ninja suits

Because women’s work is never done and is underpaid or unpaid or boring or repetitious and we’re the first to get fired and what we look like is more important than what we do and if we get raped it’s our fault and if we get beaten we must have provoked it and if we raise our voices we’re nagging bitches and if we enjoy sex we’re nymphos and if we don’t we’re frigid and if we love women it’s because we can’t get a “real” man and if we ask our doctor too many questions we’re neurotic and/or pushy and if we expect childcare we’re selfish and if we stand up for our rights we’re aggressive and “unfeminine” and if we don’t we’re typical weak females and if we want to get married we’re out to trap a man and if we don’t we’re unnatural and because we still can’t get an adequate safe contraceptive but men can walk on the moon and if we can’t cope or don’t want a pregnancy we’re made to feel guilty about abortion and…for lots of other reasons we are part of the women’s liberation movement. ~Author unknown, quoted in The Torch, 14 September 1987

Happy happy to my sisters. You know who you are.

Those of you getting all serious about little things like your right to personal autonomy.
Those of you who don’t know of any or how to contact female journalists — BTW a happy IWD to Heather and Antonia *waves*.
Those of you who don your BnR ninja suits and take off to all corners to harass hapless male bloggers who are, ya know, just trying to make use of their poli sci textbooks.
Those of you fighting against violence, rallying for peace, health care the environment.
Those of you living the issues that some think are hypothetical debate topics.
Those of you who knew about, contributed to and spoke of organizations like RAWA before they were used as a partisan cause de celebre.
Those of you who have worked tirelessly on these and many other issues. Who continue to march and write and advocate and support and provide and raise families and care for partners and parents and work (for lower wages) and get slammed repeatedly by those who couldn’t take on half your efforts.

You inspire me with your words, humble me with your abilities, encourage me with your friendship and amaze me with your strength.

I raise a toast to you and all the other women struggling to be heard, seen, appreciated and validated today.

The words of another inspiring woman;