It’s International Women’s Day this weekend.
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Of all the calendar squares that have a date set aside to acknowledge something — and there are a lot, sometimes even multiple causes on one day — I get excited for this one each year.
Perhaps, because I’m a woman.
Perhaps, because I’m proud to be one.
Perhaps, because it gives me another chance to send greetings to my mum and sister and girlfriends other than just for their birthdays, Easter and Christmas.
It got me thinking about the range of personas we take on.
This morning I painted my nails, dressed in a skirt and frilly top, and sprayed myself with my favourite perfume. Because I’m feminine.
Then I hung the washing out that had been cycling while I was getting ready. Because I run a household.
I went to work, because I’m a provider.
I finished at three o’clock for the school run, because I’m a parent, and the only one of my kids’ two who lives in this town, so it’s gotta be me.
Later, I sat down in front of my home computer to work a little more to make up my full-time hours, because I’m a juggler.
When I finished, I put dinner on, because I’m a cook.
While it was cooking, I did some squats and lifted some hand weights in front of my stove, because I’m a multi-tasker and my day was running out.
After dinner, my learner driver and I headed out to clock up more of his required “night hours”, because I’m a teacher.
After my shower, I put on a “flannie”, because it was comfy and I’m a human who likes comfort, not because I’m a “tomboy”.
Then, I settled in to do some study, because I’m a student.
That’s just a few hats we wear each day off the top of my head — pun fully intended — but in among the layers there are many others.
On the weekend, I joined in with local motorcycling group GV Social Riders for its group ride honouring International Women’s Day (see this Friday’s News for more on that).
When I interviewed some of the women riders, I asked who their biggest female inspiration was and why.
It got me thinking about what response I’d give to that question if I were asked.
For me, it’s not a famous person, a sportsperson, an artist, whose lives we look at from the outside.
It’s the women around me, who I know intimately.
My mum, my sister, my friends, my nieces.
I’m not just a spectator here.
I’m in their lives, watching them slay it.
They’re all doers.
They work hard, they love hard and they don’t stall long on the tough stuff, they get on with things.
Every day, they inspire me — more than someone crying fake tears on a screen, or a soulful voice coming through the radio speakers, or a gold medallist, or the person who painted the picture hanging on my wall.
And if it’s true what they say, you are the sum of the five closest people you surround yourself with, then I would be thrilled to be made up of that substance.
If International Women’s Day doesn’t force me to consider what it means to be a woman, my little friend who visits once a month still celebrates with me.
She’s not the best party guest, but somehow still an important reminder that while I don’t need her company anymore, she was the reason I was able to grow and carry humans within my body and birth life — three amazing males — into this world.
We can do many things men can do, short of unimportant stuff like standing up to pee.
I mean, we could still do that if we wanted to, but considering another hat I wear in my house is the primary cleaner’s, I’ll stick to sitting down when I go there.
I’m not illustrating with words all the things women can, and do, do, to convince anyone how wonderful we are; it should be seen in real life every single day.
We are by no means the weaker sex, or any less important, as some may still believe.
We are soft and strong, patient and driven, responsible and fun.
We are fiercely capable, yet endlessly graceful.
If I could choose to be anything in the world, it would be a woman in Australia.
And I just so happen to be lucky enough to be exactly that.
Happy International Women’s Day for this Sunday.