BURMAN
CHRONICLE
CONTENT Eitor’s note
03 Jasmine Pickett
Women :
05 Anonymous
Poems:
07 Noreen Moise 09 Hannah Amankwah 11 Anna Sawatzky 13 Takudzwa Nengomasha
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“Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We’re strongest when we cheer each other on.”
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EDITOR”S NOTE This is for the women in my life: To my mom, thank you for supporting me and teaching me that I can be strong on my own. I don’t need to have a man in my life to survive. To my sister, thank you for teaching me that I’m alive and that there are so many things out there that I have yet to learn. To Kelsey Mei, thank you for teaching me that sunshine is not always just a warmth found in nature but is a warmth found in people, too. To Monique, thank you for teaching me that it’s okay to be myself and that I’m allowed to love what I love. To Taku, thank you for teaching me that I am a Queen as well as the Boss :) To Dani, thank you for helping me learn to take care of my relationships with others. To little leah, thank you for believing in me and praying for me when I couldn’t do it for myself. To Leah Burns, thank you for teaching me that beauty can be found in the little things, and so can love. To Amanda, thank you for teaching me how to use a blow torch. And for showing me how strong one woman can be. :) To Sarrah, thank you for being so kind to me, and for saying hello to me every time you see me. It has taught me to do the same to others. To Cali, thanks for being weird with me. It means more than I can write down here. To Deicy, thank you for always listening to me. I could go on and on and never stop. There are so many beautiful women in my life, and I’m thankful to each and every one of them for existing. I don’t know where I’d be without them.
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We Fight On We continue to fight on. Some thought that the right to vote would be the end. The battle would be won. It appears however that 100 years later, that is far from the case. Women have arguably always been held to a higher standard than men, yet are also the ones to make less money for the same job. And yes, the wage gap is still alive and well today. A woman shows too much skin, has too many tattoos or goes out too late at night alone is asking for it. It had not occurred to me that walking alone outside was something that most men don’t fear. Dreading to leave the parked car at night, only to find yourself sprinting inside the doors, in hopes that you will be too fast for whatever is preying on you from outside. The fear of asking for someone to walk with you, because then you will be labeled as needy or scared, in hopes of breaking that female stereotype. Not every girl is a damsel in distress. Let me rephrase that, even if in distress, not all damsels are waiting for a knight in shining armor. In fact, some damsels never wanted the knight at all, but perhaps another damsel, or maybe all she wanted was the noble steed to keep her company. I am not saying that all men are degrading women. It has been programmed into society to the point where women are doing it to each other. After a divorce, women are the ones that are given the short end of the stick, regardless of the money they might receive. Their image to society has then been tarnished, and a recovery from that is very difficult. Women who have been the victim of abuse, assault or even rape become a double victim to a crime they did not commit. There is the choice to stay silent and suffer alone knowing that others could be suffering at the hands of your offender, or there is the option to speak out, which has shown women from past experiences that they will be greeted with shame put upon them and perhaps even social rejection. Where to begin with the looks. The ideal girl should be skinny, but not too skinny, open but not too loud. Beauty has always been in higher demand than brains. Maybe the real reason is that men are scared of what we could do, achieve or accomplish if we had the same advantages as them. I guess we might not ever know while they have us where they want us. The worst part of it all is when we as women are not all on the same team. How can we expect others to fight with us if we are fighting with ourselves? If you do not support ALL women, of ALL races, and ALL sexualities, you support no women. We must continue to fight on.
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I am a woman As well as more than half of this campus Try to keep it together But at times need to Fix the broken Hold space for the hurt Break down and get back up Fight battles only the pillow will know of You are doing your best I am a woman who is also black A visible minority on campus Trying to make it in an environment which doesn’t quite understand us- either the school or the weather “We are sisters, We stand together” I look into their eyes And I know we will make it Just like our mamas raised us to 7
I am a woman who is also black who is in a major where the amount of woman in it can be counted on two hands Theology I have received comments against my study choice They proved it with the bible But the way they said it I doubt they have ever opened the book I was called for a purpose To you reading this... To the theology student I heard ministry can be lonely Jesus calls you friend To the black woman As you learn to love yourself Teach me To you, woman You may try to toughen up The world needs hearts that can feel To any combination of the three God made you unique Now go and find out why
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Dear little me, You need to know that this world is rough But I know that you can get through it because you’re tough You are beautiful and you are unique Remember that you can still be loud and still meek Regardless of what people say Regardless if you have to go another way Regardless if people forget your birthday Regardless of how much you weigh Continue to Shine Continue to be yourself. Sometimes the hardest thing In life is to be yourself Don’t follow the crowd and remember to praise God for your health When you get older, people may over-look you Maybe its because you’re a women, or maybe its because you’re black too You gotta remember that you are a Queen You are Royalty Even though sometimes you may not be seen Just know that you have to keep pushing I know that you can do it because you are me. To all the little girls You are beautiful no matter what anyone says. All body sizes are gorgeous images You don’t have to have a lot of friends to be loved. Learn to love yourself and know that you are adored by your Father above. Boys... Boys..... Boys... You don’t need a prince to be a princess. Your Father is a King and when the time is right, you will be blessed In the meantime, love you for you and your future man will learn to do that too I can’t wait to see who you become. Remember that you are a star Don’t forget to thank God because that is where you got it from.
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History of a Woman
She is nothing and everything, A basket of brushes and stained palettes, Ready but not in use. The artist sits at the window, Her own model in the reflection, As she ponders what to create. She considers her history, Tasting the cold glass of memories with her fingers, As if the ice of melted sand could be etched with her likeness anew. Forever a muse, Colored in all the shades of history as others pleased, Too often an actor in another’s dream. She sighs, and turns, and sees her easel, Not too far but across the room, Like a friend bringing a challenge. The canvas is blank and flat, not empty, but expectant, A welcoming white like winter’s love for spring, As if waiting for flower buds to teach themselves to bloom. And so, like the spring of a new era, She paints herself, In her own colors, For the first time in history. 11
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She is Beauty and So much more‌. She is beauty She is grace She can wear lace And also cut your face She is perfection within the mess, A vision of beauty She is stronger than she knows A light brightest in the dark But she gets sad She gets mad She gets tired She gets lonely The world isn’t kind to her She does not feel safe She must fight to just be heard She has so much responsibility She was forced to become a woman too young Fight for her life, without even fully knowing why She is burdened, scared to live She falls apart She is more than her facial structure Much more than her figure Way more than her skin She is greater than the voice in her head She is beyond perfection, She is not where she needs to be She is will spread her wings And sore.
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powerful women on campus
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“A charming woman doesn’t follow the crowd. She is herself.”
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““Does feminist mean a large unpleasant person who’ll shout at you or someone who believes women are human beings? To me, it’s the latter, so I sign up.”
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want to write for the chronicle? email us at sachronicles@burmanu.ca
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