Tell me about women you admire

[Ikeatears]

In honour of International Women's Day:

My friend is 25 years post MS diagnosis and still works full time in a job she loves. She doesn't let her physical limitations stop her and inspires me with her strength and resilience.

A relative has recently lost members of her close family, has a new born baby and a toddler with additional needs and a husband diagnosed with a chronic illness. She is patient and calm and a wonderful mother and wife.

My grandmother was strong and kind and supportive. Her family came first always. My grandfather was quite a difficult character from a difficult background but she showed him how to love. I aspire to be more like her.

My Grandma. My grandad had an affair and ran up lots of debt before leaving her. He never paid her a penny. She raised 2 children, working 3 jobs and eventually bought her council house. She has never earned more than minimum wage and taught us all the importance of hard work, budgeting and never letting the freezer go empty.

Kathrine switzer

Paved the way for women to run marathons...Boston marathon, ran it dressed as a man just to show them women CAN!

I admire my mother, she was a single mother and had to go back to work from when I was 6 weeks old. She now runs three successful companies which she began right before the recession hit.

Despite working a lot when I was a child, I always felt that I could tell her anything and she would always be there for me. She has supported me emotionally during my own transition into motherhood.

She has raised me to be incredibly determined (like her) and has given me the space to know my own mind, regardless of what society says we as women should be.

Jackie Weaver

Jackie Weaver 👊🏼
JK Rowling

JK Rowling, she receives a tsunami of abuse for simply stating sex is real, and sex matters.

Also, my mum, she has been my rock over the last couple of years

My Grandma, 26 years passed but still influences me and my decisions now. Taught me life skills, sent me to the local shop with a small shopping list, taught me how to bake.

Every single Monday would make the most amazing meal for us, all from scratch, veg grown in garden, would visit the market and bakers that morning for everyone's favourite.

Took me to museums in the school holidays, made learning fun.

Didn't appreciate it as a child in the way I do now, when I realised her sacrifice and influence.

She was a brilliant, strong woman!

Jackie Weaver

Yes, also an absolute legend!

Kathy Burke

Currently I am strongly admiring Lyse Doucet. What a woman. Her fierce compassion, and bravery, and clarity moves me daily.

My grandmother who is long gone but the older I get the more I appreciate the perfect blend of strength and compassion she had. That woman didn't seem to ever say a bad word about anyone but good lord would noone ever be disrespectful to her.

I think in honour of the concept of women I am also going to add my dsis. I don't actually like her , or does she like me but thats not what this is about. She has brought up two dc in really difficult circumstances with an arse of an ex, a controlling mother, MH health issues and has carved a career she can be truly proud of. She had the odds stacked against her and she has achieved huge things. I mean I still have no desire to be in the same room but I really admire what she has achieved.