Which women have inspired you?

Cher_Alumni

This Wednesday 8 March is International Women's Day. A day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Because who runs the world? Girls! (Beyonce reference!)

To celebrate the day, let's share the women who have left the biggest imprints on our lives. Was it an old school teacher? A relative? A friend? Even a celebrity you admire? Who inspired you, and why?

My mum is a shoe in here. A single parent who worked tirelessly to ensure me and my sister had everything we needed. I think it's only when you become an adult, you realise how hard some times truly were, and my overriding memory is her relentless drive to provide for us and make our home life the cosiest, warmest and happiest it could be.

In more recent times, Dame Deborah James' campaigning around bowel cancer, right until her final days, showed me what bravery was. I'm sure the money she raised will help improve the cancer journey for others and the awareness she raised (CHECK YOUR POO!) was extraordinary.

Over to you:

Share your wonder women in the comments below 

chiarieds

Marie Curie - the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize, & the first person to be awarded one in 2 different fields. This stems from reading a book about her life & discoveries.

Mother Teresa  - for her tireless work in helping others.

Yes, my Geography teacher - she was very, very strict, but very knowledgeable. She also showed us many films about different countries, glaciers, volcanoes, etc., which brought it all alive.

Of course my Mum, who was always supportive & gave me her love of words & books. As a teenager she used to wake me up at night to watch different operations, which were only shown then, on the TV. Once she encouraged me to dissect a salmon's eyeball! That nearly put my Dad off his tea when he discovered what we were up to. Even when she was ill with cancer she used to lie down on the floor, saying, for example, 'I've had a stroke, how are you going to help me?' This to help me for my physio final exams.

Grinchy

great examples, for me it was my dear Nan who passed last year, she was just a powerhouse of a woman who went through a lot in her 92 years, looking after the whole family, just a lovely woman all round

Hannah_Alumni

There are so many women in my life who have inspired me and continue to. 

I've recently learnt about the women in my family who answered to the call during the Second World War and to say I'm proud is an understatement. 

rebel11

Ms. Smith, my history teacher she was the best ever, I longed for an A+, never happened, I was actually in the right year according to the calendar, but in reality I was in the wrong year, had I been born a week later I would have been in the year below. 

WelshBlue

My daughter who has overcome childhood sexual trauma and it's subsequent manifestations to become an incredibly strong, caring beautiful young woman.  Even the diagnosis of MS hasn't daunted her and is living life to the fullest

My beautiful wife, who despite battling kidney disease has been there through every step of my journey through my own personal darkness, even at the times I didn't deserve it.   I'll never be able to thank her enough

Without my family I would have 'stepped off' years ago.  Their love has made me sort of like myself again

PollyPick

Gladys Aylward has been my inspiration - next to her Golda Meir - two women who deserve very much recognition.

Hannah_Alumni

@WelshBlue I just wanted to comment and double check with you that you feel you and your daughter have had support. Always know that we in the community are here for you

Can I ask, did you decide to go down the reporting route for yourself, or did you daughter decide to? We could always support either of you with that if either of you feel you needed it.

WelshBlue

@Hannah_Scope ... thanks.  My daughters case is complex in that she was snatched at the age of 6 and we didn't find out until she was 16.

I still remember that night, police called, helicopter being scrambled when she came home crying.  We had no idea.  In a way it's a good job I've still no idea who ... because I would be responsible for my actions

When the truth came out she had phenomenal support from our GP and then CAMHS.  So proud of how she's turned her life around. Sadly the physical scars from SH will always remind her

In my case, I hid the 'dirty' secret for many years ... any hope of a conviction gone.  Again, I cannot fault the support I've had since uttering those words to a health care professional.

Thank you, right now we're both OK ... her better than me, but every journey etc

durhamjaide2001

Agnes Baden-Powell- as if it wasn't for her I wouldn't be able to experience Girl Guiding  like I did and loved it. As well as this I wouldn't of been able to experience a Jamboree in the Finish Forest with Guides and Scouts from all over the world in 2016.

Hannah_Alumni

I'm really glad to hear you have both had fantastic support Again, just to say we are always here

Louloubell1980

Cher_Scope said:

This Wednesday 8 March is International Women's Day. A day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Because who runs the world? Girls! (Beyonce reference!)

To celebrate the day, let's share the women who have left the biggest imprints on our lives. Was it an old school teacher? A relative? A friend? Even a celebrity you admire? Who inspired you, and why?

My mum is a shoe in here. A single parent who worked tirelessly to ensure me and my sister had everything we needed. I think it's only when you become an adult, you realise how hard some times truly were, and my overriding memory is her relentless drive to provide for us and make our home life the cosiest, warmest and happiest it could be.

In more recent times, Dame Deborah James' campaigning around bowel cancer, right until her final days, showed me what bravery was. I'm sure the money she raised will help improve the cancer journey for others and the awareness she raised (CHECK YOUR POO!) was extraordinary.

Over to you:

Share your wonder women in the comments below 

My mum is an inspiration and encouraging me to not let my disabilities get in my way of achieving my goals. After so many challenges I've raised  £17000  for charities and good causes close to my heart and donating 630 epilepsy information packs with laylas book epilepsy book for kids inside along with child friendly epilepsy 1st aid leaflets and stickers and young carers leaflets inside which we donated to schools and libraries and NHS and charities and to family's who needed them. 

L_Volunteer

I am loving this thread and hearing all about the women that have inspired you all. For me, it would also be family, friends, people I work and volunteer with/for and some celebrities (particularly singers) 

Teigr

Helen Joyce.

Louloubell1980

L_Volunteer said:

I am loving this thread and hearing all about the women that have inspired you all. For me, it would also be family, friends, people I work and volunteer with/for and some celebrities (particularly singers) 

It's lovely meeting someone who inspired me to fundraise for epilepsy charities and have raised £17000 for charities and donated 630 epilepsy information packs with laylas book epilepsy book for kids inside along with child friendly epilepsy 1st aid leaflets and stickers and young carers leaflets inside to schools and libraries and NHS and charities and to family's who needed them. 

NotReally

Mary Wollstonecraft; "OG feminist Mary Wollstonecraft. Ridiculed in her time as a “hyena in a petticoat”, Wollstonecraft pioneered thinking on matters we take for granted in modern times. It was she who first suggested that women might actually be thinking beings in their own right and that gender roles are not innate but a social construct."

Ada Lovelace; mathematician, computer science visionary.

Carole Beu; who was the English teacher at my secondary school, where I attended almost no classes at all.  She remained a friend after both she and I had left the school.  It is to her credit that I am both proud and comfortable to be a feminist, and a significant role in shaping the positive parts of the person I am today.

Louloubell1980

I had one really supportive teacher in college who stayed behind after all other pupils had gone home to explain lessons in a way I could understand where most other teachers got fed up of me putting my hand up for help