Tuesday, March 8, 2011

My World Tuesday/Thursday Theme song: International women's day


http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/

Today is the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, 1911-2011 , 8 March 2011.

Women's Day events honour and celebrate the achievements of women all around the world, ranging from small random informal gatherings to large highly organised events.






The Mt Roskill War Memorial Park was a sea of beautiful people in their beautiful clothes.


I am very proud of Kate Sheppard. Her image appears on our ten dollar note. She is mainly responsible for New Zealand to be the first country to give women the vote in modern times.

Katherine Wilson Sheppard (10 March 1847 – 13 July 1934) was the most prominent member of New Zealand's women's suffrage movement, and is the country's most famous suffragette. Because New Zealand was the first country to introduce universal suffrage, Sheppard's work had a considerable impact on women's suffrage movements in other countries. During one of the protest movement, she led a whole group of ladies to lie down on the road and the police couldn't do anything.

Sheppard played a considerable part in getting the women's suffrage bill was successfully passed, granting women full voting rights. Sheppard herself was widely acknowledged as the leader of the women's suffrage movement.

An elderly friend in her 80s told me that when she was growing up, the girls wanted to be like Kate.

Sheppard is considered to be an important figure in New Zealand's history. A memorial to her exists in Christchurch.




hootin--anni has a new meme.
IT'S ALL ABOUT MY NEW MEME THAT I HOPE SOME WILL FEEL LIKE JOINING IN ON THE CHALLENGE AND THE FUN [at least I hope the weekly challenge will be fun!]. It's loosely based on song lyrics [recorded songs since the beginning of time to today] and associating them with photos of yours...as I've done in the past...If you click on the link above, it'll take you to the Meme's Homepage for rules and buttons. There will be a Mr. Linky Widget for each individual week also. Do consider joining me sometime. Hope to see it flourish in time.

http://hootin--anni.blogspot.com/


In 1975, I was a young impressionable 20 year old when I went to Canada and heard Helen Reddy sing. This song was chosen by United Nations as the anthem for the International year of women. Together with my girls friends in the Laurier Hall, the hostel for women only in Windsor University, we sang this song with gusto. That year, I became aware of women's rights and women's lib. I became a champion for this cause. Some of the boys accusedd us to be lesbians.

I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again

CHORUS
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

You can bend but never break me
'cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul

CHORUS

I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long long way to go
Until I make my brother understand

Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
Oh, I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong

I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
I am woman

15 comments:

Shifan said...

Hi Ann,

You don't limit to one day for talking about women. Because women give birth to new world.

Ginny Hartzler said...

Your song fits right in with Women's Day!! I remember it well!! I guess the Sheppard memorial has been destroyed in the earthquake, what a shame!

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Shifan,

We make you an honorary woman. If more men would think like you. The world would be a happier place.

Dave said...

Congratulations to all women. - Dave

Anonymous said...

Yay! Women! That's what I say.

All the best, Boonie

Gattina said...

I completely forgot, lol, but I went with 3 friends celebrating carneval, lol !

diane b said...

Great post , great song, great woman.(you that is)

Ensurai said...

Thanks for reminding me of this song! Haven't been thinking about Helen Reddy for a long time although she featured big in my life once...Really like her.

I would give a toast to women every day of the year!!

Cheers to you too....for being a great woman and to all our mothers and grandmothers!! And great grandmothers.

Walk in New York said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Walk in New York said...

un bel hommage et post pour la journée de la femmme.


Publicity ;o) Every Friday (and the Weekend), The Challenge "Walk In The Street Photography"

genie said...

YOur post has gene me soothing to think about being that I have been at home al day with the flu. The flu shot must not have sourced! I loved your presentation on Kate Sheppard, your reminding us of the words to “I Am a Woman," and the lovely photo series of the women in their colorful dresses. Wonderful and timely post.

Unknown said...

Years ago I went to a motivational course, this song was played and remembered us being very emotional. It's a great song and I hardly hear it ever since. I think women in general have so many things going on at the same time, work, kids, house, cook, driver, everything rolled into one. I often said if I swap role with my husband, I doubt if he can survive more than a week :)

Kristin said...

Happy International Women's Day to you Ann! It's a day of celebration of great achievements. Thanks for the inspiring post. May you have a nice day and great weekend with family and friends.

lina@happy family said...

Happy International Women's Day to all women :)