MY PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE IS FEMALE

Words by Kayleigh Dunne.

When I was younger I was unable to tell you when International Women’s Day was. I didn't realise it was a thing until I was in my teens and started becoming active in the feminist movement and educating myself more on womens’ rights and the fight for them. Today, I never forget the date. It also happens to be my Grandmother’s birthday, which I think is very fitting for a woman like her. International Womens’ Day can mean something different to everyone, but for me it is remembering the women in my life, appreciating them and thanking them for making me the badass woman I often consider myself today.

Anyone who knows me, knows I grew up in a female centric world. It was my mum, my older sister, me and then my younger sister. Even our animals were female. That was our life. Looking back it was a great life. It's funny thinking about my family dynamic and realising that if it was any other shape, I more than likely would not be the person I am today. Of course, we were all aware of our dynamic growing, and even though we were siblings that did typical sibling things, there was and is a bond and closeness between all of us that made us friends. We went through a lot together, but had great times throughout our childhood also.

Growing up, my sisters and I were also told how alike we were, by everyone we knew. Now, as siblings you reject that statement, you want to be your own person -  not be lumped together with a sister you just had a fight with the day before. Yet as you get older, you begin to learn what kind of people your family are, you learn more about them than you knew when you were younger. I realised that being alike to my sisters and my mother was the highest compliment possible, each one of them is a great woman in their own right. 

My mam. The strongest woman I know without a doubt. Raised the three of us (trust me, it was not an easy task at times), yet gave us everything a child could want and need. We went on great trips, she brought us so many places, fuelling my love for travel and old buildings. She introduced us to great music: I’m talking Prince and Bon Jovi. My mam is the reason all of us have a shared love of Disney. We watched so many Disney films growing up that they will forever hold a special place in my heart. I remember when I was really young I spilled oxtail soup onto my copy of Peter Pan, (still one of my favourite Disney films) I cried like a Banshee. Mam ran around the town trying to replace the copy, she eventually found one, and I believe that’s the copy we still have today .

My eldest sister. Shorter in stature, but stands the tallest of anyone I know. She was the first to go to college in our family, first to finish a masters. She was the first to do many things in our family. She is five years older than me, and in ways a second mother. She was often the mediator and the voice of reason in sibling situations. She is definitely someone I feel I learned so much more about as I got older. She became a confidant as I got older and had struggles myself, reassuring me, listening to me and giving advice I often cannot see for myself. She is also the reason I believed I could move to another country where I knew no one, I didn't even have a flat when I first moved to Glasgow, because she was brave enough to move across the world. She is the person I often inspire to be, the one who I look up to, and a sister I will always strive to be like.

My youngest sister. There are times I believe the two of us are a lot more similar than we first thought. I just didn’t realise it fully until I moved to a different country. Three years between us was a weird age gap growing up. We had completely different interests growing up, yet as we got older we slipped easily into a friendship and having a sisterly bond. She is a great person. She is 100 percent the reason I became more active in the likes of human rights and educating myself on such topics. One time I asked to learn about Palestine and she being the activist she is, sent me fifteen screenshots worth of information, answering my questions and teaching me. She is going to change the world. She is so passionate about the world and its inhabitants and she is insanely clever, driven and confident to boot. If everyone was 1 percent more like my younger sister, the world would be a completely different place. She is a person everyone could learn a thing or two from, I know I definitely have. She will always be the person I can ask questions without and fear of judgement because she wishes to educate people to be better. She is the reason I am a better person and why I am more confident in my opinions and ideals.

You, the reader, are probably wondering why I am writing this love letter to my family. I miss them. I am used to seeing them four to five times a year, but due to the world's happenings right now, this has been slashed indefinitely. I still speak to all of my family everyday, but I wanted to write a love letter to them for International Womens’ Day, because I have fantastic women in my life and they deserve to be acknowledged and celebrated. I am proud to be my mother’s daughter. I am proud to be my sisters’ sister. I am proud to call them my family. Family is an integral part of your identity, and mine is no different. Our family has shaped each of the four of us into the people we are now. I hope to continue to grow with my family by my side, and I hope I inspire them too, and that they are proud I’m related to them.

Also shout out the best girl in the family: Lily!

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