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How can I write this without talking about women I have known and women I have only read about, but whose actions brought change to my life either directly or indirectly? These women
all with their own clear voices ringing out in such a world as ours. Our voices are not just a reflection of us, but of so many intricately woven moments, each different, each important and with a
different meaning. We are blessed indeed to have women who use their voices to help encourage those who do not.
A woman's voice is a spectacular and powerful force.
It can be the power of Faye Wattleton battling politicians, wielding only her sheer belief in her position, or the power of Melanie finally telling someone what her husband had done to her. It can be heard in the sound of 1500 Silent Witnesses standing before our nation's capital, or the silence of Rosa Parks when she sat down on the bus in a section that said "Whites Only". It can be found in the hopeful words of a mother willing her child back to life, or a mother giving her child encouragement and hope when faced with a task as simple as tying her shoe. It was in the song of Margaret Sanger, fighting for the reproductive freedom of women everywhere, and in the song of Vicki making the call that saved her life. It is in the passionate sounds of a woman making love, or in the passionate plea of Jody Williams campaigning against land mines.
These voices, all joined, carry tremendous meaning for our world, and for our children.
We must begin to teach our daughters especially about their voices. Just as surely as they will learn what we teach them about their power, they will learn silence and weakness if we keep our voices down.
Society has taught us that it is a woman's job to give strength to her husband, or the boss, or the son, or the chairman - but not to speak out for ourselves.
When Hillary Clinton began speaking out in public, many people rallied against her, saying that she was too outspoken, should give up herself and her voice, and stay in the background. She was accused of being too forceful and was told to go back into the House. Thankfully, she did not give in to those demands.
It is interesting that while women have made so much progress, we are still a threat when we don't do what is expected of us. When we stand our ground and speak our mind, men shudder. Surely
a woman who "doesn't know her place" is a dangerous woman.
What is a woman's place, and defined by whom? Should we remain quiet and submissive in the background? Should we not demand that our rights be ours, that a job be done as expected, that a
wrong be righted? If we are to grow as a world and as humanity, should that growth not be achieved with over half the world's population contributing, and being acknowledged for that
contribution? Are we to remain forever in fear of the "good old boys", with our voices lodged in our throats?
It is imperative that we stop taking for granted those who stand up, and begin to stand up with them.
It is not just our right it is our place. When we do this - when we stand together as one, instead of sitting down as crowd - then we will have defined our place. When we women finally take our place out front, without fear of retaliation, without being called 'bitch', or 'ball-breaker', or 'femi-nazi', or worse - then we will have claimed our place as equals. When violence against women no longer costs lives or causes great circular waves of damage to everyone, we will be able to look out upon a healthier society. When we can walk at night unafraid of being attacked, we will know, victoriously, a safe place made by us, for us. When our legal right to make decisions regarding our own bodies is no longer insecure, we will have accomplished that which is our own. When not one more person questions our right to think, decide, or act on our own and with our own voices, our place in this society will be exactly where and as it should be, with no definition set by anyone but ourselves.
These things can happen, but it takes a multitude of voices.
It takes strength, and courage. It takes supporting someone who is right, but who is being destroyed because people fear her courage and her honesty. It takes recognizing that while your immediate silence works for you at this particular moment, it only does long-term damage to you and everyone else.
My daughter and I were once discussing an issue at school, which she felt was wrong. I encouraged her to take action. She said, but Mom, I am only one person, what can I do?
I would say to anyone, the same thing I said to her – alone, you are one person. But 10, or 100, or 1,000, or 10,000 one person's together make a group of people that cannot be ignored. The greatest people that have come into our world have been only one person, but they ended up with the voice of many being heard beside and behind them. When we take a moment to take a stand - all of us as just one person – we will make a place for all of us.
Each day there is an event in our world that needs a voice. Whether the act is small and seemingly insignificant or greatly publicized and recognized, it will be important because a woman's voice will
have been heard. Add your voice - every day, and every place. Find your voice, and your place will be there.
Read some of Elizabeth's Poetry
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