Another International Women’s Day is upon us and I see signs all around me that women are becoming bolder these days about what they are willing to put up with – e.g. the big January 21st Women’s March in Washington and cities around the world to protest Donald Trump’s presidency. As The Globe and Mail’s Ian Brown writes, “the battle of the hats between red ‘Make America Great Again’ ball-caps, worn by Trump’s supporters, and the knitted pink so-called ‘pussyhats’ worn by protesters at women’s marches, is one of the most telling and unexpected sideshows to have emerged in the bitter political contest between Trump and women all over the world.” Don’t be fooled by those pink “pussyhats.”
International Women’s Day isn’t a day to give women flowers and gifts. It’s a day for women and for men to celebrate the changes that have already taken place in women’s lives – like the right to vote. It is also a day to plan and implement the changes necessary to bring women to the stage where they have the same rights, respect,dignity and equality with men that they so rightly deserve. It’s a day to recognize that women are bold for change and for the men in their lives to stand boldly alongside them to make the necessary changes happen. “Sometimes we must put our bodies where our beliefs are.” Gloria Steinem, a well-known feminist, told the crowd in Washington in January. She was right. Remember Rosa Parks who refused to give her seat up on a bus was what initiated the civil rights movement in the U.S.
(Simone de Beauvoir)
Women have always been good at expressing themselves. Let’s take a look at what women have to say about change and boldness around change. Here are seventeen of the best quotes I could find by women in different walks of life to reinforce this year’s theme for International Women’s Day.
“Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.” (Maya Angelou)
“We can’t be afraid of change. You may feel very secure in the pond that you are in, but if you never venture out of it, you will never know that there is such a thing as an ocean, a sea.” (Joy Bell C.)
“The human race is like a bird and it needs both wings to be able to fly. And, at the moment, one of is wings is clipped an we’re never going to be able to fly as high.” (Emma Watson)
“Next time you hear a girl called bossy, take a deep breath and say, ‘That girl’s not bossy. She has executive leadership skills.’” (Norah O’Donnell)
I’m not the woman President of Harvard. I’m the President of Harvard. (Drew Gilpin Faust)
“Men, their rights, and nothing more; women, their rights, and nothing less.” (Susan B. Anthony)
When men are oppressed it’s a tragedy, when women are oppressed it’s a tradition. (Letty Cottin Pogrebin)
“We just need to put our foot down. This is a good time for us to bring this to a place of fairness, and girls need to know that being a feminist is a good thing. It doesn’t mean that you hate men. It means equal rights. If you’re doing the same job, you should be compensated and treated in the same way.” (Charlize Theron)
“We’re viewed as equals — but we’re still not there yet. […] The challenge for our girls, I think, is dealing with that resistance. How can we lift and defuse it, how do we make it so our equality is not so threatening? Our girls are going to have to contend with that. I contend with it right now in every realm I operate in.” —Meryl Streep
“Remember the dignity of your womanhood. Do not appeal, do not beg, do not grovel. Take courage, join hands, stand besides us, fight with us.” —Christabel Pankhurst
“I believe that the rights of women and girls is the unfinished business of the 21st century.” —Hillary Clinton
When I dare to be powerful—to use my strength in the service of my vision—then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid. (Audre Lorde)
Now and then women should do for themselves what men have already done—occasionally what men have not done—thereby establishing themselves as persons, and perhaps encouraging other women toward greater independence of thought and action.
(Amelia Earhart)
I am a warrior in the time of women warriors; the longing for justice is the sword I carry.
(Sonia Johnson)
How could I choose someone who would force me to give up my own small reach for meaning? I chose myself, and without consolation. (Sue Monk Kidd)
No longer will we (women) agree to protect the hearth at the price of extinguishing the fire within ourselves. (Celia Gilbert)
People call me a feminist whenever I express statements that distinguish me from a doormat. (Rebecca West)
On this International Women’s Day, we can celebrate all the women throughout the world who have made great strides for the betterment of themselves and their sisters – by expressing themselves. It is also up to each and every one of us to continue the work so that our daughters and grand-daughters can be the beneficiaries of a world where they are allowed to live meaningful lives and be equal contributors – free to express themselves. I will close this post with a quote you may have heard before: “Human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights.” (Hillary Clinton) Let’s be bold for change and fight for those rights.
