International Women's Day is coming up on March 8th. This holiday has been celebrated since the early 1900's, particularly in European countries. You can read about the history and purpose and watch a quick video here (the video is from Russia and so only addresses the holiday there and its connection to socialism). I did a quick search of the International Women's Day site for "midwifery" and "midwives" and came up with ZERO results. Then, I searched for "birth" and "childbirth" and came up with next to nothing. There is a section on the site where you can submit your own stories for publication on the site. I'm envisioning several people contributing thoughtful articles about midwifery care and maternal health in time to honor the 2009 International Women's Day. If you contribute something, please be sure to let me know!
Here is a press release I received about how some birth activists are planning to recognize International Women's Day:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A celebration of International Women’s Day is planned on Sunday, March 8 at the Coudersport Public Library, highlighted by a screening of “Singing The Bones,”
a full-length movie that tells the story of three generations of women brought together by a single birth.
The celebration is the brainchild of longtime childbirth educator Donna Batterson, who is the coordinator of the Healthy Beginnings Plus program for Charles Cole Memorial Hospital. She brought the idea to Freda Fultz of A Way Out and Jane Metzger, a Coudersport Library trustee, who enthusiastically agreed to collaborate on this special celebration.
“We wanted to offer a time for women of all generations to join in celebration of this special day,” says Batterson. “We envision it as a time for mothers, daughters and grandmothers to spend time together celebrating our womanhood.”
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Perhaps there are other such events planned across the country--or, perhaps you could organize a recognition of your own! If not this year, maybe start planning for 2010.
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Molly Remer
CfM Blogger
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1 comment:
What a pleasant surprise to find information about our International Women's Day event on your website. We're excited about bringing heightened awareness to women in the area and I hope this effort will encourage area women to petition the local hospital to add midwifery services to their complement of women's services.
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