Women On The Rocks

Women’s History Month has always been very near-and-dear to my heart. I’m a history fanatic. True historical accounts, biographies, and memoirs are the only books I read. Well, OK, there is an occasional self-help book, and I’ll read a novel if it comes highly recommended by a friend, though that is a rare occurrence. But history is my passion, and especially women’s history.

Since I have three daughters, I’ve tried to make the whole month a fun time of learning about famous (and infamous) women and the events which have shaped the lives of women. The resources at the National Women’s History Project have been invaluable. They have a print catalog and an online store with incredible books, media, art, gifts and stuff you can’t find anywhere else.

In my search for anything going on in the blogosphere to mark not only Women’s History Month, but also International Women’s Day 2008, I was excited to come across a news tidbit on Blogging Sueblimely about an intriguing new project called wowOwow. The wowOwow site launches tomorrow — Saturday, March 8th — and I can’t wait to see what it’s all about! The founders of the site have asked for our answers to this thought-provoking question: “If you could choose any women in the world, living or dead, which four faces would you put on Mount Rushmore?”

After some thought on the four women who have inspired me the most, I sent in my answer. Though I have some International role models, I chose only American women simply because they’d need to be citizens to be on Mount Rushmore.

My Women on the Rocks

• 1) Eleanor Roosevelt — My personal hero. She endured losing both her parents as a child, illness and was painfully shy. She dealt with an overbearing mother-in-law, gave birth to six kids, and was the wife of an US President who had an affair. She was an incredibly strong woman, yet she brought immense comfort to so many.
• 2) Alice Paul — Her life and legacy taught me that one person can make a difference, and that sometimes “bad behavior” is necessary. She also taught me to fight for what I believe in and never give up.
• 3) Hilary Clinton –I liked her better than her husband from the get-go and love her for the fact that she gave me hope we might actually get to stop hearing that God-awful title “first lady” for awhile.
• 4) Madonna — When I was 13, I was first drawn to her “attitude” and the fact that she showed a very strong, sexual woman who called the shots when it came to men. Now I love her for showing me that women can stay strong and sexy no matter what age they are, and because she totally does her own thing, and stays true to herself. The ultimate “party girl” in my opinion. She knew how to have fun, without being stupid about it (ala Britney et al).

Who would you choose? I’d love to hear your answers!