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[seienchin]

Today is International Women's Day. This day is celebrated in March each year and recognises the women who make a difference to our lives - whether at work, in the community, or at home.

The theme for International Women's Day 2012 is 'everything is possible'.

This theme really resonates with what we have seen in the growth of women achieving in the domain of knockdown and other martial arts.

'Everything is possible' encourages women and girls to challenge stereotypes, explore all career options and embrace the opportunities life offers in traditionally male-dominated fields.

Give some consideratoin to acknowledging international women's day at your dojo or club!

[Spirit]

Should it not be each day?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Originally Posted by seienchin

Today is International Women's Day. This day is celebrated in March each year and recognises the women who make a difference to our lives - whether at work, in the community, or at home.

The theme for International Women's Day 2012 is 'everything is possible'.

This theme really resonates with what we have seen in the growth of women achieving in the domain of knockdown and other martial arts.

'Everything is possible' encourages women and girls to challenge stereotypes, explore all career options and embrace the opportunities life offers in traditionally male-dominated fields.

Give some consideratoin to acknowledging international women's day at your dojo or club!

[ashiharakaicho]

Osu,

A number of female athletes was honoured by our Provincial MEC (Minister) of Sport, Dr Ivan Meyer to a breakfast treat at the Department's Headoffice in Cape Town.

Karate was well represented by athletes and officials and some of those honoured included Mary-Ann Landers (president of regional All Styles and a former competitor/Continental Referee), Nasiera Abrahams, Sa'diyya Larney Chanelle Gewers and others.

Nasiera was the only Full Contact athlete honoured.

It was great to see the slideshow depicting the many talented ladies.

Only can only congratulate them and wish them to aspire to even greater heights. Luckily I was invited to so it was a pleasure to be surrounded by a bevy of top class athletes and many of them were stunners showing that beauty does not necessarily mean blond only ...

[seienchin]

Originally Posted by Spirit

Should it not be each day?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

IF we did that, the lads may get a little jealous. But thanks for the sentiment!

Originally Posted by ashiharakaicho

Osu,

A number of female athletes was honoured by our Provincial MEC (Minister) of Sport, Dr Ivan Meyer to a breakfast treat at the Department's Headoffice in Cape Town.

Karate was well represented by athletes and officials and some of those honoured included Mary-Ann Landers (president of regional All Styles and a former competitor/Continental Referee), Nasiera Abrahams, Sa'diyya Larney Chanelle Gewers and others.

Nasiera was the only Full Contact athlete honoured.

It was great to see the slideshow depicting the many talented ladies.

Cool! sounds like quite a celebration!

Originally Posted by ashiharakaicho

Osu,

A Luckily I was invited to so it was a pleasure to be surrounded by a bevy of top class athletes and many of them were stunners showing that beauty does not necessarily mean blond only ...

I'm sure that it was hard to take.....

[ashiharakaicho]

Originally Posted by seienchin

Cool! sounds like quite a celebration!

That it was - not many guys were around - other than the support staff and a few invited ones like me ... Also the Minister.

I'm sure that it was hard to take.....

If I was a beauty judge, my choice would have gone to the "Tug of War" ladies - really nice looking girls doing Tug of War, and they were petite looking ...

[seienchin]

Originally Posted by ashiharakaicho

they were petite looking ...

That's one of the women's secret weapons. We can pack a lot of strenth into a deceptive package! And healthy, strong women are a good ideal of feminine beauty..not the only one, but a good one!

[Ros]

Originally Posted by ashiharakaicho

Luckily I was invited to so it was a pleasure to be surrounded by a bevy of top class athletes and many of them were stunners...

I'm interested to know why you had to mention how attractive they were?

[SteveK]

Originally Posted by seienchin

Today is International Women's Day. This day is celebrated in March each year and recognises the women who make a difference to our lives - whether at work, in the community, or at home

And worthwhile recognition too
Even here in Kurdistan the women I work with were celebrating International Women's Day and they all deserve special recognition for the work they do in a place like this

[seienchin]

Originally Posted by SteveK

And worthwhile recognition too
Even here in Kurdistan the women I work with were celebrating International Women's Day and they all deserve special recognition for the work they do in a place like this

that's great to hear SteveK. I think it is easy for us in the West, where women have already achieved so much equality, to think that there is nothing to celebrate. But in Kurdistan.....amazing progress for women in the last 20 years!

[ashiharakaicho]

Originally Posted by Ros

I'm interested to know why you had to mention how attractive they were?

Probably because not many people can equate looks/beauty with other attributes such as ability, brains and so on ...

[Ros]

Originally Posted by ashiharakaicho

Probably because not many people can equate looks/beauty with other attributes such as ability, brains and so on ...

I was thinking that maybe International Women's Day was trying to move away from classifying women according to their looks (regardless of 'other' attributes)!

[seienchin]

Interesting point Ros! I had a sobering conversation with a young woman at my kickboxing club last night. She is very strong and fast, and I was surprised to learn that she does not spar. Her reason "My husband still wants me to be a little bit feminine".

There are still plenty of men (and, I hate to say, women) around who see femininity as the absence of strength, aggression, self-sufficiency, but in the presence of these things, femininity can be "salvaged" by looking pretty. We are on a journey towards equality, but we aren't there yet.

I remember the shock on a Japanese student's face (almost 30 years ago now) when after we had been training hard together for some weeks, sweating and sparring....I took him to the beach. He was flabbergasted when he saw me in a bikini....."B-b-b-b-ut ....how can it be that you are so......feminine". I just laughed and offered him my best cake recipe, to completely do his head in!

The problem is that sports organisations who want for all the right reasons, to promote women's participation (like Ashiharakaicho's) do their market research, and discover that one of the barriers to women's participation is concern about "femininity". So they DO highlight womens' looks and "other attributes", because that's what the women want them to do. I don't like it, I don't agree with it, but I do understand it. And I am under no illusions that stereotypes of masculinity are any less harmful for men.

[ashiharakaicho]

Originally Posted by seienchin

I remember the shock on a Japanese student's face (almost 30 years ago now) when after we had been training hard together for some weeks, sweating and sparring....I took him to the beach. He was flabbergasted when he saw me in a bikini....."B-b-b-b-ut ....how can it be that you are so......feminine". I just laughed and offered him my best cake recipe, to completely do his head in!

This bit about the Japanese reminded me of Kickan Cook - she surprised many of the male Japanese years ago when she beat them in arm wrestling on a Summer Camp.

The problem is that sports organisations who want for all the right reasons, to promote women's participation (like Ashiharakaicho's) do their market research, and discover that one of the barriers to women's participation is concern about "femininity". So they DO highlight womens' looks and "other attributes", because that's what the women want them to do. I don't like it, I don't agree with it, but I do understand it. And I am under no illusions that stereotypes of masculinity are any less harmful for men.

A few weeks ago at the annual Provincial Sports Awards, those ladies doing Tug of War was also present - many of the guests (of other sporting codes) were surprised when those ladies walked in. I guess it is the normal stereotyping that ones gets exposed to.

Boys can play mechanic whilst girls must play girls games, keeping house, cooking and so on. Parents must take blame when they prevent their girls from playing "boy games" - ooh, she is a tomboy!!!

We have always advocated females to assume positions. Since the latter part of 2010, I've been supporting a female to assume the leadership of first the regional All Styles structure and then the Provincial structure. If things go as planned, Mary Ann should become the first female President of the National All Styles governing body at the electoral meeting next week.

During the "electoral" campaign - people have continuously asked me why I am supporting Mary-Ann Landers - one of their concerns was that she is female and the other that she is "white" - many simply still cannot comprehend that she is competent and fair.

But that is because many men and organisations still keep the power to themselves and don't want to empower their members not even speaking of females. She started karate in 1971 and at 7th Dan rank should have some competencies otherwise she would not have lasted that long - but those silly people don't see that.

But that is what makes life exciting and will create a revolution pretty soon.

[Dent]

Osu!

Originally Posted by ashiharakaicho

But that is what makes life exciting and will create a revolution pretty soon.

I admit that there are many confusing attitudes in the world, and mine is only one.

When women, as a cohesive group, realize the power that they wield, they really will revolutionize the world. But only they can have that realization, and I believe they need to get out of their own way to make it happen.

Osu!

[ashiharakaicho]

Originally Posted by Dent

Osu! I admit that there are many confusing attitudes in the world, and mine is only one. When women, as a cohesive group, realize the power that they wield, they really will revolutionize the world. But only they can have that realization, and I believe they need to get out of their own way to make it happen. Osu!

You right and maybe here in South Africa we took that first step when Mary-Ann Landers was elected the first ever female President of Karate of the National Governing body.

Now it's getting others to emulate her and to start assuming office in the various regions. But we still face a battle as women are generally indoctrined to be secondary to their husbands and males.

[seienchin]

Originally Posted by ashiharakaicho

But we still face a battle as women are generally indoctrined to be secondary to their husbands and males.

and it is often the women who are the most vicious "enforcers' of this role delineation. not always, but often.

[Dent]

Osu!

Originally Posted by seienchin

and it is often the women who are the most vicious "enforcers' of this role delineation. not always, but often.

Which I both get, and don't get.

Osu!

[ashiharakaicho]

Originally Posted by seienchin

and it is often the women who are the most vicious "enforcers' of this role delineation. not always, but often.

This is so true. One of our friends is being domineered by an abusive husband and can't seem to see that she is in a abusive relationship. Her friends are trying to get her to admit and she is so blinded (by love or whatever else), that she simply does not see the position she is in.

For many in such positions, they probably endure it because for females, it is often what do you do if you stand up - will you have a place to stay, who will look after you and so on. For many "Indians" - when you marry, you must die in that house - a female's parents instills that in their kids instead of saying, stand up for your rights ...

[seienchin]

wow - another year, another international women's day. In the year that has passed, we have had ample cause to reflect on what remains to be done. The painful and dramatic airing of the issues of violence against women in India, the shooting of Malala in Pakistan, and countless other issues.

in one form or another, in almost every country of the world, women still fight for equality (including equal right to bruise their shins....)

Today the United Nations released a music video clip to celebrate International Women's day.

Enjoy.

http://song.unwomen.org/

[Dent]

Osu!

Good thing you weren't listening to the radio in New Jersey this morning, Seienchin. "Welcome to NJ. Please set your watch back to some time before 1919."

Osu!