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When you walk into the voting stations this November, remember that eighty eight years ago, women won the right to vote. The Wyoming Territory gave women the full right to vote in 1869, but it took fifty-one years to enact the National Suffrage for Women Act in 1920. During our last meeting, we viewed a scene from Iron Jawed Angels, which told the story of Alice Paul, a young militant leader that spearheaded this great achievement that we now enjoy and perhaps, take for granted. Last week, I was explaining to my ninety-one year old mother, who is intensely interested in politics, that she was three years old when women finally could vote. She replied with tremendous astonishment, "Is that right?! I thought we always had the right to vote!"
Virtually all Colonial women wanted to marry, but, when they did, they were automatically stripped of their legal rights. A Colonial wife's possessions became her husband's, and she was unable to do business on her own; sue; borrow money; or sign contracts. She was a possession!
You might ask, what does all of this have to do with Women's Journey and the theme of our last meeting ... "What does it mean to be honest?" Sitting in the circle is an invitation to be 'honest' about our lives. We must be honest enough to realize that politically, we are much more liberated than our Colonial sisters, but personally, we all struggle with shame, invisibility, emotional confusion about love and relationships, and a host of other inner conflicts that directly affect our peace. You may own property and/or have a college degree, but be unable to tell someone they're hurting you or be able to leave an abusive relationship. The new liberation movement is in the heart and souls of every woman. That is where the 'new frontier' of the women's movement is found and, that is why Women's Journey, Inc., exists ... for YOU!
Our next scheduled meeting is Thursday, September 25th from 7:00 - 9:00pm
Stage Nine - Creating Healthy Boundaries
"I will create mature relationships by expressing my personal needs, because love without boundaries is emotionally paralyzing!"
Theme: Relationships are partnerships.
*Please visit www.womensjourney.org for further information or directions
Most of us enter a relationship wanting a partnership, but are too timid to negotiate what that means. The word 'partnership' implies an equal, cooperative union that two people share in order to bring about a greater good for each one of them. The word 'partnership' is rarely used in the heterosexual community to describe marriage. In the gay community, 'partnership' is used to describe their union.
The true meaning of 'partnership' is not how its used, but whether it is 'LIVED.' Living a 'partnership' means that we are open to the experience of talking, sharing responsibilities, resolving conflict ... no matter how uncomfortable it gets. It seems to me that a 'partnership' can only be created on the outside, if we are connected to each other on the inside ... that is what love does!
Let's meet in the circle to discuss this provocative topic!
Love to all of you!
Ann
www.womensjourney.org
Your tax deductible contributions are appreciated.
Womens Journey, Inc. is a Non-Profit Corporation
Presentation based on Codependency and the Socialization of Women, by Ann Mody Lewis, Ph.D., Copyright 1996