I decided to limit this list to 30 contemporary women. otherwise it will go on and on forever (which it will in real time).... so now have a challenge. How to choose only six women from between WW1 and WW2 until up to date? One difficulty is to acknowledge a bit more, those women working directly and primarily for suffrage - both here in UK and worldwide, and for a political voice. All kudos to New Zealand by the way - and all it's women at the time, for being first to "give" women the vote, as it is generally described. In Europe, Finland got there first. Perhaps I am a bit touchy of skewed here, but it's always slightly annoyed me that popular summaries on England first steps to franchise for women usually say that they were given the vote in acknowledgement for efforts in WW!. Ok, did they not do anything for hundreds and thousands of years before that, to deserve it.? Oh, but I am being snippy!! Emmeline Pankhurst perhaps made a smart move actually: during WW1 she and other WSPU leaders changed the name of their newspaper from The Suffragette to Britannia and focused away from votes for women and to a very patriotric war drive. Sadly she feel out with daughters Adele and Sylvia over this. Adele was in Australia and campaigning against the war. Sylvia wanted to keep the focus on women's franchise, regardless of events unfolding and perhaps she had a bloody good point: there can always be something else more important in the way of such issues, as the women of the French Revolution discovered. Emmeline also tended to have more liberal-conservative views than her daughter Sylvia (who was more radically socialist and very passionately involved with causes of working class women.) Also I could chose Millicent Fawcett, or over the pond, Susan B. Anthony or Elizabeth Cady Stanton. And many others.
25) Emmeline Pankhurst. I chose her in the end, because she was English, and so am I and there is my direct link to the ballot box. Also because she was matriarch of a family of strong, activist women - whether they fell out or not. And because she shares the same birthday as me: like a sort of Patron Saint of Social Awareness. I cannot imagine (except in thinking of Hep C treatment) the reality of hunger striking, which she - not in her youth by this time - and others endured, especially the repeated cycles of it and the health problems and pain they suffered as a result. But they had passion and guts - at the risk of their guts, I suppose. And the breaking and destruction of property to make a point was pretty radical for a nice middle class Edwardian lady.
26.) Anne Frank. I wanted to chose a woman who did something outstanding during WW2 and again this was a hard choice. One of the many espionage or resistance workers? Tokyo Rose maybe or Edith Cavell? (Her life and courage still brings tears to my eyes when I re-visit it: read about her and the different interpretations of the choices and actions she took.... she may have been hugely misunderstood. I may write a separate article on her, and the different interpretations of her story, at some point.) Finally I chose Anne Frank, because of the powerful legacy of her diary and because she was not yet a woman but coming to the verge of womanhood and denied the chance to survive, thrive and flourish: yet her voice, innocent and yet mature and wise and thoughtful beyond her years still resonates and is a symbol of the terror and tyranny of war and racism and brutality yet at the same time of hope and loyalty and human bonds. Everyone who first reads the book (or sees the film) is devastated at the moment when the diary ends abruptly and Anne and her family are ... disappeared: it is a real awakening to the danger of distorted power, and racial hatred gone mad... I think that many young girls who read the book, must wonder what sort of woman Anne would have become; and sense she would have been the person they themselves hope to be.
27) Aung San Suu Kyii. "It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it." Beautiful spirit, strength of a nation, of south-east asia, of a world of inspiration to others fighting for freedom and democracy. Through 15 years of house arrest and many other trials and battles, she never gave up and always spoke out. The personal price she paid was huge - separated from her children who were in France, and her husband who died during her period of house arrest.... and when offered freedom if she would just quietly go away and leave the country, she refused. Burmese, Nobel Peace Prize winner, politician and activist for civil and human rights and democracy.
28) Virginia Satir. Psychotherapist, author and Family Therapist. Her work was recognised as being highly effective in supporting dysinctional or troubled families through conflict and towards well-being, and was the model for much of the later development of Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Her book "Peoplemaking" is (I think) a guide of essential guide to being a human being, belonging to any kind of family and understanding what self-esteem is.
29) Elizabeth Kubler Ross . Healer, counsellor, psychiatrist, author and teacher. She helped thousands of people to understand the processes of palliative care, death, bereavement, grief, mourning and insights into the power of prayer and compassion, acceptance and visions of the life of the spirit beyond the death of the body. Her book "On Death and Dying" has been a companion to many facing death and loss. http://www.healthy.net/scr/interview.aspx?Id=205
28) Waatari Maathi. Has worked tirelessly in Africa and globally for environmental issues and awareness and many important green projects. Started a major project of tree planting in communities in the 1970's in Kenya and has continued her efforts since then. Maathi is a former assistant Minister for the Envrionment in Kenya. She is a tireless worker for democracy and civil rights. She attracted controversy some years back, when it was reported that she had allegedly stated that Aids and HIV were "deliberately created by Western scientists to decimate the African population." She denied having said this but later in an interview, said: "I have no idea who created AIDS and whether it is a biological agent or not. But I do know things like that don't come from the moon. I have always thought that it is important to tell people the truth, but I guess there is some truth that must not be too exposed," and when asked what she meant, she continued, "I'm referring to AIDS. I am sure people know where it came from. And I'm quite sure it did not come from the monkeys." Maathi is the first African woman and the first environmentalist to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
There are so many more women who could have been added to this list, of course - to all the three sections of it, through time, but particularly to this contemporary sections as we have more and fuller records of names and biographies, and as in some countries, women have greater choice and freedom now than through long centuries in the past, therefore we know a few more of them. As I think about these women, through time, and mark International Women's Day, I am at a place in my own life where I am hoping to regain my strength and ability to be active in the world and have quality of life. As I speak - I have a relativity democractic and safe country and environment to step out into. I can vote. I have hot water and electric lights and decent sanitation. I am educated by world standards for women to an amazing degree, having furthermore the resources to continue to self-educate. I have health care ( let's not discuss the Hep C mess, right here - I have treatment.) I wear what I want and talk to men, women and people of different backgrounds, creeds and political views without undue fear. I have access to contraception and nobody forced me to marry someone I did not want to marry. Nor did they sell me into enforced prostitution and trade in rape or subject me to sexual mutilation. I am not afraid that I am likely to be whipped, stoned or beaten with government permission. I know that if I had no food in the cupboard this time next month, I could seek some form of welfare support. In the bigger global picture (world population) - I am a priveliged exception rather than a rule. One of my intentions for the year ahead is to take some small action or gesture when possible - and to seek to do so - which is about making the small differences that make a difference in the lives of other women and - people generally. Things we can most of us do at least once or twice in a year might include; writing an article, or researching. Going on a march or protest. Donating to or helping with fund raising for a significant cause. Going to the voting station and exercising our own franchise. Prayer. Writing to Government Ministers /local newspapers/ etc. Leaving a violent relationship. Reporting violent abuse. Teaching our daughters and talking with and listening to them. Starting or joining a community project. Speaking to the woman - at the school gate / next door / in the waiting room...... and loving ourselves and our friends and family.
live well, love much, laugh often. eva day. xxx
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