Dear Ana,

I am writing this to you across generations and cultures that are very different and yet we have so much in common. We both of us are women and that defines so much about us, and we work hard for a living and probably always will. Another similarity? We both come from countries that have women presidents [Ireland and Brazil]. A friend of mine always says that when she went to school and studied history, they had not “invented” people of color or women, and as a woman of color, she felt invisible. I understand what she means, but I don’t think I have ever felt invisible as a woman in my own culture. They say all generalizations are meaningless, but I am going to make one and that is that Irish men like women. By that I mean they are comfortable with them, and don’t feel that they have to prove their superiority to them, and Irish women never simper and smile to please around men. I like working with Irish men on the school trip to Ireland because they treat me just like another person: someone to talk to and hear their story. I don’t feel patronized. My mother used to say when speaking of dependent women, “Who would want a useless woman like that?” Well, I have got news for you, Mummy, many people would.

Today we had three guest presenters in our class: Crystal Angelini, Aita Romaine and attorney Ryan Searle. These three young women have struggled hard to achieve success in their fields, and all of them have experienced sexism but have refused to let it stop them. We heard stories of how important it is to recognize your own goals, and pursue them and establish boundaries. Crystal spoke to us about being stereotyped by some people who considered a massage therapist as providing some kind of sexual service, Ryan raised some smiles when she talked about regular offenders whom she represented prefacing their sexist remarks with, “It’s not because you’re a woman,” and Aita’s description of sleeping footballers who got A’s in their classes brought a laugh of recognition from their audience. What shone through from all of these women was their passionate belief that they set their own limits and dreams. Our presenters stressed to us that a dream worth pursuing is worth the enormous amount of work needed to achieve it. They give me hope for the world.

Dear Elaine,

Just to start off, I agree one hundred percent with everything you said and I see your points. Back in the days, women could not speak up. They were expected to live up to men’s ideals. They were supposed to be the neck of the house, where the man is the head, but they weren’t quite treated as so. Women were only good for staying home, taking care of the house, the kids and looking good for when the husbands got home. They were only worthy when they looked good. Did they ever receive a sincere, “Thank you?” I don’t think so. Things are becoming more flexible and women are finally being treated with respect. Today, there are families where the woman works and the husband stays home taking care of the house and the kids. Women are finally speaking up for themselves. They are finally being respected as hard workers, as the head of the house and even as the neck. The most amazing thing of all is that nowadays women don’t need as much help, they are single mothers, they adopt kids on their own, and they are doing a good job at being a loving mother, hard worker and even the man of the house. You know what I thought was really interesting? That during the time our guests were here, the students were very dedicated to listening to what they had to say. And they all seemed really into the topic and asked some very good questions. It’s important because now they know a little more about what different women go through and things they have to achieve in order to being someone other than what people expect them to be.

Think about it Women, who are they really?

WOMAN

Who brings beauty and light on the most

difficult days

Who splits her soul in two to carry both

Sensitivity and strength

Who gains the world with her courage

Who brings passion in her eyes

WOMAN

Who fights for her ideals

Who gives up her life for her family

WOMAN

Who loves unconditionally

Who gets dressed up and perfumed

Who wins over the tiredness on the daily basis

WOMAN

Who laughs and cries, the one who dreams.

So many women with their unique beauty

Who are alive, full of memories and enchantments.

WOMEN

Who should be remembered, loved and admired every single day throughout their lives.

Ana Nascimento is a member of Elaine Cawley Weintraub’s history class at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School; Mrs. Weintraub is Ana’s mentor and teacher.