“Women’s rights are human rights”—Hillary Clinton
Those who know me and Larry will not be surprised that we initiated a Women’s March on Semester at Sea (SAS)! At the event, I shared from a prepared reflection.
I introduced myself and welcomed everyone. I remarked on the large turnout, especially given that lots of other stuff is always happening on the ship. I noted the fantastic energy in the room. Here’s what I’d written.
I am a fierce and joyful feminist. And, just to clarify, those are not mutually exclusive terms—actually, they’re quite complementary. First, I want to be sure to give credit to my feminist partner of 35 years, Dr. Larry Owens, who had the idea for this March on the ship. He and I—along with other friends—went to the Women’s March in Washington, DC in January 2017, in response to the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The March was a local, national, and global phenomenon. For us, personally—and many, many others—it was a powerful experience of Solidarity.
Since that March, there have been other events. The Women’s March and its offshoots is attributed with being a significant factor in the U.S. 2018 mid-term elections, which saw a Wave of Women elected.
When we heard that the hashtag for the 2019 March was #Women’sWave, we thought: This has to happen on the SAS ship! SAS has sure got the Waves! AND, the women (and some great guys!)
We talked with SAS administrative staff, including Megan Arzbaecher, SAS’s exuberant social media guru, about it. We shared a big, fun goal to get the SAS photo on Rachel Maddow! (This hugely popular news-show in the U.S. covers women’s issues and the Women’s March, including photos depicting the variety of Women’s Marches.)
The March was SAS-approved and Megan was ready to film it for Rachel and SAS Her-story. We collaborated with Anis Martinez, the student leader of the SAS Women’s Gathering Club. She literally took up the Women’s Wave banner! It’s been wonderful working with her to pull this event together in a few days!
So, What is the Women’s Wave about? Like any social movement, it’s complex and can have multiple meanings. For OUR Wave, I suggest—as part of our SAS “World as Classroom”—that we see our March as Standing in Solidarity with Women’s groups (and our allies), large and small; local and global.
Today, We March in Solidarity with all who care about social justice and equality. We March Toward achieving economic gender equality across the globe. We March Toward addressing violence again women, including human trafficking, sexual assault and harassment, and the date rape culture so prevalent on college campuses. We March Toward achieving women and girls being equitably represented in positions of power, including governments. We March Toward protecting women’s rights to bodily autonomy and reproductive choice. We March Toward proactively addressing sexism, misogyny, toxic masculinity, and toxic femininity.
I invite you to Catch the Wave! Let’s make today’s March be a new or re-newed commitment to gender equality. Think about how you want to keep the Wave going. Learn more about women’s issues. In the countries we’re visiting: Talk with people, read, and observe to learn about women’s status and rights. Talk with each other about your personal experiences as a woman in our world.
From microaggressions, such as having our voices marginalized or silenced, to large-scale violence, sharing our stories is powerful. The #MeToo (and #WeToo) Movement is gaining power because women are sharing our stories and realizing we aren’t alone.
So, as we March to the Bathing Woman Statue on Deck 7 for our photo, I invite you to talk with one another about What this March means to you and one thing you can do to Catch the Wave and keep it going?
For example, we’ve been learning so much about Mother Ocean and climate change! Karina Holden [Interport Lecturer, “Blue” documentary producer and director] told some of us about a political advocacy group ”Climate Change is Man-Made! We need a Feminist Solution!” Once I can get on the Internet again (!), I’m going to connect my newfound love of Mother Ocean with my long-standing feminism, and check out joining that group!*
So, how will YOU Catch the Wave?
Chant: What’s the Wave? Women’s Wave! What’s the Wave? Women’s Wave! What’s the Wave?...
______________________________
[*Update: With being reunited with my Beloved Google, I learned that this movement is headed by Mary Robinson, whom I admire greatly! She spoke at the Global Conference on Social Work, Social Development, & Education, which Larry and I participated in this past summer in Dublin, Ireland. She is former president of Ireland, former UN High Commissioner, and one of The Elders, an independent Global Group of leaders dedicated to justice, peace, and human rights!]
