IWD: stories of resilience
TODAY marks International Women’s Day (IWD), and women around the globe are celebrating with each other after surmounting challenges such as abuse, inequality, cultural, social and other barriers.Dionne:
All Woman asked some ordinary women to share their stories of resilience as they prepare to engage in these celebrations.
I have faced many hardships in my life. I was adopted and I knew that I had a purpose to fulfil and I made use of every opportunity in my life. Even when the older boys took advantage of me sexually, I never saw myself as a sex object although the world wanted me to. I taught myself several skills — to knit, to sew, and to bake — and throughout my struggles I was able to earn a living from that as a young woman. I saved, I moved on with my life, and today I am a woman who nobody can say they made. I am a self-made woman, and I implore other women never to let their struggles become bigger than them, because that is when they lose.
Joy:Vivian:Lyle:
I started out as a young girl of 16 selling at that time what they called ‘King Kong’ bag juice in downtown Kingston. My story of being molested and raped as a young girl, and overcoming poverty to own a house, cars, and being in a position to help people is real. But I am celebrating my victory because from bag juice to curtains to clothing and shoes is a journey that I am proud of. I am grateful too that my children, most of whom are girls, were inspired by my journey and have since claimed their own successes working in top-ranking jobs and making invaluable contributions to the lives of other Jamaicans, especially women and girls.
At age 25 I already had my third child and I was still nowhere near where I envisioned being at age 30. I started out with one goat that was given to me by my grandfather’s wife and a couple of seeds from RADA, and today not only do I have a farm from which I get income, but I am a registered nurse. I have been around, I was abused by the men that I chose to shack up with, and of course on many occasions I felt that I had disgraced my fellow sisters who fought long and hard to reach where some see us as equal to men, but I knew I had to play my part and the scars of my past wouldn’t stop me. I am looking forward to celebrating Women’s Week because I have in a small way played my part.
As a girl I was told many times what I would never become. I was told that I should stay in the kitchen or go into the classroom or that a woman should know her place. I loved playing with tools and things like that, but I was told those were for boys. But I not only performed exceptionally in auto mechanics, but can make furniture better than any man. Defying traditions and exploring that which was forbidden by virtue of my femininity is for me among my greatest accomplishments as a woman. Though there is still much to achieve globally, women have accomplished a great deal.
