Celebrate Women

Thanks!

2008-06-02T01:40:40Z

I'm sure Kate will post her own message of thanks but I'll be off line for a few days (I'll be at an education managers meeting).

Thanks to all of you who participated, lurked, and pimped the comm!

-bets

Action Challenge: Week 4

2008-05-26T03:43:38Z

Action Challenge: Snail Mail to Our Oldest Friend

The challenge, in this coming week, is to make a point to write a hand-written letter/card to a high school friend you still talk with (or your oldest friend).

On this Memorial Day, along with remembering the men & women who gave their lives for us and this country (or Victoria Day in memory of a Queen), let's also remember those strong women of our childhood. The high school friend we still talk with but might not have seen in a while. The oldest friend we email & computer chat with but haven't seen for a long time. Let's take the little extra effort this week and snail mail them a letter or card to brighten their day. Mail is usually fun, it brings a smile to our face to get something in the mail that isn't a bill or a credit card offer or the other junk that companies think we might want to buy. :-)

As always, whatever fits into your frenzied life works. These challenges are not intended to create more stress in our lives... so if you meet with your family in two weeks, it is fine, still let us know!

Reminder:

Action Challenges will be posted on Sundays. Please comment here about what you did and we'll throw it in the newsletter. :-) So get out there and enjoy the company of your family!

B's Profile & Traits of Strong Woman

2008-05-22T00:37:42Z

Okay, so B's Profile today is on Sally Ride, first American female astronaut.

And today's Trait of a Strong Woman is the ability to juggle home life, work, a personal life, and everything else.

Feel free to comment here about a strong woman you want to profile ... or a trait you feel a strong woman has to have.
:-)

Prompt Announcement: Week 4

2008-05-21T19:05:29Z

You may have noticed that there was no newsletter this week. That was partially due Real Life sneaking up on me and tackling me to the ground, and partially because there wasn't an abundance to include last week. I really hope this week's prompt will fire your muse a bit more. Last week's posts will be included in next Monday's newsletter.

So without further ado, the prompt of the week is...

FRIENDS

That's a great topic, right? We all have something to say about friendship! As always, how you choose to respond is up to you. Fanfic about friendship between two great female characters? Icons or artwork depicting friendship? An explanation of why your strong women friends are important in your life and how they've helped you grow? Meta about female friendships in your fandom? It's all up to you!

When you post in your journal, we'd appreciate it if you'd provide a link to this announcement, so your readers learn about the prompt and the celebration. It's not a requirement, but we'd be grateful!

Finally, comment to this announcement with a link to your post(s) if you'd like it included in our newsletter. And don't forget, you aren't limited to the weekly prompt. Celebrate every day in May!

More Women & Strength Icons... by shoe_gal

2008-05-19T23:22:37Z

I've been out of LJ for a while and I totally missed that over in pink_cosmos, shoegal_icons made us 10 AWESOME quote/word icons!

Visit, take, use, and comment!
Shoe_gal Icons here

A BIG, HUGE, thank you to shoegal_icons!

Action Challenge: Week 3

2008-05-19T02:50:29Z

Action Challenge: Offering a Helping Hand

Sorry this 3rd Action Challenge is a little late: life got in the way yesterday (delayed flight, lost artwork, exhaustion)!

The challenge, in this coming week, is to make a point to donate time/clothing/money to a women-related charity.

This can be money or your time. It can be to a women's shelter or a family shelter. A dress-for-success thing. Or a church function. Helping a friend with cancer. Or spending time at the senior home and playing cards with an senior woman there. Sponsor someone or a team in a breast cancer walk/hike/ride.

There are so many fantastic organizations out there... rasintorte talks of One Brave Chick or there is really an organization called Dress for Success helping low-income women around the world be better prepared for the work force. Support a woman in the military or on the police force. Or offer a woman you know who is having a hard time a break from her kids to give her a few hours to treat herself.

As always, whatever fits into your frenzied life works. These challenges are not intended to create more stress in our lives... so if you meet with your family in two weeks, it is fine, still let us know!

Reminder:

Action Challenges will be posted on Sundays. Please comment here about what you did and we'll throw it in the newsletter. :-) So get out there and do something to support a women in your community or around the world!

Make a Body Autonomy Pledge!

2008-05-16T19:36:16Z

I invite you all to claim control over your own bodies! Come discuss bodily autonomy or make a Body Autonomy Pledge!

Prompt Announcement: Week 3

2008-05-15T00:11:03Z

The prompt for week three is topic that lends itself to fandom just as well as it lends itself to discussion of real-life issues:

WOMEN'S BODIES

Remember, how you choose to interpret and respond to this prompt is up to you! You could choose to use it as a theme for fan fiction, icons or picspam; contribute meta about societal attitudes towards women's bodies; or share thoughts, photos, quotes, or artwork pertaining to body image. Or any combination thereof!

When you post in your journal, we'd appreciate it if you'd provide a link to this announcement, so your readers learn about the prompt and the celebration. It's not a requirement, but we'd be grateful!

Finally, comment to this announcement with a link to your post(s) if you'd like it included in our newsletter. And don't forget, you aren't limited to the weekly prompt. Celebrate every day in May!

Newsletter: Volume 2

2008-05-13T00:13:17Z

Here is a round-up of the Women's Month of Strength posts for this week. Thanks for the terrific participation! If I've missed your post, please let me know and we'll include it in the newsletter. And remember, it's not too late to post on the prompt or challenge topic, nor are you confined to those topics. Post as the mood strikes you, and continue to spread the word about this celebration!

Media Meta and Memes -
thekatebeyond invites you to discuss your favorite TV moms.

Real-Life Inspirations -
bets_cyn profiles Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross.
holdouttrout reveals the psychic ability she and her mother share.
tigersvoice discovers Dame Evelyn Glennie.

Issues Facing Women -
bets_cyn talks about the challenges of housework.
tigersvoice questions what makes a mother?

Icons, Art, Photography -
athosionwarrior shares links to some Teyla art and fiction.

Depictions of Moms on TV

2008-05-12T23:50:38Z

Come share your feelings about the best TV moms and the way motherhood is depicted on TV. Discuss it here!

Mother's Day

2008-05-11T02:17:15Z

Kate & I have been discussing Moms and what makes a mom and I've been elected to do the Mother's Day post. :-)

1st.
Feel free to supply a link in the comments if you want to thank your mom or your mom-figure (or grams, sis, aunt, etc). Or if you have a "what makes a mom a mom" post. Or if you did anything special for your Mom/Mom-figure on Mom's day.

2nd.
To all you moms out there- blood moms and non-blood moms alike:
Thank you, moms!

3rd.
Really, what DOES make a mom a mom? Some of B's thoughts.

There are so many traits, characteristics, and feelings associated with the word "Mom". Does it have to be a blood relation? We all know so many situations that prove that line false.

Some of the things I think really make a mom a mom:

putting her kids first and above her own desires
making herself available to her kids at any time
knowing the value of holding on
having the strength to let go
knowing when to do both, hold on & let go
not judging when the 3am drunk call comes in to pick up her underage kid
laying into her kid at noon, after the 3am drunk pick me up call
driving to every away game
pulling out those embarrassing naked kid photos when her kid brings home their significant other
instilling her core belief that family comes first in life by her actions, not her words
offering those corny encouraging pep talks when her kid thinks their world is ending
going through that pain of squeezing a watermelon through a pin hole or allowing her stomach to be cut open
having the strength to accept someone else's child as their own
having the capacity to love another's child and the grace to dance the boundary of step-mom and mom
never expecting thanks

And those are definitely not all that I could list.

Mom's are those special people who raise us. Some times they get it wrong. Some times they get embarrassed by us. Some times they make us roll our eyes and pretend not to know them. Some times we wish they were with us as we make a hard decision. Some times we go home crying for them. They are human and we some times forget that.

On this special day, take the time to tell your mom- whomever she may be- you love them. And thank her for making you you. She guided you, whether you wanted her to or not, to who you are now.

Happy Mom's Day

Action Challenge: Week 2

2008-05-11T01:48:43Z

Action Challenge: Celebrating Family

The second challenge comes in time for Mother's Day, so feel free to use that as the reason for celebrating this Action Challenge!

The challenge, in this coming week, is to make a point to spend 10 minutes with a female family member you haven't talked to/spent time with in the last month.

This can be with your grams, sister, mom, aunt, niece, even an in-law! Some of us might not have blood family left or whom we are talking with. so if blood fam ain't your thing, you know you have someone you consider family... you can chose a friend you consider family and haven't talked with in two months. This action challenge can be talking on the phone or going out of your way to visit your chosen female family.

As always, whatever fits into your frenzied life works. These challenges are not intended to create more stress in our lives... so if you meet with your family in two weeks, it is fine, still let us know!

Reminder:

Action Challenges will be posted on Sundays. Please remember to post a link in your journal back to this post and then comment here about what you did and we'll throw it in the newsletter. :-) So get out there and enjoy the company of your family!

Thanks, y'all, for your efforts in this comm!

Prompt Announcement: Week 2

2008-05-07T14:43:29Z

The prompt for week two is something each of us can relate to...

MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS

Remember, how you choose to interpret and respond to this prompt is up to you! You could choose to use it as a theme for fan fiction, contribute meta about portrayals of mothers in your fandom(s) or literature, share thoughts about the complexities of mother/daughter relationships, or share photos, quotes, artwork, or icons related to the theme. Let your creativity run free!

When you post in your journal, we'd appreciate it if you'd provide a link to this announcement, so your readers learn about the prompt and the celebration. It's not a requirement, but we'd be grateful!

Finally, comment to this announcement with a link to your post(s) if you'd like it included in our newsletter. And don't forget, you aren't limited to the weekly prompt. Celebrate every day in May!

Bets' traits & profiles Week 1 post

2008-05-06T23:53:31Z

Each week of the Strength in Women Month here at Celebrate_Women, I'm going to talk about a trait of strong women and post a profile of a strong women. Feel free to add your traits in the comments of this post... and if you have a profile, link to it!

This week...

Trait: ability to do housework despite the rest of the life

Profile: Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, suffragette, and founder of National 1st Aid Society

Newsletter: Issue One

2008-05-05T23:30:51Z

Here is a round-up of the Women's Month of Strength posts so far. Thanks for the terrific participation! If I've missed your post, please let me know and we'll include it in the next newsletter. And remember, it's not too late to post on the prompt or challenge topic, nor are you confined to those topics. Post as the mood strikes you, and continue to spread the word about this celebration!

Media Meta and Memes -
nerdtopian on the topic What I Learned From Fandom Women.
thekatebeyond explains why Avatar: the Last Airbender contains good role models for girls.

Literary Meta and Memes -
holdouttrout describes her early role models from YA lit.

Real-Life Inspirations -
pixie_on_acid creates a meme for Appreciating Female F-listers.
cbackson discusses the proud history of women in the labor movement.
tigersvoice admires composer Rachel Portman.
bets_cyn reminds us to look at the women close to us when we're looking for role models.
jennukes names three of her personal role models.
dremiel shares the history of and a famous letter from Henrietta Szold.
catku tells about a truly terrific female boss.

Issues Facing Women
cbackson invites us to discuss society's attitudes about sexual assault.

Icons, Art, Photography -
girlboheme posted at girlyb_icons 75 icons of inspiring women.

celebrate_women @ 2008-05-04T16:18:00

2008-05-04T23:17:52Z

Hi all,

This is a bit of a heavier topic than we've been talking about, but I wanted to share it with you all.

I've got a post here about rape survivors, the silence we're often asked to keep, and the (to my mind, horrible) idea that a life after rape isn't worth leading.

It's not graphic and I don't think would be triggering to a survivor. I've allowed anon commented, and I'm screening comments just to keep out random trolls. If you'd like to share an experience or reaction, please feel free to stop by.

Edited because I can't spell.

Action Challenge: Week 1

2008-05-04T03:11:55Z

Action Challenge: Gathering with a Gal Pal

The first challenge is as simple as it is difficult in today's busy world. We have a tendency to say "I'll meet with her next week," then suddenly we look up and a month has gone by.

There is a forward I absolutely love about rocks and beer (occasionally with coffee)... the point is ya have to take care of the big stones [health, fam, friends], the little pebbles & sand [job] will fall into place, and there is always space [time] for a beer with a friend. Read it here at bets_cyn

The challenge, in this coming week, is to take the time to do something with your oldest/bestest/newest gal pal... or two or three!

It can be 15 minutes for a coffee; an evening of beers at the local joint, a night of old movies, chocolate, and wine; dinner or dinner and a movie; a walk in the park; kayaking a new/old fav place; trying a new activity; hitting that wine tasting class; making a clay pot together; or just gabbing over lunch.... whatever you can fit into the craziness of real life.

Reminder:

Action Challenges will be posted on Sundays. Please comment here about what you did and we'll throw it in the newsletter. :-) So get out there and enjoy the company of your gal pal(s)!

Prompt Announcement: Week 1

2008-05-01T14:35:52Z

Let's get this party started! Time for our first prompt. *drumroll* And the prompt is...

ROLE MODELS

How you choose to interpret and respond to this prompt is up to you. You could choose to use it as a theme for fan fiction or fannish meta, post essays, photos, and quotes from/about your role models, or even host a discussion on what being a role model for women means to you. Let your creativity run free!

When you post in your journal, we'd appreciate it if you'd provide a link to this announcement, so your readers learn about the prompt and the celebration. It's not a requirement, but we'd be grateful!

Finally, comment to this announcement with a link to your post(s) if you'd like it included in our newsletter. And don't forget, you aren't limited to the weekly prompt. Celebrate every day in May!

Icons to use for Celebrate_Women posts... thanks, girlboheme!

2008-05-01T12:22:21Z

Thank you, girlboheme!!

A HUGE shout out to girlboheme over at girlyb_icons for such a QUICK and ROBUST set of strong women icons for our celebrate_women comm.... and for the pimpage of our humble comm on her fantastic icon journal.

Link to Celebrate_Women icons by girlboheme

Please remember to credit her and let her know which ones you are taking... if you aren't sure exactly who they are of, feel free to ask her and she will let you know.

girlboheme litterally did these late last night (I asked her around 7pm EDT or so and here they are this am!), so she ROCKS and is currently my icon ROLE MODEL! (Especially since I never have the patience to do photo editing!)

Thanks, again, girlboheme and remember to check out the rest of her awesome icons over at girlyb_icons!

-bets

Party Planning, a.k.a. The Community Rules Post

2008-05-01T02:34:11Z

Thanks for joining the Women's Month of Strength celebration at celebrate_women. Behind the cut is an explanation of the who, what, when, and where of the party. Please take a moment to read it.

The Invites:

This celebration is open invitation. Everyone, female or male, is invited to participate. And please, think about inviting your friends to join in too. The more, the merrier!

The Activities:

There will be two major happenings at the celebration: prompts and challenges.

Prompts are general topics that are meant to spark your ideas and creativity. Prompt responses can be original or fanworks, in the form of essays and meta, art, poems, fiction, photos, quotes, or links. Any way in which you choose to respond to the prompt is okay by us!

Prompts will be announced each Wednesday throughout the month. Post your prompt response in your own journal (not in this host community) and comment to our prompt announcement with a link to your response. We will include the response in our newsletter.

Challenges are opportunities for action, a way for you to make an impact on the lives of women close to you, or in your community. We will post a challenge each Sunday. If you choose to post about your response to the challenge, give us a link to that too!

Asking for a Dance:

While your responses to prompts and posts about challenges will be posted to your own journal, you're welcome to post requests for participation here in the host community. Whether you're hosting a picspam of bada$$ female TV characters, or a poll about modern feminism, feel free to promote it here and let the community members know. (Posting is moderated, but we will approve them as quickly as possible.)

Mementos:

The current plan is for the newsletter to be posted weekly on Monday. That schedule is subject to change depending on how much participation we have. Having to post a newsletter daily would be a problem we'd love to have! Please note: this is an opt-in newsletter. We will not search the community friends list for posts, as some people may choose to post things of a more personal nature. If you want your post included in the newsletter, you must provide us a link. Late posts are welcome - if you don't make your post before a new prompt appears, that's fine.

The Bouncer:

A reminder: this is a positive, upbuilding community. Be kind to your fellow guests, even off-group. Because of the distributed nature of this celebration - with each person posting in their own journal - we will ban from the community people who make personal attacks on any participant, whether here in the community or elsewhere.

What You Can Bring to the Party:

Don't feel you have to limit yourself to prompts and challenges. Any posts you feel like making that honor and celebrate women, we'd be happy to include those in the newsletter too. Comment with a link here or in any prompt/challenge announcement.

Post soon and post often. Make the most of this celebration! Go wild!

Welcome!

2008-04-29T21:55:36Z

Welcome to Celebrate Women

A place to appreciate women and their contributions to our lives and society

Each year during May, we will host a month-long celebration of women. Please join us by reflecting on all aspects of our lives as women and honoring the women who have had a positive impact on your life. This community serves as a center-point for the celebration, which we hope you will promote and participate in through your own journals and communities. Prompts and other opportunities to participate will be posted to this community, as well as a newsletter to aggregate the results.

This is a positive community dedicated to upbuilding and honoring women in all aspects of life. This may include career, motherhood, self- or body-image, discussion of public figures, and other topics on which we may have widely varying views. We ask that you treat other participants with respect and tolerance, and carry on in a spirit of celebration, not controversy. Anyone who bashes another participant for their views in a prompt response (whether that response is posted here or in a private journal) may be banned from this community.

Please join in, please spread the word, please take this opportunity to celebrate women!

OUR CHALLENGE TO YOU

We ask each of you, during the coming month (May 1st through 31st), to post at least once (but hopefully once a day) about the strong women who have influenced you.

It doesn't have to be anything new, although that would be great. Links to previous posts you've made about real life women or fictional characters who've inspired you with their strength. Link to stories you've read or written that celebrate women. Link to news articles, art, charities, anything, that upbuilds women and honors their finer qualities. Link to quotes from women or about women that encourage you.

Celebrate Women

Thanks!

Action Challenge: Week 4

Action Challenge: Snail Mail to Our Oldest Friend

Reminder:

B's Profile & Traits of Strong Woman

Prompt Announcement: Week 4

More Women & Strength Icons... by shoe_gal

Action Challenge: Week 3

Action Challenge: Offering a Helping Hand

Reminder:

Make a Body Autonomy Pledge!

Prompt Announcement: Week 3

Newsletter: Volume 2

Depictions of Moms on TV

Mother's Day

Action Challenge: Week 2

Action Challenge: Celebrating Family

Reminder:

Prompt Announcement: Week 2

Bets' traits & profiles Week 1 post

Newsletter: Issue One

celebrate_women @ 2008-05-04T16:18:00

Action Challenge: Week 1

Action Challenge: Gathering with a Gal Pal

Reminder:

Prompt Announcement: Week 1

Icons to use for Celebrate_Women posts... thanks, girlboheme!

Thank you, girlboheme!!

Party Planning, a.k.a. The Community Rules Post

The Invites:

The Activities:

Asking for a Dance:

Mementos:

The Bouncer:

What You Can Bring to the Party:

Welcome!

Welcome to Celebrate Women

A place to appreciate women and their contributions to our lives and society

Please join in, please spread the word, please take this opportunity to celebrate women!

OUR CHALLENGE TO YOU

Provide us a link to your post(s) and we will include it in our newsletter!