As I mentioned previously, I really do believe,
in the words of Hillary Clinton: It
takes a village. In the Acknowledgments
in her Master’s Thesis, Brynn paid tribute to the many, many people who have
influenced her life in a positive way.
She wrote (in part): “I would
like to thank my mother, father and brothers, for believing in me and always
making me feel that I had the strength to achieve anything that I put my mind
to.” What a joy it is to have such a
woman in one’s life! AND she and her
husband host the most incredible dinners – to boot! Thoughtful, empowered women Make Good Things
Happen!
photos: #1 - Symbol for International Women’s Day (March
8). The Theme for 2015 is Make it
Happen.
#2 – Mother and Daughter – Walking the Line in
Solidarity.
© 2015 Wendy Bourke
