Gillian Lees from Glasgow, Scotland
Evelyn, 59, from Hamilton,interviewed by Gillian Lees, June 2009
Email corraspondance:
On Sun, 21/6/09, Gillian Lees
Dearest Evelyn
Below are some questions relating to womanhood. As i mentioned, there is no 'right' answer and it's not necessarily about responding in the most 'PC' manner. Make no apologies for how you feel. You may never have considered the idea of being a 'woman' any more than you have considered yourself a human being or merely a member of the human race! Anything goes! so feel free to be honest! However if you don't think a question is relevant to you, rather than skip it, if you wouldn't mind writing why it isn't relevant to you, I'd really appreciate it. It lets me know if it's something to be altered for any further interviews!
Also, if you feel you have a lot to say, then don't hold back!! Write as much (or as little) as you feel will communicate your thoughts about the subject. If it leads you to write about something which may not be stipulated in the questions per say, then it'd be wonderful for you to write below the questions, a blurb about what you've been thinking.
Finally, some of the questions, given the context, may read as though they are explicitly related to feminism/ from a females perspective. This is only as you choose to read it. Answer as you please.
Just know that I have asked you to take part as you have played a significant part in shaping the woman who writes this to you. Thank you with all my heart.
Gills.x
If you were the minister for women, what would you do?
Do you have a living female icon? If so, who and why?
What is the best thing about being female?
What changes would you like to see in 20 years time?
What is a feminist?
Was there a moment when you realised things could be different?
What do you think are the great achievements of feminism, if any?
On Sun, 21/6/09 Evelyn Henwood
Gillian, Hi,
Just want to know how quickly you need a reply to the questions you have asked, as I am working Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and would like to take a little day or two to digest and answer the questions fully.
Would next week-end be soon enough or do you want a quicker response. If so I will try to get back as soon as I can.
Love Evelyn x
On Thu, 25,6/09 Gillian Lees
Hello lovely
As soon as you can would be grand, but I'd rather you took your time with it. It sounds like you might have something interesting to contribute and I wouldn't want you to rush it. I am so pleased to have you involved. I also need you to know you have been a very positive influence in my life Evelyn. You taught me about tolerance in what felt like the most desperate of times, and also unconditional patience. Just thought I should let you know and I hope it doesn't embarrass you.
Also, I have a few more things I would like yo to consider if you have time. These are things which I am particularly interested in... some of them overlap with the others, so ignore duplicates, I'm just trying to refine my findings!!
What is feminism?
What is a feminist and what do they do which can be defined as being feminist?
Do you feel any expectations from other women?
What expectations do you have of other women?
What qualities do you think you look for/avoid in a female friend?
Do you have a living female living icon? If so, who and why?
What would you consider to be 'liberating' as a woman?
Fondest regards,
Gillian.xxx
On Thur, 25,6/09, Evelyn Henwood
Hello Dear,
Thank you for giving me a guide line to time scale. I will try to get back to you with the answers to at least some of your questions, over the next couple of days.
I am also glad to know I have had a positive part to play in your life. As I think you all ready know, I believe that is partly what life is about. To experience things, to then pass the knowledge to the next generation when it is most needed and for them in turn to pass it on when they find someone who also then needs what they have to give. This is 'Loving your neighbour'
Anyway dear, I am off to ponder anew some words of wisdom(HAHA) on the subject of 'Feminism'
Speak to you soon.
Lots of love from
Evelyn.
On Fri, 26/6/09, Evelyn Henwood
Hi Gillian,
I thought I would try to make a start into this soul searching subject.
Firstly let me say that I talk better than I write, but I will do my best to convey my thoughts.
The first thing I did was to look up the dictionary to see what the official definition was and take it from there.
Chambers concise English dictionary states:-Feminism - advocacy of women's rights, of the movement for the advancement and emancipation of women; Feminist:- an advocate or favourer of feminism. A student of women.
I looked over all your questions and then many jumbled thoughts leapt into my brain and have stayed there for a week. I am slowly trying to unravel them!
My first thought was " Surely all women of the western world should be feminists" (using the actual definition of course) I can think of no reason why any woman would not wish to advocate women's rights.
My next thought was that not everyone takes the literal meaning. Some take it to extremes, Women who use it against men, as they hate men and many even think that if we collect enough sperm we could just do away with men altogether! How sad! Men and women should compliment each other. This brings me to the first question you posed for me. 1)- If I were Minister for women, what would I do? Well I am not sure it would further the cause to have a 'Minister for Women' as immediately we would be doing what men have done for centuries and developing and "Old girls network" instead of and 'Old boys network'.
So I think you would have to create a 'Minister for Men' too. (All things being EQUAL and all!)
Having said that, a promoter for womens' causes would not be altogether a bad thing, as many women lack confidence to speak out at work or in the home if they are not being treated with respect and many of the laws regarding abuse of women are most definitely needing updated, so I guess I would start there. (Laws on rape, domestic abuse, work abuse, carers of the children etc.- The list goes on forever) All needing a lot of work put into them.
Qustion 2 was a bit more difficult - Do I have any LIVING icons. Yes I suppose I do although it would be fair to say I have more that are DEAD!
Two people come to mind though and both for different reasons. Margaret Thatcher would be one. Not because of her politics, as I didn't always agree with them, but for her ability to show that woman can be strong and achieve their goals in life whilst still remaining feminine and a Lady with dignity. "A tenacious lady"
don't you think?
My second choice would have to be 'Madonna' - Firstly, "A woman!" as opposed to "A Lady" -A woman who has worked hard at her career. A long and successful career at that. Fearless. Unafraid to take the chance of continually re-inventing herself. Her music changes, her appearance changes. Her personal life changes, but her determination never changes. Strong enough in her own mind to still strut her stuff at 50 (Rightly or Wrongly!) She is confident to do this and is a true sexy, feminine, female, feminist!
You can see I like alliteration!
I think I must stop there as it it lunch time for me and I am out with dad this afternoon.
Will send more soon.
Evelyn x
On Fri, 26/6/09 Gillian Lees
Evelyn, these musings are wonderful! I am very intrigued by your choices of iconic women and would never have suspected you'd have chosen madonna, so this interview email marathon has already given me a little insight about you that I'd likely have never found out!! I love that one of the definitions you came across states that a feminist is 'a student of women'. What a lovely phrasing. Forward me any more insights that you have, I'd be really pleased to read on.
Much love (and appreciation)
gil.x
On Sat, 27/6/09, Evelyn Henwood
Good afternoon Gillian,
I am sitting down for a half hour break from the garden and just thought I would answer another couple of questions.
I hope the information I give you is what you are looking for. As you know I could talk for hours on just one of the questions! However typing it out is another thing! Anyway here we go................
Question (3) What is the best thing about being a woman? Mmmm, I had to think hard about this one as I have never really thought about it before. I am a woman, I like being a woman, can't imagine not being a woman, but, never really thought about why? So after trying to get my head round this my answer would have to be 'Multi-tasking!' it is just the most wonderful gift and I think it is the source of all that woman do just because they can! It opens up so many doors. It allows you to be many things to many people which opens up many different trains of thought. How you think as a mum, as a wife,as a lover, as a business woman as an artist! Woman can do so many different things and be good at all of them and all at the one time!! How great is that??? Plus it's kind of nice to dress up, wear nice clothes that you have shopped for. Wear nice jewellery! (my passion) and at the end of it all hopefully be spoiled rotten by the man of your dreams. SO... Everything! is great about being a 'woman' Compensates for some of the rotten things! I think that just about covers that question now number 4
Question (4) - what changes would you like to see in 20 years time?
Undoubtedly, as many as we've seen in the last 20. Women have come on leaps and bounds that's for sure, but as I mentioned in my first question about the minister for women, so many things have still to be done. More than anything though I hope the respect from men in business etc improves. I think this will happen though, as the young men today are in general being brought up differently. Parents of my age and younger are trying to make sure that the boys don't grow up thinking they are superior to woman. Although I think the male role must retain some of it's basic instincts like protecting the wife and children's for instance, I think this can be done without making the wife feel that her role is inferior. That's the balance I would like to see for the future. Everything for me is about balance and respect.
Well dear, time to get back to my garden. It's totally imbalanced at the moment and all these macho male weeds are taking over!!! (haha!)
Will send more rants to you soon.
Love from
Evelyn xx
On Sun 28/6/09 Evelyn Henwood
Hi again,
I have done a little more pondering and I think I will attempt to answer another few questions today.
Leading on from yesterday, we have question 5 -What is a feminist?
Well I said in my very first discussion regarding this, that a feminist is lots of different things to different people, but for me, I think the definition we both appear to like, and for me describes what I think a feminist is, is "A student of women".
Broadly speaking I think this implies that women in general are always studying what other women are doing. We interact with other women all the time. Over lunch we may discuss a wide range of subjects, or over coffee, or a drink, or at work and we are constantly striving to become better women, stronger women, simply by either learning, or teaching through a constant exchange of thoughts and ideas. From how we can improve our looks, our knowledge our personal lives, or how we can impress our bosses to make them sit up and take notice, not necessarily of the woman, but of the person. A student learns by reading, talking and doing and then passes on the knowledge. We give each other hope, strength and respect and from this women become more confident in what they do. They grow stronger and more assertive and with that comes the balance.
Question 6! - Was there a moment when you realised things could be different?
Well... Yes...and...No! - I'll start with No because , well just because, I want to! -No, because I think I have somehow always known from I was a little girl, that females have an inner strength. I have always been a positive thinking person, as child and adult. Always the optimist, always felt that I could achieve anything I wanted if I wanted it enough. Maybe it was my parents' faith in me, maybe it was the strong faith I have in a greater God, I don't know really, I just know I have always had it and never doubted it. Since as far back as I remember I have just known that man and women were born equal in God's eyes and so far I have never been in a position in my life to ever doubt it. As I have already told you in the past Gillian I came from a home where love and respect for women were paramount, so maybe this is just something that has never crossed my mind! The 'Yes' would probably be in the 60's when the women's lib movement took a stand and it was big news that "women all over the world were 'burning their Bras ' Not to my knowledge did this actually happen, but it was the catch phrase of that time and it certainly made the male population jump up and down in their seats. Now I don't know if this was through fear or joy!, but the women of that time certainly made them sit up and take notice. I don't think I was ever into burning my bra, but I did go without one for a short time, but realised very quickly that with 'boobs' my size, it was not a good idea, as they would probably end up at my knees by the time I reached 21, so I changed my mind on that one pretty damn quick!!! However I would probably say that, that was the first time that I became aware that so many women were not treated as they should be and change was afoot.
Last one for today - question 7. - What do you think are the greatest achievements of feminism, if any?
Oh lots of things. The sheer mass of the support groups that have sprung up for women with all types of problems is fantastic, but we still need many more as
the freedom fighters for womens' rights achieve more and more, then more and more women come to realise that many have been suppressed and now want help from us feminists to get up there and demand the equality they duly deserve, but this takes time and it always for me comes back down to "balance and respect". Bull in china shop tactics don't work. Women must sometimes gain respect in a man's world. Unless like me, they have always been aware that they just had it! Even "Eve" - 'the temptress' in the story of the garden of Eden, knew Adam respected her enough to do her bidding and ate the apple. So I guess we've always had some kind of strength. I think it just got misplaced along the way somewhere, Don't you think?
Love from Evelyn x
On Mon, 29/6/09 Gillian Lees
Evelyn, your words are inspiring, not only to me but to all of womankind and I can't thank you enough for allowing me (and all who will happen upon Nic's dedicated 'make you own herstory' project') to learn of yet another wonderful womans' insight. As an individual, I'd to thank you for your constant encouragement and support and absolute faith that I can achieve anything I put my mind to.
With all of my love,
Gillian.x
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