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Celebrating Women's Day 2021 March 8 is International Women’s Day – this year and every year. It was established to promote equity for women in all aspects of life. As our observance of Women’s Day, the Gwangju News has asked three of our magazine’s contributors to write about their impressions of Women’s Day and what it represents. Here we present their thoughts. — Ed.
When Sleeping Women Wake, Mountains Will Move
I FEATURE
have to admit, writing this now feels incredibly affecting. As a South African woman, whenever I think of Women’s Day, I think of all the women who stood their ground to fight for the rights of South Africans long before I joined this world. The legacy symbolizing the incredible courage and strength embodied by the 20,000 women who led the Women’s March of August 9, 1956, is nothing short of tremendous.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
March 2021
It is similarly difficult writing these words while reckoning with what it means to be a person who identifies as a “Black/other/woman” in South Africa. Living in Korea right now, I cannot begin to disregard the privilege my body moves in every day. In being able to dress how I want, be who I want, love who and how I want in the most incredible enriching ways. For all the strides that have been taken by women for the betterment of South Africa, there is much work that still needs to be done in society for women to fully be in the simple act of existing – whole, powerful, magnificent and brilliant in whatever ways we want. I cannot wait for that day to rise.
Photo by Action Vance, Unsplash
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I also often think of the phenomenal Toni Morrison who wrote in her 1987 novel Beloved: “She is a friend of my mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she gather them and give them back to me in all the right order. It’s good, you know, when you got a woman who is a friend of your mind.”
By Boipelo Seswane Though I found her words much later in life, I cannot underplay how much the structure of sisterhood – women doing phenomenal things together – would come to influence my life. For as long as I can remember, my days have always been molded by women: my mother, aunts, sisters (blood and chosen), and teachers – women who have left tiny bits of their own experiences, selves, and wisdom in my sphere. In this way, familial and matriarchal connections have always played a strong role in my life, with women truly forming my foundation – and where I am intentional in my living. I am in awe of the women who have been friends of my mind. My anchor throughout this life game has been a single mother of six who poured every part of herself possible into giving us everything we needed, and any extra bits she could. My mother set the stones for the foundations of everything that sustained me and the way that I see the world. She was a woman who clarified how important it is to always pick yourself – woman – above all else, and in turn, she taught me what it means to be the kind of woman who holds space for others. Women who build entire villages and cherish all the rising, done together, celebrating and investing in each other. This is my tiny ode of thanks to the women who have come before and set the paths ablaze for us and our being.
2/26/2021 12:14:12 PM
