INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Today March 8th, 2025 International Women's Day! The month of March is Women's History Month. March 8th is also the 114th anniversary of celebration of International Women's Day. There are several different year dates of "when did International Women's Day begin?" The date is March 8th,but the year is in question. I am standing by March 8th,1911. Women of Europe marched for Women's Rights, Women's Suffrage, to unite women worldwide. Celebrate Women, let them hear Us roar. This is our spotlight on our Her-Story.

Women's History Month 2024

Yay! Women! Yet again we have the entire month of March to celebrate our "herstory", our extraordinary lightness of being, our brilliance, our womanhood! As of February 29th, 2024, at 3pm President Biden proclaimed March "Women's History Month"! Yay! (I will add President Biden's speech, the proclamation at the end of this post.) Since 1988, the President and Congress have proclaimed March, "Women's History Month". L-100.9 Like Black History Month, a proclamation by the President must be given for an official celebration to proceed. March 8th is International Women's Day. It is the 113th celebration of International Women's Day. I have written several entries on this blog about International Women's Day. For more information, www.internationalwomensday.com President Biden's 2024 Proclamation of " Women's History Month ". FEBRUARY 29, 2024 A Proclamation on Women’s History Month, 2024 HOME BRIEFING ROOM PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS During Women’s History Month, we celebrate the courageous women who have helped our Nation build a fairer, more just society. Throughout history, the vision and achievements of powerful women have strengthened our Nation and opened the doors of opportunity wider for all of us. Though their stories too often go untold, all of us stand on the shoulders of these sung and unsung trailblazers — from the women who took a stand as suffragists, abolitionists, and labor leaders to pioneering scientists and engineers, groundbreaking artists, proud public servants, and brave members of our Armed Forces. Despite the progress that these visionaries have achieved, there is more work ahead to knock down the barriers that stand in the way of women and girls realizing their full potential — in a country founded on freedom and equality, nothing is more fundamental. That is why my Administration has put women and girls at the heart of everything we do. When I first came into office, I established the White House Gender Policy Council to advance their rights and opportunities across domestic and foreign policy. I also released the Nation’s first-ever National Gender Strategy to advance gender equity and equality across my Administration — from women’s economic security and leadership opportunities to freedom from gender-based violence and equal access to education and health care. Women are seated at every table where decisions are made in my Administration — from our first female Vice President, Kamala Harris, to a record number of female cabinet secretaries to the most diverse set of judges ever nominated to the Federal bench, including Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. If we want to have the strongest economy in the world, we cannot leave women — half of our workforce — behind. Since I have been in office, the economy has created nearly 15 million jobs, and we have seen the lowest unemployment rate among women in more than five decades. As we implement major pieces of legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act, we are ensuring that women get their fair share of opportunities. We are increasing their access to new jobs in sectors where women have been historically underrepresented, like manufacturing, construction, and clean energy. We are championing equal pay, including issuing new regulations that advance pay equity and pay transparency for Federal workers and employees of Federal contractors. We are making sure women have access to the resources they need to enter and remain in the workforce, including high-quality, affordable child care. My Administration’s American Rescue Plan helped working mothers, especially during the most challenging times of the pandemic, by keeping the doors of 220,000 child care centers open — 90 percent of which are owned and staffed by women. Our Child Tax Credit cut the number of children in poverty by 50 percent and provided breathing room for 65 million children and their families, and we will keep fighting to restore it. I have also signed legislation that provides new protections for pregnant and postpartum workers. To promote the health and wellness of women in America, under the leadership of Vice President Harris, we launched the Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis to combat the high incidence of maternal mortality — especially for Black, Native, and rural women — due to systemic inequities in quality health care. We have expanded access to health care services for women veterans — the fastest growing group of veterans receiving services at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Last fall, we launched the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research to change how we approach and fund women’s health research, and pioneer the next generation of discoveries in women’s health care. Further, Vice President Harris and I are fighting to protect women’s reproductive freedom. In 2022, the Supreme Court made an extreme decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, reversing nearly five decades of recognizing a woman’s constitutional right to choose and make deeply personal decisions about her health care. Now, tens of millions of women live in States with an extreme and dangerous abortion ban currently in effect. Across the country, women are being turned away from emergency rooms, forced to go to court to seek permission for the medical attention they need, and made to travel hundreds of miles for care. This is unacceptable. That is why I have taken action to safeguard access to reproductive care, including abortion and contraception. Vice President Harris and I will keep calling on the Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in Federal law — the only way to ensure women in every State have the right to choose. As we lift up women’s health and economic prosperity, we also have to protect their physical security. As a United States Senator, I was proud to write the Violence Against Women Act, which helped change the culture of silence around the scourge of gender-based violence in America. When we reauthorized the law, we increased our total investment in prevention and support to $700 million for 2023 alone — the highest funding ever to protect women from gender-based violence in nearly 30 years. I have also spearheaded historic military justice reforms to better protect survivors and ensure that, in cases of gender-based violence, prosecutorial decisions are fully independent from the chain of command. Last year, my Administration released the first-ever National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, advancing a comprehensive Government-wide approach to preventing and addressing gender-based violence across the United States. Globally, my Administration is supporting initiatives that help expand access to child care, end gender-based violence, cut the digital gender divide in half, promote women’s leadership, and more. Thanks to the leadership of Vice President Harris, we have galvanized more than $2.9 billion in investments to advance the economic status of women around the world and ensure they play a meaningful role in the industries of the future. This Women’s History Month, may we recognize the long, storied history of great women helping to realize our Nation’s founding promise and highest aspirations. May we all continue working to build a world worthy of the dreams and goals of all women and girls. NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2024 as Women’s History Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month and to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024, with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. I also invite all Americans to visit WomensHistoryMonth.gov to learn more about the vital contributions of women to our Nation’s history. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth. JOSEPH R. BIDEN

Abortion

Support all Human Rights including Abortion.

MARCH EIGHT

Celebrate She,We,You,Me! CELEBRATE 

 Magical are She,We,You,Me Giving birth to all humans here on Earth past, present, what about the future Her heart beats She,We,You,Me VISIONS

 Mother Earth can't live with, can't die without Her,She,We,You,Me

 Day after day life comes of her- a new set of heart strings to be played for She,We,You,Me 

 Oh. But She,We,You,Me, so much more. Leaders of industry and Art and Science and Dreamer of Dreams She,We,You,Me So much more is in store-

 She,We,You,Me Celebrate.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

March 8th is International Women's Day! Celebrate! This is our 400th blog entry. 2021 is our fifteenth year of blogging about women, mostly our history. But also about who is woman? June 6th 2006 we wrote our first blog entry asked our followers for a definition. Define being a woman. Four words. Seven syllables. Rather clinical. Below was the first response. It was Anonymous. "I am a woman and it is hard. It's unbelievably hard - but it's worth it. I am who I am and I'm proud of who I am and who I am is parcel in part to what I am. I am a woman. Women take are of each other - women are never alone. No matter where we are or how isolated we feel we are not alone." Today I ask. Women share your story, thoughts, whatever. Allot has changed since 2006. And allot has not changed. We have 27 followers who joined in 2006. These members are still with us. We have visitors daily. Share your insight, a story, about Being Woman.

VICE PRESIDENT ELECT KAMALA HARRIS THE VERY FIRST !!!!!

Thank you! Vice President elect Kamala Harris for accepting President Elect Joe Biden's offer to be his running mate! This is a powerful, hope-filled day! And future! Also, Harris the daughter of immigrants her Mother from India and her Father from Jamaica. Harris is first woman and first woman of color to be the Vice President of the United States! Congratulations and Beingwoman blog looks forward, so very forward seeing the first woman vice president! And following your journey. WOW!means Woman onward Woman!

"Women Who Wear Pants and Where They Wore Them."

"Women Who Wear Pants"

In today's society  there is no taboo if a girl or woman wears a pair of pants. Pants is the American word for this garment and trousers is the British word for pants.
 Other words used to describe the clothing on her legs: pantaloons, slacks, jeans, pantsuit, Turkish trousers, knickerbockers,leggings, bloomers or my favorite "reform dress"!
The word "breeches" or "britches" are short pants whose  origins go back to English Restoration Theatre as part of a costume worn by a woman who played a "male  character".  Women would dress in these tight breeches exposing her legs and these very tight breeches would show the form of her bottom! Very daring!  And there was always reveal at the end of the play in in which this lovely "boy" wearing these breeches removes his wig so her hair tumbles out and then the actress exposes one of her breasts! The paying public of mostly men this was the only reason or an excellent reason to attend the theater.

The oldest pair of pants on record were found in western China and dated back somewhere between the 10th and 13th century BC. They are made of wool panels. Archaeologists believe both male and female worn pants much earlier in history .   No one can pinpoint when humans began wearing any type of clothing. Was it really a fig leaf?
Why all the names? And why was it taboo for females to wear ,using the general term, pants?

If we skip to the mid nineteenth century American suffragist Elizabeth Smith Miller adopted the style of "Turkish trousers" under "knee length skirts" Miller worn her new garbs to visit Amelia Bloomer in Seneca Falls, New York in February 1851. The following month Amelia Bloomer wrote to her readers of her women's magazine "The Lily", she was adopting her clothing to match this modern suffragist and  decided these "Turkish trousers" would be her style! And this fashion took off!  Per her readers request Bloomer wrote instructions on how to make these trousers. And by June 1851, Turkish trousers were called bloomers in honor of Amelia Bloomer. There were bloomer picnics and grand bloomer dances. Bloomers were the height of fashion.
Amelia Bloomer, in May of 1851, introduced Susan B. Anthony to Elizabeth Cady Stanton! And of course these suffragists were wearing bloomers when they met. And this meeting changed the world for women. Anthony and Stanton lead the way of the Suffrage Movement in the United States.
Also, bloomers were healthier for women to wear! Women's traditional clothing was killing her. Corsets crushing her ribs and constricting her internal organs.
Dr. Lydia Sayer Hasbrough who wore the radical "bloomers" or as Hasbrough liked to refer to these bloomers as "reform dress".
Dr. Hasbrough founded the women's magazine, "The Sibyl", subtitled:"A review of the Tastes, Errors, Fashions of Society." The word "Sibyl" is Greek for prophetess. The Sibyl stood for women's rights, universal suffrage and abolition of slavery.  Published from 1856-1864.  The Civil War pretty much stopped the presses.

Women through the ages would wear men's clothing for many reasons, to fight in wars, for comfort and better health and the ability to move easier. And for work! Dress like a man and make more money! Or an education in medicine! From the mid 19th century to early 20th century, bloomers were associated with the Suffrage Movement.

When I was a little girl I remember my legs freezing because all I had on my legs were kneesocks and a dress for school. Girls and women were not allowed to wear any type of clothing like pants on their legs! And this was the 1960's! When it snowed in winter.
But that was the dress code! All females were required to wear dresses to the office, school and fine dining! No exceptions. And it was not like women did not know the comfort of pants or trousers. But suffer they did.
Now who broke with tradition? Wearing the pants in house and in public!
In the early part of the 20th century, women and girls worn knickerbockers whilst playing at sports. Like cycling! And horseback riding.
In 1932, Marlene Dietrich dressed in a man's tuxedo and Katherine Hepburn worn trousers to the movie peremiere of "The Sign of the Cross" to the Bilmore Theater in Hollywood.
In 1939, Vogue published their first fashion spread of women wearing trousers.
During World War ll women went to work and worn their husband's pants for work!
In 1959 Government Code Section 1294.7 Protect the right to wear pants California Fair Employment and Housing Act:  FEHA discrimination complaint form now includes an option for "denied the right to wear pants."
In 1960 Andre Courreges designed long trousers for women which lead to the era of designer pantsuits and designer jeans.
In 1960, First Lady Jackie Kennedy was photographed wearing pants and a sweater on Cape Cod, Massachusetts  and then Jackie wore palazzo pants in Italy, 1962.
 In 1969 Representative Charlotte Reid was the first Congresswoman to wear trousers in the US Congress.
1969 Barbra Streinsand wore the designer Arnold Scaasi pants to the Oscar's and Barbra won for "Funny Girl".
1972 First Lady Patricia Nixon was the 1st Lady to  model pants in a national magazine.
In 1972 President Richard Nixon signed "Title IX" into law. "Dresses could no longer be required of girls to wear to public schools!
Women were not allowed to wear pants on the US Senate Floor until 1993! Senators Barbara Mikulski and Carol Moseley in defiance of the rule! wore trousers.  The female staff followed suit and that year Senate Sergeant of Arms, Martha Pope allowed it as long as "you wear a jacket. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or First Lady Clinton was the 1st First Lady to have her portrait painted wearing pants.

We skip to 1992, Rome , Italy. An 18 year old girl had her first driving lesson and she was raped for an hour by her driving instructor. He threatened her that if she told anyone he would kill her!  She told her parents who helped their daughter to report the rape to the police that night. The rapist was convicted and sentenced by Italian Supreme Court.
THEN, in 1998 the Courts overturned the conviction because the victim was wearing tight jeans and she would have to help to remove the tight jeans to be raped so she was consenting!! Women in the Parliament protested! Wearing a sign "JEANS AN ALIBI FOR RAPE". And in 1999 the Italian Courts overturned this absurd denim defense to the charge of rape.
So every April Denim Day raises awareness of sexual assault.
April 29th, 2020 is the next Denim Day!
Pants have allowed women and girls physical freedom through the ages.  So never forget who wears the pants in your house or place of work or to any event- it is our right.

Equal Rights Amendment 1/22/2020

“Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.”
ERA is Ratified! Yes, Virginia there is an Equal Rights Amendment.

This vote in the Virginia Legislation last week January 16th, 2020 was the 38th state to ratify this Amendment.
Many say this vote comes too late. But there are Amendments that have taken over 200 years to be ratified. Applying a deadline to the Equal Rights Amendment is not  a good reason.  Why place a deadline on a human rights issue?
This argument set aside, this is powerful news to the history of American women.
1923 was the 75th anniversary of the convention of Seneca Falls of 1848. At this celebration Alice Paul introduced the ERA. That was 97 years ago. It has taken 97 years to have this Amendment ratified by 38 states!

In 2003 Richmond,Virginia was the location of the filming of the HBO's feature film "Iron Jawed Angels". The first feature about the Women's Suffrage Movement. Which featured the story of Alice Paul and Lucy Burn. Are you wondering why not Susan B. Anthony?
Well, sadly Anthony had been dead for 13 years before the 19th Amendment was ratitifed!  Alice Paul took the Suffrage Movement into a more aggressive approach to winning the Right to Vote! Parades, knocking on the doors of the Congress and then protesting in front of the Whitehouse. What was the reaction of these actions? Well it varied from violence to support.
After months of protesting President Wilson grew very tired of these protests and ordered for the women to be arrested. But for what? "Obstructing traffic!"  Mothers, Daughters, Teachers, Wives, were arrested and fined for obstructing traffic . The Suffragists refused to pay the fine.
 Women were jailed in Virginia's Occoquan Women's Prison.  Many women were sentenced for three to six months. All for expressing their voice! Women were raped, suffered  physical violence, served rotten food, and during Alice Paul's hunger strike she was force fed!
President Wilson required Alice Paul to be examined by a psychiatrist who deemed Alice Paul mentally healthy.
Word was getting out about the horrors of what was happening to the suffragists in prison.  This lead to the general public's understanding of the plight of women. And the release of all the protesting suffragists.
August 18th, 1920 the 19th Amendment was ratified!
Back to the film "Iron Jawed Angels", so the scene in the film that depicts the passage of the 19th Amendment was filmed in the location the ERA was ratified in real life.
Who would have thought that the Virginia legislation Assembly Hall would be the actual location of the 38th state needed to ratify the EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.
Call your congressmen to support the Equal Rights Amendment.
And if you have not seen "Iron Jawed Angels", watch! It is the first film to tell the history of the United States Suffrage Movement. Well there was one scene in a very popular feature film. "Mary Poppins " Mrs. Banks did a musical number about the "cause" . But that's it.
I had the honor of working on "Iron Jawed Angels". Working on this set changed my life.  Because until I read this script, I had no idea of history of suffrage. It was one of the reasons I began writing this blog in 2006.
 I thought Susan B. Anthony wrote letters and made speeches and bam! We could vote. And I was not alone! Our cast of women spoke about the lack of education there is in school for girls and women! about our her-story!
Hopefully, these exciting new changes will help us all learn the truth of our history of suffrage!

OSCAR!

Tonight I am watching the Oscar's!! Something different is going on! The documentary, "PERIOD. End of sentence, not a woman's education" won! This film is about menstruation. It is hard to believe that today there are girls who cannot attend school because they cannot afford or have access to feminine hygiene products.

Tragic. But raising awareness and helping by first watching this 25 minute documentary.on Netflix and visiting this website www.thepadproject.org

There are villages all over the world whose women need access to pads for their periods.  If a high school in Los Angeles raised funds for a machine to be installed so the women are trained to make pads and sell them... So can others.

Watch this doc and empower girls and women PEROID.

2019 The Second Year of Women!

I started writing this blog in 2006.  There were 85 women serving in Congress. Today January 3, 2019 the number has risen to 127! Women are breathing fresh air into our Government. The ideals we the People need like Truth, Justice and Liberty for all. It seems those old white men are retiring with empty promises and total commitment to  greed for the very rich.
Nancy Pelosi makes history today too!  It is Pelosi's second term as Speaker of The House!  Pelosi took the gavel, she invited the children to join her. She accepted the Speakership for the future,the children.
The words Truth, Justice and Liberty for all!! These words are powerful. And vital to our future . Go women and thank you for serving this Nation.

ME TOO! AND SUPREME COURT

"Me too!" Women and girls who are sexually assaulted find courage to tell this private act that haunts her life forever. Shame.

"Me too!" She has suffered silently.  Fear of not being believed.

"Me too!" She worries she deserved this treatment. "Men will be men. Boys will be boys."

"Me too!" She is afraid it can happen again. This strange violation that pleasures her attacker. Why does she struggle.

"Me too!" Why is my body betraying me?

"Me too!" I am a child hiding from this cruel reality again.. 

"Me too!" My family needs me to work. I cannot loose my job. I am silent.

"Me too!" I set aside my feelings and walk numbly.  I am strong.

"Me too!" I am lost. I am careful not to be noticed. 

"Me too!"  Time is timeless. The event blurs into memory. But the hurt fear is ALIVE. 

As Dr. Christine Blasey Ford  knows Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when she fifteen years old.  Bravely she came forward to do her civic duty. And now must live with the vile betrayal of our GOP senators, mostly old white men who were raised by mothers who growing up did not have the right to vote.

These old white men hid behind a woman they hired to attack Ford during her testimony, it backfired.

Ford's truth was bright and real and honest.

So these old white men regrouped and did what predators do. They yelled. They attacked with righteous anger. No surprise. That is exactly what guilty men do when facing assaults charges  from women and girls.

But what is truly awful. Senator Susan Collins betrayal of millions of girls and women. She believed the drunk young men who do not recall this night so long ago to  the victim. The sexual assault is still harming Dr. Ford even today.

Senators Joni Ernest, Debt Fischer, and Cindy Hyde-Smith three women GOP senators who were never going to vote against partlines . Their lack of concern for women's rights  is stunning.
I ask myself daily why? We watch Dr. Ford's testimony,  so powerful and real.
And then Kavanaugh reading his response in the  manner of a child throwing a temper tantrum. Not becoming of a Supreme Court Judge. Kavanaugh behaved entitled to this honored seat only nine men and women serve and hold for a lifetime.
He screamed his life was ruined and he would never remove his name. Why ? Kavanaugh is not a judge but a bully.
He bullied the woman senators asking questions he did not like. He refused to answer questions and instead created another question or statement that was not appropriate or unrelated. Or twisting the question to make himself the victim.  
Kavanaugh's yearbook was filled with sexualized comments "Renate Alumnus Club" Clearly a boast in the style of  "for a good time call.."  Renate Dolphin had no idea she was the butt of this inside joke until the senate hearing.
Ms. Dolphin was hurt and upset. Kavanaugh claims it was a compliment. Innocent fun. At the expense of Renate. 
This is a problem for a Supreme Court judge. Kavanaugh is biased against women ,girls and either he is completely unaware, or willing to lie about his behavior.
The GOP hid Kavanaugh's papers from the Bush administration era. There is evidence Kavanaugh lied under oath during his first confirmation in 2004 about his involvement in the illegal torture program. Torture.
During Kavanaugh's first 2018 hearing he paraded in his all girls basketball team he coaches.  On the surface it seems wholesome. But really it was icky. Like a smoke screen, covering up his true nature toward females. 
It was a sideshow. This is a gut feeling. And then Dr. Ford came forward with her story. And three other women have come forward with sexual assault stories of Kavanaugh exposing himself to women,this is disturbing and perverse.
As the FBI reopened Kavanaugh's background check, dozens of his friends, college roommates came forward with stories about Kavanaugh drunken  behavior.  He was a belligerent and aggressive stumbling drunk. He was in police report for fighting under the influence. This is not Supreme Court Justice material. Only nine seats in all the land. It is a high standard.  The life of a Supreme Court judge must be untarnished. Yes, it is vital. 
The majority of Americans do not trust Kavanaugh.  This alone is enough to disqualify Kavanaugh. 
The women and girls of the United States are under attack by the GOP senate both men and women. They are willing to place a man in power who can remove their rights. 
Trump,and Kavanaugh have been accused of sexually assaulting women. The GOP does not care, their craving for power and greed is clear.
The images of these angry old white men gnashing teeth, shaking their fists, pounding their fists. 
How dare these women demand human rights! 
Senator Grassley called the women protesting a mob sscene as they demanded their rights. The mob scene was the GOP protesting way too much! 
Senator Susan Collins betrayed the women of America. She claimed she would always protect our rights. Collins lied. 
She spent forty minutes explaining how she did not believe Dr. Ford.  She pretended this job interview was a trial. Your shadow of doubt, is not reason enough to place millions of American women  at risk. 
Senator Collins shame on you. You are a liar too.
"Me too!" Stand strong! We will overcome this setback. It is too important. 
Sadly, Dr. Ford has done what most sexual assault victims do when publicly attacked for coming forward. She tries to protect her attacker "It's okay. Please don't impeach Kavanaugh. I regret nothing. Please let me hide again. "   
Dr. Ford, coming forward you helped millions of victims of sexual assault . This is the most important outcome of this story. You are a hero. Bravery is scary, stay strong Dr. Ford.

May 20th Dolly Madison

Born this day in 1768, First Lady Dolly Madison, married to the United State's 4th President James Madison. Dolly Madison is remembered for grace and hospitality as First Lady.  It is said that Madison improved her husband's popularity with her grand hostess skills.

 But her life was not an easy one, her first husband John Todd and son William  died  in the yellow fever epidemic in 1793. Leaving Dolly a widow and with no means to raise their older son John Payne.   

Dolly met James Madison through a mutual friend. Madison was seventeen years her senior and a bachelor.  They married and started a political career that took them to the White House.

 Dolly's son never found a profession and in 1830 was thrown into debtors prison.  The Madison's mortgage their plantation to pay his debts. 

And after James  Madison's death, Dolly moved to Washington DC leaving her son Payne to run the plantation. But Payne was unable to hold to the farm due to his alcoholism. 

Dolly was living absolute poverty. And sold James Madison's papers to Congress. Dorathea Dandridge Payne Todd Madison died July 12th, 1849 at the age of 81.
The photograph of Dolly Madison is by Matthew Brady.

March 8th, 2018 I held on to this entry for well over a year.

2016. It was the best of times and it was the worse of times for women.  The last blog entry in 2016, was about Trump who is becoming our next president. Shocking really. The questions keep coming up about Trump winning with the help of the Russians and Putin. There are holes throughout this election.
I write this not as sour grapes, but I don't think most Americans agreed with Trump at all. Or his views on women.
So forward and onward gals! Hitch your wagon to the stars and let's take a ride, a journey toward freedom, and liberty and justice for all super duper gals!

Three Names: John James Audubon, Curry and Ives and William Comfort Tiffany. Most likely you have heard of these artists , all very well known. Now another three names: Maria Martin, Fanny Palmer and Clara Driscoll ? Have you heard of these artists? They are connected to the male artists.

Maria Martin and John James Audubon worked together on the water colors of Birds of American series. Ms. Martin was married to Audubon's business partner the Rev Bachman. Martin painted the "background and the trees, flowers, scenery. And what about the fact that Audubon was going blind the last ten years of his life?

Fanny Palmer and the gentle businessmen "Curry and Ives" were printmakers and Ms. Palmer, a widow with five children provided the homestead drawings of 19th century life. Palmer's work has been woven into our lives so completely she is always with us. From the prints to the songs to the dinner plates and whatever else her work has been transferred on.

Clara Driscoll and William Comfort Tiffany. In 2007, a woman researching Tiffany opened a drawer and Clara Driscoll came to life!  Yes, it was not just Tiffany designing the glass he is so famous for- Driscoll designed some of the most beautiful glass pieces, like the Dragon Fly lamp, and the wisteria and peony flowers. And discovered the brighter glass for the company.

Why were these women buried in a dusty corner, or drawer? Why were only the men allowed to take the credit?  Was it intensional? By keeping women's stories out of the "limelight" her history has been taken away and that history is vital! If you don't know where you have been , it's harder uunderstand where you are going.

April 12th

 

Born this day in 1908 British novelist, Ida Pollock, or Ida Crowe, Joan M. Allen, Susan Barri,
Pamela Kent, Averil Ives, Anita Charles, Jane Beaufort, Rose Burghley, Marguerite Bell, Mary Whistler or Barbara Rowan.
Ms. Pollock had a 90 year career and wrote over 125 romantic novels. Pollock wrote until her death in 2013, the age of 105.

March 28th

                                 Lúcia de Jesus dos Santos 

"The reported apparitions at Fátima were officially declared worthy of belief by the Catholic Church, which commemorates the event on the same date. The published memoirs of Lucia Santos' in the 1930s revealed two secrets that she claimed came from the Virgin while the third secret was to be revealed by the Catholic Church in 1960. The controversial events at Fátima gained fame due partly to elements of the secrets, prophecy and eschatological revelations allegedly related to the Second World War and possibly more global wars in the future, particularly the Virgin's alleged request for the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary."  this quote is from Wikipedia

Sister Maria Lúcia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart was the official Catholic name of  this mystic Carmelite Nun. As a child she was one of three children who witnessed the Miracle of the appearance of the Virgin Mary in 1917.  The Marian apparitions in Fatima.  Sister Maria was born this day March 28th, 1907 and passed away February 13th, 2005.

In these times that try one's souls, this mystic woman leads me to wonder and wander for hopeful rejoicing to an end of wrong doing and celebration of all the good of woman kind. World Peace.

WOMEN"S DAY MARCH 8th, 2017

   
                           

Doctor Katherine G. Johnson Oscar Night 2017

This is a podcast script we wrote around this time last year. We will try to upload the podcast too. We are so happy "Hidden Figures" is doing so incredibly well and nominated for Oscar.  Dr. Johnson deserves all this attention. At 98 she is still extraordinary woman.

MUSIC

BRIDGET:

TAG: Welcome to the maiden voyage of The Women’s Mercury, who always

ask the question, “What did women do in the olden days and why don’t we know about it?”

Our first story is ready for take-off. Danielle last name, take it away…

Audio : Rocket blasting into space

DANIELLE:

In mid- twentieth century America, what course could a female mathematical genius chart for her career? Math teacher.  But in 1953 Dr. Katherine G Johnson left teaching to begin a career in Aeronautics at NACA later known as NASA. Dr. Johnson joined the pool of female mathematical calculators who performed the task of “a human computer” or Johnson’s loving term, computers in skirts.

In 1958, Johnson was asked to join a team of aeronautical engineers to calculate trajectories for space travel.  Dr. Katherine Johnson never returned to the math pool of skirts. From Project Mercury to Apollo 11 first moon landing to the Space Shuttle, Dr. Katherine Johnson was there and known for her accuracy in computerized celestial navigation.

It was Dr. Johnson’s back up plan the Apollo 13 crew used to return safely home from space.

In 2015, for her contributions to space exploration, President Barack

Obama presented Dr. Johnson, now 98, with America’s

highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

To learn more about the brilliant physicist, space scientist Dr. Katherine G. Johnson and other

extraordinary women in history, visit us at

womensmercury.com   This is Danielle last name

BRIDGET:  And Bridget Gethins, Keri Wormald, thanking you, WCVE, Manchester-Group and Dr. Johnson for shooting for the stars. OR

BRIDGET: And Bridget Gethins KERI: Keri Wormald

BRIDGET: Thanking you, WCVE, Manchester-Group, and Dr. Johnson for shooting for the stars.

Join us next time when we learn Lady Lovelace is not a clothing line but one of the first computer scientist.

WOMEN'S MARCH

I AM SO PROUD of WOMEN!!

To see millions of women and girls standing up for their rights! We the Women stand and march in unity.  We are the United Women of America!  And we demand equality. Equal pay, equal time, equal everything.

Women are the ALPHA. We understand who we are and where we are going and no one is going stop us. Trust us.

We are the vessels of life and we know our abilities. In these times that try our souls we the female must support each other and trust each other.

Women are amazing. As I have wandered the WWW and books, I have been awed by the richness of our story throughout time.  Our strength, our intelligence, our dignity and our passion have changed this world in extraordinary ways.  Even when questionable, it is amazing!
I believe knowledge of our past history strengthens us and prepares women for what may be in future!

So on this day and in this era, where it seems "female" is under attack. We fight back, and as we are able communicate with www we are growing closer and able to understand we are each other's sisters.

Hillary Clinton for President! I have a dream.....

I am with Hillary Clinton because she is with us. All of us. Madame President! Oh, how I long to hear this said-
Truly, this election is one of the most extreme difference between two candidates ever!
Hillary is smart, and thoughtful, with over forty years of experience in public service. Her opponent Mr. Trump is devious, liar, has absolutely no experience in public service. None. Hillary is compassionate toward all people. Her career is completely based on service of people. Her focus is how to make this world a better place for everyone. And Hillary Clinton has a platform, ideas on how to make this a better country and a better world.
Trump has done nothing to help anyone except him self. I believe he is a sociopath. Politifact.com researched his statements and 98% of the time Trump is lying. And most disturbing to me as a woman is his mistreatment of women throughout his life.
Can there be two more different people?
America's first woman on a national ballot as President of the United States and the voters can vote for an amazing woman who has worked for the people her entire career. Or they can vote for a man who has absolutely no experience and is a male chauvinist. There so many horror stories about this man. And they come from so many different sources and over the span of his life. There is no place for such character in a leadership role, let alone president of the United States. He is completely unqualified to serve.
Hillary Clinton is qualified, completely qualified. She has to be because she is a woman. The first woman.  Women have always had to be the best just to be considered. And I hope and pray that every woman votes for Hillary Clinton. She is the most honest candidate and the smartest, and most experienced, and she is about the common good for all human beings and our mother earth. There is so much to be done and who better than a mother, a grandmother and a person who cares for us all. Everything Hillary has ever done has been for us.

FIRST EVER IN THE USA 7/26/2016

Tonight Hillary Rodham Clinton is the first woman to be the nomination for president of a major party. The Democratic Party's nomination for President of the United States of America!