International Women’s Day 2014
Another year, another day of celebration – International Women’s Day 2014. I have often found it a liberating and a significant day. Last year, I “woman -ed” a stall in Tavira library, so that women, could spend a moment to acknowledge and remember, a woman, a sister, a mother, a teacher, a friend, any woman, who made us more than we have made ourselves. Women were invited to write on cards and put them on a tree. By the end of the day the tree was full of purple, green and white cards, tied with ribbons.
This year, I spent some time pondering about how to celebrate – fabulous women. I thought about some of my friends, the ones I knew growing up in the 1960’s and 70’s. Where are they now? Have they had happy lives? Have their children been to University? Simple enough questions, but probably not ones that I can answer. Being raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, has its implications – call it consequences. When you leave that faith, you are shunned by family and friends. So, I do not know what lives my friends have had. We do not share childhood memories. We do not share photos of our children.
In the years, since I left, in 1982, I have found new friends, ones who share emotions, loves, hard won battles, easy days and slow fun nights. I thought about celebrating those moments.
But this year, I have written an article about and for women who are not yet free to have those easy days. I have written about misinformation and indoctrination. I have written about a woman called Marilyn and her brother Richard. I hope you will read it and share.
It can be found on the AAWA.CO website. I am also posting it here. Thank you for posting the AAWA link to your Facebook wall and for sending it to your Twitter friends. We all need friends!
