Young and Powerful Despite our Wrinkles

by E. Craats

I know it might seem to be too personal and sometimes too embarassing for us women to talk about these issues in public. In a women's world there are still so many taboos, and even though we don't mention it, there are so many restrictions for us, and among the legal and illegal ones, we also face biological limmitations in regard to our capacity to act as fully responsible members of society in some societies and also we are constantly reminded by our own biological clocks of the challenges of age. Therefore, we women are much more discriminated due to ageeism than man.

Despite all of these absurd and inexplicable restrictions in our lives, we women keep on overcoming challenges, breaking all  records...even when we are criticized by not only man, also women.

For instance, a couple of weeks ago, the first woman President of Brazil, Mrs. Dilma Roussef, which is not perfect as none politicians are, have tried to empower woman by changing a very old law in the country in regarding to diplomas. Dilma, was extremelly criticized for introducing a non-gender law, which allows women to change their diplomas or certificates, if they generally and not specifically mention their titles according their genders. It is  law n0. 12.605, from April 03, 2012 after a proposal of another woman of influence in the Brazilian Senate, Serys Slhessarenko.

The act is justifiable considering that in Brazil, the Portuguese language have to express gender in two ways by adding an A at the end of a word (feminine) or an O (masculine). Well, it might stupid or irrelevant for man, or even women that do not care for the huge issue of discrimination against women in Brazil, but it is a great step for mankind if we consider the symbolic value of Dilma's act. In many countries in the world as it is the case of China, the language and traditions are already determining the destiny of women since the beggining of times. With all respect for language and traditions in all countries dictionaries are changing because of globalization, information and communication technology and words as Internet and other computer terms have been introduced without any complain. Changing the language, the grammar will not immediately change the position of women but will allow people to reflect on the issue. How can we change the mentality of the people if we do not change the language and the tone of the conversation, the meaning of words and everything we mean in regard to women empowerment?

Well, that is a long discussion. Today I just want to tell you that no matter the language you use to express your respect for women, we are powerful people and I have learnt that from my mother:

At the age of 72, she has educated 5 children, one of them, was a disabled child, my brother, Manuel Messias, he died at the age of 35 in her arms. Then, she decided to live closer to all her daughters in Brazil, except me. I was the rebel, adventurous child that like a wild bird has chosen to fly away and discover other horizons. Just like the pigeon in Elton John's song, one day, I have sent her a message:

Happy Mother's Day to All Mothers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCGwe0Hpsn4&feature=BFa&list...