Edit -  honoring the Women:

 

God in his wisdom created men and women on this earth at the same time and gave them the gift of the same earth and all its bountiful immeasurable treasures.  

 

God didn't place any embargo or any condition on either the women. They were to equally experience life, explore it and create, contribute to the treasures of this earth and enjoy the treasures of this world.

 

To think, even remotely, that God would differentiate or discriminate between men and women in living and exploring this earth and everything in it would not only be preposterous but would be against the very essence of the concept of God!!

 

The question then is, why do we see a host of restrictions, embargos and differentiation in societies, (developed or underdeveloped), (rich or the poor) - between what women can and cannot do and what women ought and ought not to do in a host of human aspects?

 

Where, why and how did these conditions and embargoes on women, that we commonly see originate and how did they become societal ‘norms’ in various ways in different parts of the world?

 

Ask yourself... Who is the most intimately connected person to any human being?  The answer is the "mother", who through the umbilical cord gives life to the unborn child, the life sustaining milk of its infancy and throughout the early years - the teaching in the basics of life till the child grows is. It is mother – it is Woman.

 

A woman performs so many roles depending on the requirements of her life, but those closest to her will remember mostly the nurturing caring roles of mother, wife, sister, daughter, aunty, grandmother and friend.

 

But despite all the best things said about women, it is a fact that women who are past their 50th year often find themselves abandoned by those for whom she strived for years..! Who will support and empower them?

 

With everything women have lived through in a rapidly changing society, where motherhood is first revered and then relegated to a lesser role, with all the role changes women who are now over 50 have lived through, I venture to think that these women are equally capable of creating enough and more for themselves to live the rest of their life with joy, love and bliss and also show to the community that - where there is a will there is a way!

 

It is my belief that there is no magic wand, they will need to do so themselves – and that is not acceptable in most people’s eyes – however it is the way of a throwaway society, where values change like underwear. Single women over 50 are particularly vulnerable – but they are not without resources and they have the special benefit of numbers.

 

Women are well known for their ability to work together to achieve group purpose and this is the purpose of the Womens Creative Cooperatives – groups of women gathering locally across many locations who can share their resources and offer social support, where currently many women find themselves isolated.

 

All over the world, women over 50 are experiencing the same things. As they cooperative together to create a better tomorrow, they are recognising the strength they have on the inside. The inner beauty of an authentic woman working towards a more positive future - that encompasses the freedom to be who they are without restrictions, is something to behold.

 

For any change to occur, women must become empowered to make themselves  not only self-sufficient but also to inspire and empower other women, and in doing so create the political and social platform for change, that will ensure greater participation levels in women over 50.

 

 

There are examples of this choice being exercised by women all over the world at different periods of time and also in the same culture.  One such Community project is - "You and the community” in Australia.

 

There are women who stand up to support other women in their times of need and I am very sure a window will open and things will fall in place for projects like "You and the community" to be successful.