National Women's Hall of Fame

I was googling for some images to put into the slideshow I just installed (see right), and ran into the website for the National Women's Hall of Fame.

Currently the Hall has inducted 226 women into its prestigious ranks. These giants among herstory include such familiar names as first lady, Abigail Adams, and lesser knowns like industrial engineer, Lillian Gilbreth.

According to the website:

"The women and men of Seneca Falls created the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1969, believing that the contributions of American women deserved a permanent home. In 1979, after a major fundraising drive, the Hall purchased an historic bank building in the heart of the Seneca Falls Historic District, renovating it to house the Hall's permanent exhibit, artifacts of historical interest, and offices."

I definitely encourage you to check out this wonderful resource of women's history. Click here to surf a complete list of the Women of the Hall.

Related Links

National Women's Hall of Fame online
http://www.greatwomen.org/home.php

Women of the Hall
http://www.greatwomen.org/women.php?action=viewAll

Honor A Woman You Know
https://www.greatwomen.org/book_liv_leg2.php

Women Warriors from Antiquity to the Modern Era

Another book I'm adding to my reading list: Encyclopedia of Amazons: Women Warriors from Antiquity to the Modern Era. Over 1,000 entries about women who directly engaged in combat. Whether to reduce confusion or simply narrow her field of research, author Jessica Amanda Salmonson "excludes from the encyclopedia women who were spies, assassins, famous murderesses or criminals, orators, or hunters" (see Libray Journal review below).

And if it turns out to be too scholarly for reading? I'm still buying it. From all accounts, it sounds like it would make a kick ass reference book. Also, I just checked out Amazon, and found it used ("very good") for six bucks and shipping (so about ten dollars total?). Not bad at all.

Went to Barnes & Noble last night to go book shopping and everything I looked at in the Women's Studies section was around thirty dollars. Hm. Yea. I'll have to pass for now.

Big Thanks to Cyndi for loaning me her copy of 'A Return to Modesty.' I will find time to read it.




Encyclopedia of Amazons: Women Warriors from Antiquity to the Modern Era

by Jessica Amanda Salmonson






"Usually attributed to aggressive, bold and powerful women, the Amazon archetype is an uncomfortable one in our society. Uncomfortable because it seems so at odds with the image of women as mother or nurturer. That being the case, this book ought to make some heads spin. This is the largest single compilation of women warriors in existence–a roll call of over 1,000 women, from warrior priestesses of thousands of years agoto modern guerilla fighters (although the author favors swordswomen to gunfighters). Some of these women fought for a cause they believed in, some for powerand some for the thrill of the battle. One thing is clear–those who try to pin down women's 'true' nature risk losing a limb in the process."


-Jill Steinberg, WomanSource Catalog & Review

"While the words 'amazon' and 'women warriors' conjure up images of 1950s B-movies, this is an excellent piece of scholarly detective work. Salmonson defines the term 'amazon' through Greek mythology and includes only those women who actually participate in direct combat. She excludes from the encyclopedia women who were spies, assassins, famous murderesses or criminals, orators, or hunters. Salmonson provides biographical information on female figures from all time periods, including antiquity, the Middle Ages, and World War II, and from many different parts of the world, including Japan, Asia, Africa, Western Europe, and the United States. Included are real individuals, mythological and fictional characters, goddesses, and archetypes. Based upon primary and secondary works listed in the bibliography, this volume offers information not found in other reference sources..."
- Library Journal




Reviews courtesy of Barnes & Noble.com

Girl Put Your Records On

This song has been stuck in my head all day, so I'm sharing the good vibes. Enjoy! :-)


Girl Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae

Biography

Neo-soul songstress Corinne Bailey Rae was born in Leeds, England, in 1979 to a British mother and West Indian father. Displaying an interest in music from an early age, Rae studied classical violin until she acquired an electric guitar in her early teens. Inspired by such '90s alt-rock icons as L7, Veruca Salt, and others, Rae formed her first band, the all-female indie rock outfit Helen. Despite developing a strong local following, the band ultimately folded and Rae enrolled at Leeds University to study English literature. While at school, a job at a jazz club inspired her more soul-oriented leanings and she began writing songs. Eventually, she scored a record deal with EMI and released her self-titled debut solo album in 2006. A year later both an expanded edition of the album with a bonus disc and the CD/DVD set Live in London & NY appeared. ~ Matt Collar, All Music Guide

Video courtesy YouTube.com
Biography from Pandora Radio.com

Great Films for Women

Rediscovered the 'Great Films..." list on page 26 of Fight Like a Girl, and just had to post about it. Of course, I have to get up at 5am for work tomorrow, but hell, I'm already up this late - what's another hour or two (or three)?

Reading down, I realized I've been intending to see about ten, hadn't heard of most and actually finished seven. Kind of embarassing considering how much of a movie buff I pride myself on being. (To be fair though, I tend to specialize in all things black and white. Ask my roommates. I've been told they know I'm home by the color of the movie on the TV screen.)

Here are my thoughts on the few that I've seen. For the rest of the list, go out and buy your own copy of Fight Like a Girl (I'm a poor college student. I don't need to get sued for copyright infringement).

Eat, Drink, Man, Woman (1994) A senior chef lives with his three grown daughters; the middle one finds her future plans affected by unexpected events and the life changes of the other household members.

My Thoughts: First saw this at the urging of my favorite drawing professor. His approximate words were, "I want you guys to draw like this guy cooks in the first five minutes of this film." Well, I started out with five minutes and ended up watching the whole thing.

Girl Interrupted (1999) Based on writer Susanna Kaysen's account of her 18-month stay at a mental hospital in the 1960s.

My Thoughts: It's been a while since I saw this one, so I'd have to view it again before giving an opinion.

Iron Jawed Angels (2004) young activists take the women's suffrage movement by storm, putting their lives at risk to help American women win the right to vote.

My Thoughts: Slight historical costume inaccuracies aside, I can't say enough good things about this film. Really enjoyed the juxtaposition of modern music and period images at the outset. Just recently reviewed it for class and I want to buy it. Don't think that's enough of a recommendation? What is it about 'poor college student' that you don't understand?

A League of Their Own (1992) Two sisters join the first female professional baseball league and struggle to help it succeed amidst their own growing rivalry.

My Thoughts: I've heard this movie criticized for a sentimental feel and poor casting, but don't you listen to any of it. Find a copy. Watch it. If you're strapped for cash, borrow it from your library.

Million Dollar Baby (2004) A hardened trainer/manager works with a determined woman in her attempt to establish herself as a boxer.

My Thoughts: Watched it once. I'd watch it again.

Shakespeare in Love (1998) A young Shakespeare, out of ideas and short of cash, meets his ideal woman and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays.

My Thoughts: Thumbs up. Also, if you like the concept of the woman-playing-a-man-playing-a-woman's-part, and have a yen for Shakespeare-related stories, you might also like the novel, My Father Had A Daughter: Judith Shakespeare's Tale. Warning: the book starts out slow, and is not for the "serious" Shakespearean. I would easily recommend it for younger readers (first read this in high school).

Thelma and Louise (1991) An Arkansas waitress and a housewife shoot a rapist and take off in a '66 Thunderbird.

My Thoughts: Sure, why not?

Okay, I realize the reviews get a bit short at points. However, my aim is to give options, not to tell you which ones to pick. Also, I get cranky when I don't get to bed on time. So with that, I say "Good Morning!"

Plot and Art courtesy of IMDB.com

On My Reading List

Tonight I'm just sharing a few titles from my personal Reading List. Honestly though, I don't think I'll ever get around to even starting any one of these books. But maybe one of you can let me know how these turn out? ;-) Anyway, thanks to my friend Cyndi for recommending 'A Return...' After checking out some reviews, I just might borrow your copy sometime soon - after you finish it first of course.

(Note: The following Synopses and Reviews courtesy of BarnesandNoble.com)

An intimate and revealing portrait of America's most memorable first daughter Alice Roosevelt Longworth lived her entire life on the political stage and in the public eye, earning her the nickname "the other Washington monument."

"Princess Alice" was a tempestuous teenager. Smoking, gambling, and dressing flamboyantly, she flouted social conventions and opened the door for other women to do the same. Her husband was Speaker of the House Nicholas Longworth but-as Cordery documents for the first time-she had a child with her lover, Senator William Borah of Idaho. Alice's political acumen was widely respected in Washington. She was a sharp-tongued critic of her cousin FDR's New Deal programs, and meetings in her drawing room helped to change the course of history, from undermining the League of Nations to boosting Nixon. During the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, her legendary salons were still the center of political ferment.

A Thousand Splendid Suns Hosseini's depiction of Mariam and Laila's plight would seem cartoonishly crude if it were not, by all accounts, a sadly accurate version of what many Afghan women have experienced. The romantic twists and fairy-tale turns are not so accurate. But, as in The Kite Runner, they are precisely what make the novel such a stirring read. Childhood promises are sacred; true love never dies; justice will be done; sisterhood is powerful. It's unrealistic, and almost impossible to resist.

A Return to Modesty is a deeply personal account as well as a fascinating intellectual exploration. From seventeenth-century manners guides to Antonio Canova's sculpture, Venus Italico, to Frank Loesser's 1948 tune, "Baby, It's Cold Outside," A Return to Modesty unfolds like a detective's search for a lost idea as Shalit uncovers opinions about this lost virtue's importance, from Balzac to Simone de Beauvoir, that have not been aired for decades. Then she knocks down the accompanying myths one by one. ...And modesty is not prudery, but a way to preserve a sense of the erotic in our lives. With humor and piercing insight, Shalit invites us to look beyond the blush and consider the new power to be found in an old ideal.

Norah Vincent
[We] are likely to take one look at this title, snarl and move on to Elizabeth Wurtzel's more rage-filled Bitch, Katie Roiphe's more simpatico Last Night in Paradise or Naomi Wolf's hip Promiscuities. But, although the terminology in these latter books might suit us better superficially, their arguments, if they can be said to have arguments at all, will do nothing for us in the long run. We'll feel patted on the back for being bad girls, but the pain and loneliness we feel as young women won't have been assuaged in the least. Now, that's not to say that Wendy Shalit's book is the nostrum for what ails us either. It isn't. But it is the first book of its kind the first argument by a third-waver to blaze down the center of the postfeminist battleground between left and right.

Sing It!

In keeping with last weekend's patriotic holiday, I'd like to share some anthems. But instead of singing about the Stars and Stripes, these motivating melodies are all about the Power of Women - Women's Anthems!

What all these songs have in common is a sense of positivity and inner strength that I think we women sometimes struggle to attain. If you're already familiar with any or all of these tracks, then I hope this gives you a chance to revisit other music that inspires you to greatness.

I'll start off with Superchick's Anthem. Given the title, it seems like an obvious choice. It's also my absolute favorite for anytime I need to jumpstart my energy levels.

Favorite Lines:

"We don't have time for your games/ We have our own goals to score/ There are trophies to win/ Instead of being one of yours"

"Here's to anyone who never quit when things got hard/ You'll never let them say/ You'll never get that far"

The second song I want to share is Helen Reddy's I Am Woman. Putting this here is all about history - or if you prefer, herstory. This song has a serious place in the Women's Movement. Betty Friedan tells a wonderful story about this song as writes about a NOW convention she addressed in Washington in the winter of 1973:

"[A] dramatic celebration of our herstory closed with the song 'I Am Woman'; suddenly women got out of their seats and started dancing about the hotel ballroom, joining hands in a circle that got larger and larger until maybe a thousand of us were dancing and singing... It was a spontaneous, beautiful expression of the exhilaration we all felt in those years, women really moving as women." (1)

Favorite Lines:

"You can bend but never break me/'Cause it only serves to make me/More determined to achieve my final goal...'Cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul"

Next we've got India Arie's Beautiful Flower. I love the idea of Beauty that comes from inner strength rather than outer appearances. This is the kind of song that I could end a day with: mellow sounds with deeply sincere lyrics. Unfortunately I couldn't get a video with the whole song (most of the videos I found had embedding disabled). But I think you can still get a good feel for the song with this clip.

Favorite Lines:

"This is a song for every girl who's ever been through something she couldn't make it through"

"You are powerful like a fire/You will heal the world with your mind"

"The next time the radio tells you to shake your moneymaker/Shake your head and tell them you're a leader"

I tried to get a few different music styles in here, but feel free to comment with your own personal anthem.

Related Links:

Superchick on MySpace

Helen Reddy Official Website

India Arie Official Website

References:

1. Betty Friedan, "It Changed My Life" (1976), pp. 257

Videos courtesy of YouTube.com