Reflections and Quotes on International Women's Day 2025

 

"Woman are like tea bags.  You never know how strong they are until you put them in hot water."

A quote often attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt without an original source in her writings, as in The Wit and Wisdom of Eleanor Roosevelt (1996), p. 199. But archivists have not been able to find the quote in any of her writings,

"One is not born a woman, one becomes one."

- Simon de Beauvoir (1908-1986), French philosopher, writer and feminist - From The Second Sex [1949]

Despite the misogyny of Donald Trump, JD Vance and the Taliban, there have been some recent advances for women.  I am going to focus first on two major advances. 

* Mexico elected it first female president, Claudia Sheinbaum, 61.  Sheinbaum on October 1, 2024.  She has had to face the bullying of Donald Trump and deal with his disastrous tariffs.

Claudia Sheinbaum

  * On January 6, 2025, Pope Francis appointed the first woman to head a major Vatican office.  Sister Simona Brambilla, an Italian nun, was named was named to lead the Vatican office that oversees religious orders for both men and women, including one quarter of the world's priests.

Sister Simona

Woman by John Lennon

Woman, I can hardly express

My mixed emotions at my thoughtlessness

After all, I'm forever in your debt

And woman, I will try to express

Mu inner feelings and thankfulness

For showing me the meaning of success

- From the song Woman, lyrics by John Lennon (1940-1980)

- Joanne