FUEL
This week, while painting, I had the question bubble up of why I am involved in this project. And I think I’d like to share a little bit of the thinking I’ve had.
I grew up in an idyllic environment. Although we weren’t wealthy by anyone’s definition, my parents were both involved in my daily life, they cared about my dreams, and also took the time to prepare me for the real world. Both of them had very different upbringing to that which they provided for me and my brother, and they were conscious of the kind of home they wanted for us. My dad, although not the chef that my mom was, would cook, do dishes, ironing, and whatever was needed. My mom, although not the handyman that Dad was, would take the cars in to the shop, mow the lawn, paint walls, and whatever was needed. I had no concept of inequality. My brother and I were equally expected to help out at home, and we were equally given freedom to be who we really were.
And that’s a major factor for my desire to do this project. I am a woman, who was not enclosed by tradition, but was guided by principles. I was encouraged to dream and was given space and opportunity to do so. I have not had a husband who burdens me with expectations, (and truthfully has not ever even raised his voice at me in the 28 years we have been married, he simply chooses to talk and work on our communication) and I have not grown up in a culture where I was diminished simply for being female. The fact that I cannot even fully grasp the sense of what Strawberry Girls go through from birth to brothel is a propellant for me.
I do this project because I know that life can be different. Culture can change. Because I have lived an existence as a whole person, validated not only for what I can produce, but simply because I am me. Because I exist, I have worth. Because they do too.
I am not advocating perfection. My life has been very distant from that notion, and I am surrounded by people who constantly give me much grace and allowance for failure. I am not advocating anything that is remotely idealistic or unrealistic. I am advocating for possibility.
The absence in my life of such egregious trauma is my fuel. I long to see women free, that they might have healing, experience hope, and dream like they did when they were little girls. Just to fight for a chance for these things to happen—even if it is for just one woman—is why I work all day and much of the evening all week for the past year.