Welcome to Historic Stockholm. The entire city situates itself on fourteen islands and on the banks to the archipelago where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea. The historic city center is situated on the water. It is here I celebrate International Women’s Day this 8th of March 2017.
March 8th is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. I include several quotes to offer tribute to influential women writers. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity, and the official theme is #BeBoldForChange. Call on the masses or call on yourself to help forge a better working world – a more inclusive, gender-equal world.
It is fitting that I am here on this day, for it is here in Stockholm that the Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology/Medicine and Literature are celebrated and presented to the laureates, while the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway.
How many women receive Nobel Prizes ?
OK, the number of female Nobel laureates gradually is increasing, yet a huge gender gap remains. The twenty-first century reveals only modest improvements in narrowing the gender gap.
Since 1901, there have been 825 male winners of the Nobel Prize and just 47 female winners. So far, the 2010s have had females win 11.1 percent of its awards – the highest level of female representation yet. This is significantly short of equal gender representation for women.
International Women’s Day also is known as the United Nations (UN) Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace. REPEAT: #BeBoldForChange. Call on the masses or call on yourself to help forge a better working world – a more inclusive, gender-equal world. We can chose to lament the problems, or we can apply our passions toward creating what it is we want. Sir William Gerald Golding (1911–1993), a Nobel Prize-winning writer best known for his 1954 novel Lord of the Flies, has noted that women are superior to men. However, now is the time to let go of this competitive perception of gender evaluation and steer the course toward appreciation of human attributes. Physical, social, emotional and intellectual intelligence are all human qualities.
“The book to read is not the one that thinks for you, but the one which makes you think.” ~ Harper Lee [1926 – 2016]
The Riddarholm Church is the burial church of the Swedish monarchs. It is located on the island of Riddarholmen near the Royal Palace.
“To write something, you have to risk making a fool of yourself.” ~ Anne Rice
While strolling on a Sunday, a lantern lit outside the shop or establishment, signals a warm welcome to enter.
“Language is an intrinsic part of who we are and what has, for good or evil, happened to us.” ~ Alice Walker
“The idea is to write it so that it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart. ” ~ Maya Angelou [1928 – 2014]
Spring is arriving! Sweden!
“If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word.” ~ Margaret Atwood
Pedestrian district.
“If a book is well-written, I always find it is too short.” ~ Jane Austen [1775 – 1817]
Charming Swedish shops and women!
“Embrace what makes you unique, even if it makes others uncomfortable. I didn’t have to become perfect because I’ve learned throughout my journey that perfection is the enemy of greatness.” ~ Janelle Monae
The night whispers its arrival.
“Wherever you go you meet part of your story.” ~ Eudora Welty [1909 – 2001]
And all is well, herein celebrating influential women writers – readying for more journeys in change!
“Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don’t feel like I should be doing something else.” ~ Gloria Steinem
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Originally Published: March 7, 2017