Preserving Womanhood
Eleanor Roosevelt profile.myspace.com Dr. Martin Luther King www.indamixworldwide.com
Everyone
has a desire to change the world: to mold life as we know it into something
better. Throughout our lifetimes, we strive to make the world a happier and a
more improved version of that which we were born into. We make attempts to smooth out the road
that our children and grandchildren will travel in the years to come. However,
these transformations do not take place naturally; the power to modify the planet
that we inhabit lies within each and every one of us. For some the potential to
lead is a repressed trait, but for others it is necessary action, or, in
extreme cases, an obligation. Those best at leadership positions often feel as
though their cause or Òpersonal visionÓ[1]
is essential to their very existence. Thus, in order to meet their own
standards, those gifted at leadership allow Òheart and headÑfeeling and
thoughtÓ[2]
to meet. Martin Luther King, Mohandas Gandhi, and Eleanor Roosevelt were such
people; they revolutionized the planet we currently occupy, and altered the
lives of people all around the globe. They, in some cases, put their lives on
the line to enhance the lives of others. Great leaders, such as these, may
devote their entire lives to a particular cause, and may not even see a change
within their lifetime. In the end, however, if your efforts have touched the
life of even a single human being your cause was worth while, and your fight
has been a success.
The possibilities for leadership are infinite, for we all fantasize about our ideal world. Some of us want peace, others equality, or freedom of religion; every human being envisions a different utopia. Having considered this, I began to wonder where I fit into the equation; and what my mark would be on this messy world. What noble cause is worth dying for? My slightly feminist views made it clear to me that I wanted to help preserve womanhood; I wanted to conserve the values and dignity of women collectively. Woman by woman I would reach out to those in need, or those that have been mistreated. I would provide assistance to women who have been abused (sexually, verbally, or emotionally), need testing (pregnancy or STD), have run away, or, need counseling and advice. My vision would provide a plethora of womanly services. In some cases, an emergency situation may arise, but, most often, women just need someone to listen to them. They yearn for someone who will Òopen [their] heart to truly hearÓ[3] them. I could create an organization of women guiding women. As did the many leaders who came before me, I will pursue my passion.
There have been many bold women throughout history who both inspired, and acted as role models in the fight for womenÕs equality. These women were present and fought during suffrage, the womanÕs rights movement, and numerous other historical events concerning women and their liberties. They were the voice of women all over the world. They were sympathetic and understanding of fellow females on important issues such as, rape, adoption, abortion, drug abuse, marital problems, and other common female worries.
Ljiljana Raicevic www.amnestyusa.org Susan B. Anthony www.history.rochester.edu
For
example, Eleanor Roosevelt Òpromoted womenÕs equality,Ó[4]
and fought year after year to gain proper treatment for women in the workplace,
fighting for both fair wages and decent hours. She was a very influential
figure during the mid-nineteen hundreds and acted as a key player in supporting
womenÕs inclusion in American society. Another notable woman responsible for
fueling my fire, and sparking my interest in women and female equality was
Susan B. Anthony. She was an American civil rights leader and co-founder of the
National WomenÕs Suffrage Association.
Furthermore, Anthony participated in the Òtemperance movementÓ[5]
which dealt with Òthe abuses of women and childrenÓ[6]
from alcoholic husbands. Anthony stood up for what she and many other women all
around the country believed in order to defend 
womanhood.
Also, and more recently, Ljiljana Raicevic has made her mark by creating the
first womenÕs shelter in Montenegro. Her establishment serves as an institution
for Òvictims of family violence and human trafficking,Ó[7]
and contains a variety of services available to women. These ladies and their
accomplishments have shed new light on the abilities of women as a collective unit.
They are the ones responsible for showing women how to organize into groups to
fight for what they believe in, and the equality they deserve in this world. These
are the women who have shaped my feminist mind.
Safe House Symbol www.wca-nm.org
In
order to conserve womanhood, promote womenÕs rights, and Òease the painÓ [8]so
that these women do not Òbecome comfortably numb,Ó[9]
I intend to establish my own safe house in Austin, Texas. The organization
would be controlled and operated by various men and women from the community
(mostly volunteers), and myself. While the overall Ògoal is to transform,Ó[10]
the immediate goal will be to erect and organize a single safe house within a
single year. The first step in this process is to find a location for the home;
it must be secure, gated, and preferably near the outskirts of town on a few
acres of land. Then, we must seek out an investor (or investors): someone capable
and sympathetic towards the goals of the organization who feels strongly about
the project. Next, several individuals must be interviewed and hired in order
to properly fill each position available within the house. Further, volunteers must
be recruited to aid in running the house. Among those recruited are chefs to
prepare the meals, lawyers to provide legal assistance, counselors to tend to
the emotional needs of the women and children, doctors and nurses, security
guards, child care specialists, and educational specialists to encourage and
support women. Once these positions were filled, I
would
work day and night to transform the building I had selected into a comforting
home, installing a kitchen, game room, living/meeting rooms, restrooms,
individual bedrooms, and a clinic. Having accomplished these tasks I would be
ready to open my doors to the public in nearly one year, thus making my
establishment ready to provide assistance to women and children in need.
The next goal of the organization would be to establish awareness throughout the Austin community by communicating with the public about our institution, and its services. In order to achieve this task, and promote the cause efficiently, nearly two thousand dollars must be raised and evenly distributed among various advertising opportunities. The emergency help phone number would need to appear at educational facilities around the city, on public transportation, and inside hospitals or clinics in the area. Also, flyers would need to be printed and distributed in these locations as well. In addition, I would make it a personal goal to visit at least one location (whether it be a school, hospital, or other institution) everyday. During these visits, I would speak with the locationÕs representative, to introduce our program to as many facilities as possible. As a result, participating locations would have the ability to recommend our services to those they believe may benefit. By advertising and familiarizing the public with our services a number of women should benefit. In the first year, I hope to house and reach out to nearly one hundred women, and assist or advise at least another one to two hundred. If achieved, this goal will reduce the number of women abused, in addition to educating a rather large portion of women on how to avoid repeating these situations while pursuing a normal life.
The long term goal of the organization would be to create a chain of safe houses in various major cities throughout the United States. In a three-year period we hope to erect at least three new safe houses; in Dallas, Houston, and New Orleans. Once the organization is settled into the Austin location, I will set out to find sites for the new safe houses in the specified cities. Once that task is completed, volunteer groups will be sent to convert the dwellings into proper safe homes equipped with exactly the same services as the Austin base. Like the original safe house in Austin, these homes will operate and depend solely on silent investors and donations. We have estimated that after one year has passed, the three new homes will have successfully improved the lives of over four hundred women, and will aid another four hundred annually. Once the three new locations have opened and proven successful I will start on another three, followed by another, until a chain of safe houses has erupted all over the nation.
Another stretch goal (for me personally) is to speak out to an even greater number of women all around the world through writing. Writing, the act of tracing words onto the surface of some material, is not only therapeutic, but the most sensible way to get underneath the surface. For most writing serves many functions; it can be an escape, a source of inspiration and information, or, a form of therapy. Writing helps reassure us that we are not alone in this vast world; and that our thoughts and feelings are normal. I have been moved by the work of women writers numerous times in my life, and would be delighted to return the favor. Therefore, I plan to follow in the footsteps of my role models Eleanor Roosevelt, Susan B. Anthony, and all of the other great feminist writers who came before me, by improving the world with my words. I want to provide women with literature they can relate to on every level; literature that will make them feel confident and invincible. Once completed, I would distribute my ÒwomanÕs bibleÓ to every women living in the homes, and encourage them to read it and pass it along. I want to share my words with women everywhere; I want to make those I admire, along with women all over the globe, proud.
Rosie the Riveter trucks.about.com
The
utopia that exists in each of our minds is not as distant as it seems. Every
being on the planet is capable of changing the world. The women who came before
were fearless, and as a result, the lives of women all around the world have
been revived. If I follow in the footsteps of these amazing leaders, I too can
bring joy into the lives of others. The house would grant all participating
women the opportunity to feel whole and to feel understood. It guarantees women
a safety zone; it is a place where they are always welcome, and that will give
them the strength to pull through the hard times. The house will be named
RosieÕs Right House, after the cultural icon Rosie the Riveter, who is
representative of the everlasting power of womanhood. When in doubt they need only remember Rosie the
Riveter, to be reminded that no matter what, Òwe can do it.Ó [11]
Old/New Word Count :
1539 Ð 52 (quotes) = 1487 + 361 (new words)