Biographies to Consider: Family
Biographies to Consider: Family
Eva Peron 1919-1952
“I have one thing that counts, and that is my heart; it burns in my soul, it aches in my flesh, and it ignites my nerves: that is my love for the people and Peron.”
Eva was Argentinean born into poverty. She was loved by the working class people and women whom she tirelessly supported the rights of. To them she was a saint and to her critics she was controversial.
For more information: www.biographyonline.net/politicians/american/eva-peron.html
What would Eva consider about our rights as women today? Is there more work to do? Do you feel inspired to help?
Sojourner Truth: (1797-1883)
An African-American women’s right activist and abolitionist, Truth was born into slavery in New York, but escaped with her infant daughter to freedom in 1826. She became the first black woman to win the right of her child over a white man. During the Civil War, Truth helped recruit black troops for the Union Army.
For more Inspiration: http://www.biography.com/people/sojourner-truth-9511284
www.feminist.com/resources/artspeech/genwom/sojour.htm
What would Sojourner Truth ask you to reflect on in your womanhood?
Mirabai: (1498-1565)
“…I do not care about social norms nor do I keep my family’s honour. I cannot forget, even for a moment, The beauty of my lover. I am dyed in Hari’s colour.” Mirabai’s writing I Do Not Care About Social Norms
Born to a privileged Hindu family Mirabai broke with the conventions of society to live the life of a mystic and devotee of Krishna. For her unconventional lifestyle her family tried to kill her, but on each occasion were unsuccessful. Her bhajans and songs helped revitalize devotional Hinduism in India.
For more Inspiration: www.biographyonline.net/spiritual/mirabai.html
What might Mirabai ask you to reflect on when you choose to go against “social norms” and live by your own belief system?
Ruth:
Old Testament Ruth is daughter-in-law to Naomi; she is not a Jewish woman but a Moab. After her husband and father-in law-die, Ruth was a loyal companion to her mother-in-law Naomi. Ruth marries a distant cousin named Boaz and she has a child named Boaz. Boaz is in the direct line of Jesus’ genealogy. Ruth is a story of loyalty and love.
For more inspiration: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_(biblical_figure)
www.womeninthebible.net/1.13.Ruth.htm
What does the story of Ruth ask us to consider when we think of the words, loyalty and love?
Michelle Obama: (1964-)
“As a woman, we must stand up for ourselves. We must stand up for each other. We must stand up for justice for all.”
Michelle LaVaughn Obama, an American lawyer and writer is the wife of the 44th and current President of the United States Barak Obama. She is the first African-American First Lady of the United States. She is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. She is an advocate for poverty awareness, nutrition, and healthy eating.
For more Inspiration: www.biography.com/people/michelle-obama-307592
What would Michelle ask us to consider when nurturing our children?
Hagar
Hagar is an Egyptian handmaid of Sarah who gave her to Abraham to bear a child. The first-born child to Abraham names Ishmael, the Patriarch of the Ishmaelite’s. Hagar is revered in the Islamic faith and acknowledged in all Abrahamic faiths.
For more inspiration: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagar
www.womeninthebible.net/1.2.Hagar.htm
What might Hagar ask us to consider as an outsider in Abraham and Sara’s family, yet she bore one of the most influential figures in religion?
Yoshiko Uchida (1921-1992 Japanese American)
“I try to stress the positive aspects of life that I want children to value and cherish. I hope they can be caring human beings who don’t think in terms of labels-foreigners or Asians or whatever-but to think of people as human beings. If that comes across, then I’ve accomplished my purpose.”
A second-generation Japanese American, born in the United States. In 1941 she and her family were interned for three years. In the camp, Yoshiko taught school and had a chance to view not only the injustices that the Americans were perpetrating, but also the varying reactions of Japanese Americans towards their ill treatment. In 1971she wrote a novel, Journey to Topaz, which is fiction but closely follows her own experiences. Over the course of her career Uchida published more than thirty books, including nonfiction for adults and fiction for children.
“How can our own journeys help others?”
En.wikipedia.org/wiki/yoshiko_uchida
Bibi Aisha (1991- Afghanistan)
Is an Afghani woman whose mutilated face appeared on the cover of Time magazine in the summer of 2010. She was married at the age of 14 to a Taliban fighter, as arranged by her father. At 18 she fled the abuse she was receiving from her husband but was caught by police and jailed and returned to her family. Her father returned her to her in-laws. To take revenge on her escape, her father-in-law, husband, and three other family members took her into the mountains, cut off her nose and ears and left her to die. Aisha was later rescued by aid workers and the US military. She was flown to the US and received free reconstructive surgery.
“How can we live through our abuses and thrive?”
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/bibi_aisha