Many of us are noting International Women’s Day … to
state an obvious fact … without women, there’d be no men …
 |
| Emmeline Pankhursts's Portrait Badge c 1909 |
In simple terms – we can’t do without each other –
then there are all the other properties of life: absolutely critical to our
ability to be here in this wonderful world.
Transport for London has a new roundel – which has
been re-imagined based on the suffragette movement’s colours of green, purple
and white … representing the coming together of women in solidarity, friendship
and support.
 |
| Maida Vale was the first Underground station to be run by women during WW1 |
Last week I missed the appearance of the new roundel
at Victoria Station – and am not sure when I’m going up to London again – so I
hope they keep it for a while.
The link
at the end of my post gives a few more details … there are only 5 roundels at
stations where women first made their mark in the transport industry; but there's also a photographic exhibition at Victoria Station.
 |
| First published 1974 is a book consisting of 16 papers contributed by female authors. Stanford University Press c/o Wiki |
The world needs all the help we can give it … women
and men coming together … but let’s remember to think about others’ points of
views … as well as evaluate our own opinions …
I know this group of blogging friends will always do
what they can for others … and won’t judge …
On International Women’s Day why not explore the
far-ranging impact women have had throughout history and will have in the
future …
All of us make a difference to each other in life … let’s
just make sure it is positive …
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
35 comments:
Hari OM
A suitably celebratory post with just that touch of cautious wisdom which we so require in negotiating life! Happy Women's Day to you, Hilary! YAM xx
I like the way you closed it. We're making a difference no matter what we do so we better take care to make sure it's a quality one. :) Have a wonderful day!
I only had brothers and only had sons, so I always wanted to celebrate International Women's Day without making all those men feel excluded. Not easily done! A man in Australia recently slaughtered his wife and children, and the entire nation turned anti-male again.
Like you said, we definitely need each other.
I would think they would leave that image up permanently. At least they should.
Happy International Women’s Day! Two weeks ago we had a conference at our church - a Methodist church - and we discussed how the women's group got started - by WOMEN!!! They do so much for women and children - missionaries and just local things helping women and children - yes - let's do it for good.
@ Yam - yes ... I didn't want to make it celebratory - but to acknowledge the day - there are so many dreadful things going on against women ... so I'm glad you picked the cautiousness of the idea.
@ Rosey - thank you ... so many women still really struggle every day. As you say though things are slowly improving for women around the world ...
@ Hels - I would hope the men might be at the forefront helping us recognise our equality, and collaborating and supporting us in many ways. Sadly I saw the report of that slaughter - exceedingly unfair for the family and particularly those who lost their lives.
@ Alex - yes we do definitely need each other. The roundels are dated 2020 - so probably they'll be down by next year - but perhaps they'll leave a permanent reminder at the five tube stations. We shall find out!
@ Sandie - well done to your church and its women - so often community and family groups are run for one and all - it's just brilliant to know about.
Cheers to you all - at the moment we all need to support each other - Hilary
As you say without women there would be no men!! I think maybe I have been lucky I feel I have never been taken for granted or abused in any way. I am horrified when I read some stories and just wonder what makes some people do what they do. Meanwhile, yes let us be positive and try to make a difference to those that need help. Cheers Diane
I sometimes prefer the company of women to that of men! I really don't know what that may be significant of....
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Happy international women’s day! (What’s left of it). Here’s to equality, we’re not there yet.
Love that roundel - and hope they become a permanent fixture.
And a big hooray for anyone, anywhere who makes a positive difference. Heroes one and all. Too often un-sung heroes.
I have to confess, Hilary, that roundel is a completely new term to me. Has it been in general currency for a long time? As for International Women's Day, hooray for all the women throughout every stage of my life who have made such a difference. Hooray for all the suffragists and other pioneers who fought so fiercely for women's rights. And shame on all the male-dominated societies where women are not full and equal citizens. It is a terrible injustice and those societies are losing the benefit of fifty percent of the intellectual capacity of their nations. It is hard to believe sometimes that this is the 21st Century.
Lovely post and weekend to be a woman, a human, or forget all labels. Let's be people doing the right thing for each other. Easier said than done, but as always you raise our consciousness and conscience. Thank you.
I hope you make it back to London to see it.
Happy Women's Day, Hilary. I knew that white is a suffragette color, but didn't know about green and purple. I wonder how those colors became associated with suffraggettes.
Love,
Janie
Janie
you can remember the colours easily thus:
Green
White and
Violet
= give women the vote.
Hi Hilary,
Like I said in my post, women have come a long way. But there are many more too who need help and support. The least we can do is to lend them a helping hand.
Wish you a Happy Women's Day!
Thanks for all your comments - I see there are a few questions ... I'll be back to reply ... some committee work this am - so almost certainly tomorrow ... apologies - cheers Hilary
Happy belated International Women’s Day Hilary – your post just hit my emails this morning.
Your post is truly inspirational and happy in nature and I thank you for that. It is a breath of fresh air compared to the vitriol I have noted on the dreaded Twitter – it appears that here in the UK, our right to call ourselves women is being seriously eroded and undermined – all this in the name of woke and PC.
This https://www.spiked-online.com/2020/03/04/how-woman-became-a-dirty-word/ might interest you – it scares me silly.
Kind regards
Anna :o]
Such a good point to listen to others' points of view!
Lovely post and so interesting about the roundels.
I agree with Alex, they should leave that roundel, well all the roundels, up permanently. I often wonder what the Victorian men would have thought of women's involvement in all things today. They would have been horrified. Suffragism was a joke to them, let the little dears have their fun type of attitude.
That's a cool way to mark Women's day - with a new roundel.
You always make a positive contribution to my weekly reading with your unique take and informative posts. Hope you had a great Women's day and have a great week ahead!
Yamini said it perfectly--"A suitably celebratory post with just that touch of cautious wisdom". I was enjoying your balance but not sure how to say that. Thank you both!
@ Diane – I’m sure many women have very happy marriages and understandings … as you say ‘lucky you’ – I’m delighted for you. Some of the stories we hear and see – both in the western world, and in other cultures – are really appalling, so sad. We can all help others and I’m sure we do …
@ Bazza – it’s so good to know … and yes there are people who happily are friends with the opposite sex – and how good it is to see it out and about.
@ Anabel – I know … I wasn’t very quick getting my post out. Equality isn’t there … but we’re on the way – at least for many of us in the western world … I hope more men will champion our cause … and we can lead by example and support for our female compatriots …
@ David – sorry explanation following! Possibly in next post. Yes – you’re great … as are others in our blogging fraternity (I’m sure the opposite of that is not maternity – but that’s my irrelevant thought of the moment).
The suffragettes were pretty amazing and very strong-minded: thank goodness for their passion – today women are very much better off socially and culturally than they were.
Yes – I agree … it’s amazing that men seem to forget that we’re fifty percent of the population … and as you so rightly say so much intellectual capacity is lost – I know sometimes I wonder about the 21st C …
@ Joanne – you’ve said it right … let’s be people and always do the right thing for each other … excellently put. Practise makes perfect doesn’t it … just keep improving ourselves (male and female).
@ Liz – I’ll get back to London sometime … and will definitely look around Victoria Station when I do – as that’s my London station …
@ Janie – I think I’ll do a separate short post on the suffragette colours and roundels … both interesting subjects.
@ Hels – yes –thank you … I like the mnemonic … for the colours … Give Women the Vote … (Green, White and Violet)
@ Pradeep – yes we have come a long way … but there are many, many women who need help and strong support – so we can all share the benefits of male and female traits – which I’m sure are intended to complement each other to make a whole …
@ Anna – good to see you and I’m so pleased the post is inspirational to you … I avoid the negative out there … I might note it – but that’s as far as I go … I don’t discuss it, or pass it on … so thanks for the info – but I won’t look …
@ Elizabeth – so often … we just don’t listen, or are polite enough to consider the other person’s point of view … glad you picked that aspect up. The roundels I’ll clarify a little more in my next post …
@ Jo – I expect the roundel will be there for a year – or at least til I get to London to see it – with the way things are not sure when that will be …
Yes it’d be interesting to see what the men of yore would think of today’s way of looking at life – there were philanthropists who had a more forward way of looking at things. We are creatures of following the crowd … ie the pushy ones/ the mass … but one wonders about their thoughts … yet we all live in times when we could get up and become more of an activist at times …
@ Nila – yes … it was creative of the marketing department at Transport for London to come up with the idea – it’ll stand out wherever they’ve fixed the roundels.
I’m delighted you enjoy reading my posts … and am very chuffed at your comment … ‘unique take and informative posts’ … thank you!
@ Jacqui - thanks … I didn’t want it celebratory … yet we need to be upbeat with where we’re at in our lives … though many still re not. As you say Yamini says it perfectly …
Thanks so much to you all … I’ll elaborate on the subjects of roundels, and suffragette colours in a brief (perhaps!) post next … cheers Hilary
So true, but so sad for the US right now. No woman to run for the highest job in the land. Everyone over here is running scared. Idiots control the government and more idiots are letting them get away with it. It's such a sad state of affairs, and just when we thought it couldn't get any worse.
If I sound as though I've lost hope, I'll be honest, it's waning!.
Well said, Hilary. And yes, we all need to get together to accomplish things.
Lovely roundel. We definitely need each other. Well said in your post.
Hi Hilary, you are so right, the world does need all the help it can get. We should all be on the same side here. You stay well now, travel will wait!
I like the reimagined roundel! I was pleasantly surprise when I was out on the 8th by people wishing women a Happy International Women’s Day.
We accomplish more when we work together.
Let's hear it for women, especially those who've moved us forward.
Did not know the colors. Great info. Great post.
Cheers,
@ Renee – someone will come along … at the right time. We need to keep our own spirits up – regardless of those around us … and keep setting examples for others to follow …
@ Rhonda – exactly … we all need to work together as we all have strengths to help the world, and need others to help us through our weaknesses …
@ Mason – thank you … I hope I can get to see the Victoria station one in person. Yes … we need them, and they need us … otherwise the human world won’t turn anymore!
@ ‘unknown’ – you know me, and we agree on needing all humanity – to work together … good to see you …
@ Holly – yes … I think the roundel would be really interesting to see in person – hope I can get up to London again sometime soon. How brilliant that people realised the 8th was International Women’s Day and were mentioning it … encouraging …
@ Diane – you’re right there … we do accomplish more working and supporting each other …
@ Sandra – thank you … we do help the world go round and forward. The colours are interesting … post coming shortly …
Cheers to you all – gosh the clouds are moving away and we have some sun and it’s warm (relatively) … though I gather more rain and cold for the rest of the week – the vagaries of Spring … take care - Hilary
How wonderful to see that your local public transport is celebrating International Women’s Day! I wish there was a public celebration here too - any tributes have had to be done by women’s organisations.
That's an awesome way to celebrate women of significance. And you are correct, no women, no men.
Have a good weekend Hilary.
Great post! I have been reading and learning about women all month. Amazing to see how far we have come and what restrictions were in place 100 years ago. Thank goodness for all the women and men who fought for women's rights and who still continue to fight today! :)
~Jess
@ Sue - I just wished it had opened a day earlier ... and I'd have been able to see it in person - still when I next go to London I'll make a plan. It's a good way of advertising both for the cause, and of the advertiser itself ... our museums have done things too ...
@ Donna - it is a wonderful way to celebrate women isn't it ... and yes no women ... no men!
@ Jess - I've just ordered the book shown in the next post - to get a better view of the Suffragette movement's history. I agree - thank goodness that we fight for all rights of those who do not have them ... I admire all who activate and have that passion for the underdog.
Thanks to you all - it's been interesting writing this post and the one following up - cheers Hilary
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