Though the sex to which I belong is considered weak, you will find me a rock that bends to no wind.
Elizabeth I
via Brainyquote.com
Being a woman is a tough gig in this life, and no one knew that better than Elizabeth I. Too sweet and accommodating, you are condemned as weak, unworthy of command or promotion. Too tough or opinionated, you get labeled a traitor to your sex, as though somehow standing up to someone or having a firm belief could take away your extra X chromosome. Admit that you have a weakness and you have reinforced the idea that men should rule the world. Cover up your flaws and you are superficial, too worried about image over substance. We can’t win. Elizabeth decided not to try. She didn’t marry and it seems she decided not to worry about how that made her look. Frigid, scared of men, afraid of childbirth? Eh. Think what you want to think. I’ll be over here running the country. If I want your good opinion, I’ll order you to give it to me…and you will.
The central theme of this quote isn’t really sexism, though. It’s the inner strength that shows up all over history and always manages to catch people by surprise. That power showing up in “weak” women still shocks anyone only shows how little we have learned from history, Elizabeth I’s and everyone else’s. May we all know that layer of bedrock lies within us, that we are capable of standing for our principles and yielding to no wind when the occasion calls for it.
Most of us even manage it without a handy tower for imprisoning people. Go, us.
Kimberly does not run a country. Her cat has mixed feelings about Kimberly’s ability to manage a one-bedroom condo.
“Go,us!” indeed. Love that. And the topiary.
But without that tower, it’s far less fun.
Love the topiary! Looks familiar, but I can’t place it. Where is it?
The lovely crown of nature was in St. James Park, near Buckingham Palace. At the time I just thought it was an interesting part of the usual landscape, but it turns out that was created especially for the Queen’s 60th anniversary on the throne in 2012. I’m not sure it’s still there, or whether it got replaced by something else.
What a great quote! I appreciate your reminder that we all have the inner strength to do hard things…a tower would come in handy, though..even to just lock myself away!!