Power to ALL Women Everywhere!

It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me or those of you following this blog, that I have an extremely strong commitment to social justice and human rights and while I don’t advocate for one issue over another, I do have a special connection to issues of gender and inequality. March 8^th 2011 marked the 100^th anniversary of International Women’s Day.  A day not only to honor women around the world but a day that aims to expose the gross injustices that women and girls, a 100 years later, still experience. 

The truth is, the world over, that the wellbeing of women has greatly improved in the last 100 years.  In today’s world women hold government positions, run businesses, lead communities, participate in revolutions, are seen and heard, control their money, heal the sick, are educated, have professional careers, have reproductive freedom, receive respect from men and wear what they choose.  But while all this is true and important to honor, it is also important to recognize that this is only the case for SOME women, not ALL women. 

These opportunities and countless others must be afforded to all women everywhere.  Not just to women of a certain class, race, religion, nationality or age.  All women, everywhere, must be provided with opportunities and rights and respect.  All women, everywhere must be given full and true equality.  They must be free from oppression and violence, from discrimination and prejudice and from lower expectations and conventional gender norms. 

Inspiring Women!

In honor of International Women’s Day I thought I would share with you some well known women who have and continue to inspire me.  ps there are many women in my own life, that I know personally that serve as inspiration and support for me.  You know who you are and I love ya…

Harriet Tubman aka “Woman called Mosses”:  freed slave, Abolitionist, feminist and bad ass

Harriet Tubman is one of my all time favorite historical figures.  As a young slave in the American South, she detested slavery and all forms of oppression and violence.  She ran away and then once freed, returned to the South numerous times to help other slaves escape North via the underground railroad.  She was famous for saying to the runaways she was helping escape “Just keep going! When they are coming after you…keep going.  When the dogs are chasing you…keep going.  When they are shooting at you….keep going.  Just keep going!”

Eleanor Roosevelt:  civil rights activist, feminist, lesbian?,..oh yeah and First Lady

Eleanor Roosevelt is another one of my favorites.  She elevated the cause of the poor, women, workers, children and Black Americans to a national level.  She was a strong supporter of civil rights and social justice.  She played an active role in the formation of the United Nations and was the architect of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document that expresses basic fundamental human rights.  A document that I believe is a guiding light for peace and justice throughout the world.  

 Jane Addams: social worker, social justice activist, pacifist, rabble rouser

Jane Addams is arguably the most famous and influential social worker ever.  Addams started Hull House, in Chicago.  Hull House was the first ever settlement house in the nation, but was soon replicated all over the country.  Addams and the Hull House provided support and counsel to the poor in the community.  Addams also was a huge figure in the peace movement and was active in fighting for woman’s suffrage, civil rights, workers rights and immigrants rights.  It is her practice of social work, both direct service and activism that inspired me to become a social worker and that I hope to use as a social worker myself.

Spotted in Quelimane

A man selling just 2 things at his stand on the side of the road:  apples and cigarettes.  I guess there is something for the healthy and the unhealthy. 

Do you BELIEVE in Life after Love

A few months ago I got a kitty, Rosie, to cuddle with and to catch those activating mice that were invading my house.  But as some of you know, tragically Rosie passed away several weeks ago.  She was extremely sick and the level of care for animals here in Moz is not at all like the care that animals receive in the States. 

Even though, I am not really a cat person, I totally enjoyed having Rosie around.  So earlier this week a got a new kitty.  She is a little older than Rosie was but she is Rosie’s half-sister.  Her name is Cher.  And yes, she is named after the fabulous one and only Cher.  Cher is all the things fantastic in life: rowdie, talented, gay, over-the-top and ever-changing.  Not to mention it seems she will never die.  So it should come as no surprise that I named my kitty after her.     

The new kitty is mad cute.  She is black and white.  She is very playful and totally outta control.  But with 2 divas (me and Cher) living under the same roof there is sure to be drama… so stayed tuned!   

and ps in case you were wondering my favorite all-time Cher moment is “If I Could Turn Back Time” her singing and dancing in next to nothing, surrounded by hot sailors…pretty much gay heaven!

Spotted in Quelimane

A teenage girl wearing a West Chicago Safety Town T-Shirt!  Oh hay CHI-Town!