70's - I am Woman

Women's Liberation Movement was not mentioned in the assigned reading of "33 revolutions per minutes" by Lynskey. But I did find a song which represented that period of time in our syllabus. Helen Reddy's "I am Woman" was written in 1972. The impact of this song is enormous. It was also chosen by United Nations as the theme song for the International Women's Year (1975).

"I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back and pretend
'Cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever going to keep me down again

Whoa, yes, I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
......

I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman"

There is an old Chinese saying,"mediocrity is the virtue of women". In traditional Chinese society, women are not encouraged to get higher education or pursue a career. They are expected to stay at home and take care of the children. These expectations for women were very common around the world until the Women's Liberation Movement. "And I've been down there on the floor. No one's ever going to keep me down again". I cannot describe how much I admire the activists for this movement. "But it's wisdom born of pain. Yes, I've paid the price,
But look how much I gained." Without them, I might still be a man's accessory with minimal education. I wouldn't be able to express my own opinion or pursue my dream. Today I don't have to pretend to be mediocre and I can act like myself. "I'm strong, I'm invincible, "I am proud to be a woman.