Bread and roses

International Women's Day is March 8th — tomorrow, at the time of publishing this post.

For me, it is a day to be political: Women hold up half the sky (a Chinese proverb or maybe just propaganda by Mao Zedong, I'm not sure) and we make up 50% of the world's population (according to multiple sources), yet we continue to be sidelined from genuine power and influence in almost every sphere. Sure, women are in leadership positions all over, but we have yet to break serious glass ceilings in the world of politics: talk to Hillary Clinton or Kim Campbell, for example — even Jacinda Arden who did get the top job has left it and I wonder just how challenging it was to be a youngish woman and new mother leading New Zealand; it's not like the socio-cultural infrastructure changed overnight when she was elected back in 2017. And in the world of sport: Talk to Canada's national women's soccer team, for example. And in the world generally: Talk to the women of Iran or an indigenous woman anywhere, for example...The examples are endless. 

Gaining the position of Prime Minister or President, Chair or Captain — or whatever the top title is, is merely the entry point. What follows — the actual experience of introducing, leading and nurturing change — and the scope to do so effectively — is what counts. And that is where, too often, still, the brick walls and glass ceilings appear for the woman leader. For that matter, for any leader who is not a white CIS man. 

While we have made progress (ooo, we can vote! ooo, we can work full-time and also have kids, though the combination may kill us! ooo, we can work in “non-traditional” jobs, though the sexism and misogyny we encounter may, literally, kill us! ooo, we can walk anywhere we want any time we like, but it's safer to stay home — unless the killer is your intimate partner! ooo...it's really just too dismal to contemplate in any detail...), we have not yet come nearly far enough. 

So. 

International Women's Day is, in my calendar, a day of reckoning and recommitting to the fight for basic equality — presuming that equality means not merely the right to vote and to work and to walk anywhere, but to vote for leaders who look like me, to work at meaningful jobs that pay a decent wage, and to walk safely without fear of what (male) danger is lurking in the shadows. 

Bring on *that* day, and maybe I'll settle for International Women's Day to be downgraded to “women’s day” and celebrated with spa specials and cupcakes. Until then, however, you'll find me marching in the streets and singing (off key, it's the best I can manage) the lyrics to Bread and Roses. Women of the World and Rosie Upton sing it much better than I ever could; and they sing the updated version of the original line about "the rising of the women" — see the bolded words below. Read the history of IWD, here. 

Bread and Roses 
Lyrics: James Oppenheim, 1911

Music: Mimi Fariña, 1974

Updated: As we go marching, marching in the beauty of the day, A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray, Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses, For the people here are singing: "Bread and roses! Bread and roses!" As we go marching, marching, we battle too for men, For they are in the struggle, and together we will win. Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes; Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses! As we go marching, marching, unnumbered women dead Go crying through our singing their ancient cry for bread. Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew. Yes, it is bread we fight for, but we fight for roses, too! As we go marching, marching, we are standing proud and tall. The rising of the women means the rising of us all. No more the drudge and idler, ten that toil where one reposes, But a sharing of life's glories: Bread and roses! Bread and roses!

Original: As we go marching, marching In the beauty of the day A million darkened kitchens A thousand mill lofts grey Are touched with all the radiance That a sudden sun discloses For the people hear us singing Bread and roses, bread and roses As we go marching, marching We battle too for men For they are women's children And we mother them again Our lives shall not be sweated From birth until life closes Hearts starve as well as bodies Give us bread, but give us roses As we go marching, marching Unnumbered women dead Go crying through our singing Their ancient call for bread Smart art and love, and beauty Their drudging spirits knew Yes, it is bread we fight for But we fight for roses, too As we go marching, marching We bring the greater days The rising of the women Means the rising of the race No more the drudge and idler Ten that toil where one reposes But the sharing of life's glories Bread and roses, bread and roses Our lives shall not be sweated From birth until life closes Hearts starve as well as bodies Bread and roses, bread and roses!

Bread and roses, too -- yes; and also, art. Yes to art and roses and bread, too. 

..............................................................................................................

To receive my weekly blogpost in your inbox, email fiveyearsawriter at gmail dot com. Simply put SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. 

Land acknowledgement: I respectfully recognize that I live on the original lands of Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.