Good things, happy things

[Karabair]

I don't know if anybody else would be interested in doing this, but one of the most important gifts that radical feminism has given me is appreciation of other women, how women are, and the amazing things that women and girls do in the world, both large and small.

Doing feminism can be a hard slog, we are forced to focus on difficult and sad issues because men still oppress women and they harm us, but it's also good to focus on what we're fighting for - to free women, which will allow women and girls to do so many more of the amazing things we're capable of.

So this is a thread to post good things about women, about things that have uplifted you or made you happy, women you admire, or women and girl's work you appreciate. Anything connected with women and girls in other words.

Two things I wanted to post about - firstly (and this is probably sucking up) but Mumsnet. What an incredible place. Full of women talking to each other, helping one another, making one another laugh . I love reading what other women have to say. FWR in particular of course, probably the biggest and most active feminist forum in the UK. And I do think only a woman's website would have a section called AIBU, asking other women whether you're being reasonable or not. How very civilised. So hurrah for Mumsnet and all the women here!

Also yesterday, I admired a woman's shopping bag because it was a lovely shade of bright orange. She then informed me that orange was her favourite colour, so much so that she has an orange kitchen and she's always shopping for orange items, the lovely shopping bag being one of them. The conversation really cheered me up. What a wonderful thing to do to colour your life like that.

So if you've got any good things about women, do please share them here.

I’ve been chronically unwell and have been doing physio for some time. I was referred to a group physio session that takes place in a swimming pool.

The women there are wonderful. Most of them older than me, but astonishingly cheery. And I’m outside the U.K. in a country where communal changing and naked showering is the norm. I find it unexpectedly uplifting to see all these fabulous women, scarred and aging bodies, yet still beautiful. So reassuring to see normal bodies and not the airbrushed perfection the U.K. and US media present.

I joined a painting and drawing class when I was on maternity leave with DS1 because the adult education centre had a subsidised creche and I needed two hours a week when I was “me”, not a mum. The class was mostly older women. When I explained my reasoning, they were wonderful - DS only got mentioned if I raised the topic, the rest of the time we talked about so many different things. Their lives and experiences were so interesting and their companionship carried me through a particularly low spell where I felt I’d lost myself. I was the first of my friendship circle to have a baby and had no family locally. My painting group brought home how valuable the kinship that women can bring to one another can be.

Can I tell you about an inspiring woman cyclist? Not that one.
Beryl Burton - local lass from Yorkshire.
Sorry about Guardian link.
www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2019/aug/26/beryl-burton-liquorice-allsorts-shake-up-cycling

Karabair
Lovely idea for a thread.

MN is rather special isn't it, it has allowed us to inform others of the very important issues affecting women and children.

Things we wouldn't have known about are being shared daily.
Important information is coming to light, like top level changes to policy by the wrong people.

The suffragettes would be aghast at the regressive steps that are happening today, but they would be amazed at the possibilities we have to talk to each other instantly and globally.

Go all women, everywhere.

I'm celebrating the ordinary women in my life who don't make the news but constantly inspire and support me.

My husband died suddenly and traumatically last year. I am not going to dismiss the contributions of the men in my life, who have been fantastic, but the immediate, intense and lasting support given to me unstintingly by my female friends and family has been almost beyond belief. The tender imagination they have used to wrap me in assistance I had no idea I would even benefit from. They have done immensely difficult things with me. Men have always leapt to help if I ever asked for it, but it's the women who have simply done things without me having to ask.

I mentioned, in a jokey fashion, being a 'scary feminist type' to a younger woman at work. Her face lit up, as she leaned forward conspiratorially and said "Me too!" and it was a moment of connection.

In fact, one of things I enjoy a lot about my work situation is the camaraderie between the women there, the genuine good feeling between us, the willingness to help each other, and the ridiculous amount of laughter we share.

I think that's probably my favourite thing about women - when you get a bunch of us together and the laughter starts. It's not something that happens when there are men around, and men can feel quite uncomfortable and intimidated when they stumble into those situations, but it's a deep down, belly laugh, earthy kind of connection that is really hard to describe unless you've experienced it.

I think that's probably my favourite thing about women - when you get a bunch of us together and the laughter starts. It's not something that happens when there are men around, and men can feel quite uncomfortable and intimidated when they stumble into those situations, but it's a deep down, belly laugh, earthy kind of connection that is really hard to describe unless you've experienced it.

YES. One of the very best parts of FiLiA last weekend was the time with other women in pubs or restaurants. Some of it was serious of course, but I remember barely being able to speak for laughing at least once.

Our running group.
We don’t run far, or fast. But we put the world to rights in breathless gasps, arrange to help out in house moves, swap school information and plumbers’ details, discuss politics and offer hugs. It’s basically Mumsnet on the move.

I work in a male-dominated industry and we work in pairs. Occasionally I’m paired with a female, maybe a few times a year. The dynamic is so different. Hard to put into words-more peaceful?

Oh the laughter! ‘It’s fabulous and it fills up your soul. It’s my veery favourite thing about being with other women. We love, we laugh, we support, we understand, we lift, we debate, we disagree, we put the world to rights. Of course, there are women who don’t want to do any of this; but the women who do are the ones I am proud to call my friends. I adore being in the company of earthy, funny, intelligent, FABULOUS women. I thank the Goddess that I’m lucky enough to have so many in my life

I'm on mat leave at the moment but the girls at school (11-18) inspire me on a daily basis. So much solidarity and love for their generation, spats aside! They really have a strength and an empowerment that makes me excited about the future for women. It's brilliant

I saw this video the other day and it moved me so much - . It's a women's football match where a player's hijab started to.come loose and members of the opposing team formed a ring around her so she could fix it. Such simple solidarity got me right in the feelz.