Woman/Women That You Most Admire?

Precious flower

I thought it might be a nice idea to start a thread exploring the women the women in the ladies lounge most admire. Why you are drawn to them and what do they represent for you? The two women that I would have to say stick out to me most would be the activist Aung San Suu Kyi and the author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. They are different women in what they do but they are both to me captivating. It was only through chancing about a film about Aung San Suu Kyi, after previously having glanced over an article reporting about her, that I discovered who she was. I admired so much her strength, will and yet grace in such adversity, frightening adversity. I am doing Americanah as part of my FYP. I thoroughly enjoyed the book but when I searched on YouTube for interviews that she had done I was even more obsessed with her. She's a brilliant, intelligent speaker and a great writer. I just want to emulate her. I must have watched every interview she has been in. For me those women really stand out and I highly respect them. What about everyone else?:)

fits

Most admire is too strong a description but I have been really enjoying Sarah Koenig of the serial podcast over the last week. She just comes across as a really interesting and smart journalist.

eviltwin

fits wrote: »

Most admire is too strong a description but I have been really enjoying Sarah Koenig of the serial podcast over the last week. She just comes across as a really interesting and smart journalist.

Love that podcast.

I admire so many women, mostly the ones who quietly deal with violence on a day to day basis. I used to work with women suffering domestic violence and they were amazing. Every single one of them was a hero in my eyes.

In terms of public names I admire Mary Robinson for all her work for women's rights here, Lavinia Kerwick who was the first irish rape victim to waive her right to anonymity, Billie Jean King and Malala Yousafzai

Precious flower

eviltwin wrote: »

Love that podcast.

I admire so many women, mostly the ones who quietly deal with violence on a day to day basis. I used to work with women suffering domestic violence and they were amazing. Every single one of them was a hero in my eyes.

In terms of public names I admire Mary Robinson for all her work for women's rights here, Lavinia Kerwick who was the first irish rape victim to waive her right to anonymity, Billie Jean King and Malala Yousafzai

I deeply respect and admire those women too eviltwin. Some people have to endure some incredible things you wonder how they deal with it all and get through it.

The Princess Bride

I admire Joanne O Riordan for having such an optimistic outlook on life, for achieving her goal to go to college. I'm sure she'll achieve so much more because of her healthy attitude to life. She seems to be always happy and smiling.

Jane McKenna for starting the Lauralynn House project, after the death of both her children.

Majella O Donnell for telling the nation about her battle with cancer, having her hair shaved off on tv to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society.

If these women stayed at home and just quietly lived their lives, nobody would say anything negative or judge them. However, they chose to channel their energy into making a difference for others. To be heard and selflessly help others, again and again.

Inspiring.An example not just to women, but to all mankind.

seventeen sheep

Emma Fogarty, the ambassador for DEBRA Ireland.

ivytwine

Malala Yousafzai... Brave is not the word.

"Extremists have shown frightens them most... A girl with a book."

Littlekittylou

In no particular order.


My mother and the women in my family.

Verity Breen. Great lady great athlete.

My Grandmother.

Elizabeth Warren.

Elizabeth Jane Cochrane or Nellie Bly as she was sometimes known.She did a great expose of asylums of her time and was a dedicated talented journalist.

Jane Austen.

Josephine Elizabeth Butler.

Emmeline Pankhurst


Sojourner Truth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sojourner_Truth
One of the most unique and interesting speeches of the convention was made by Sojourner Truth, an emancipated slave. It is impossible to transfer it to paper, or convey any adequate idea of the effect it produced upon the audience. Those only can appreciate it who saw her powerful form, her whole-souled, earnest gesture, and listened to her strong and truthful tones. She came forward to the platform and addressing the President said with great simplicity: "May I say a few words?" Receiving an affirmative answer, she proceeded:

I want to say a few words about this matter. I am a woman's rights. I have as much muscle as any man, and can do as much work as any man. I have plowed and reaped and husked and chopped and mowed, and can any man do more than that? I have heard much about the sexes being equal. I can carry as much as any man, and can eat as much too, if I can get it. I am as strong as any man that is now. As for intellect, all I can say is, if a woman have a pint, and a man a quart – why can't she have her little pint full? You need not be afraid to give us our rights for fear we will take too much, – for we can't take more than our pint'll hold. The poor men seems to be all in confusion, and don't know what to do. Why children, if you have woman's rights, give it to her and you will feel better. You will have your own rights, and they won't be so much trouble. I can't read, but I can hear. I have heard the bible and have learned that Eve caused man to sin. Well, if woman upset the world, do give her a chance to set it right side up again. The Lady has spoken about Jesus, how he never spurned woman from him, and she was right. When Lazarus died, Mary and Martha came to him with faith and love and besought him to raise their brother. And Jesus wept and Lazarus came forth. And how came Jesus into the world? Through God who created him and the woman who bore him. Man, where was your part? But the women are coming up blessed be God and a few of the men are coming up with them. But man is in a tight place, the poor slave is on him, woman is coming on him, he is surely between a hawk and a buzzard.

Audrey Hepburn.

Nina Simone.

Maria Callas.

Joan Sutherland.

Mary Rand.

Sappho, a great poetess.

Sylvie Guillem

Artemisia Gentileschi i saw a film about her life. What she went through is astounding. And to go on and become a master baroque painter not just of female painters but respected overall as one of the greats at that time is truly amazing.

Catherine Mansfield. Writer.

Madonna.



KATE BUSH


And probably more i am forgetting

Rosy Posy

Malala Yousafzai and Sarah Koenig immediately came to mind when I read the thread title. Also Ayaan Hirsi Ali, for her work in speaking out for African women. I was really impressed by Meron Estefanos' work with hostages as well. I also feel a profound sense of gratitude to the sufferagettes like Emily Pankhurst and Hannah Sheehy Skeffington. In entertainment I do admire Lena Dunham and Lindy West for their bravery and their honesty.

Dortilolma

While some truly admirable names have been mentioned already and I have to admit I do admire the bravery and strength of women such as Aung San Suu Kyi and Malala Yousafzai.

One quality I truly admire is the ability to have fun, regardless of how difficult life can get - a quality my mother has in spades and I admire her greatly for.