Empowering Smallholder Women

The Artdog Image of Interest

December's focus for my Images of Interest is smallholder farmers, a vitally important sector of the economy across the world. Last week's Image focused on "The Smallholder Effect." This week's focus is women smallholder farmers.

As microlenders have discovered, women are often extremely responsible businesspersons. This Bayer infographic further explores their role and importance.

IMAGES: Many thanks to AZ Quotes, for the Judith Rodin quote about empowering African women, and to Bayer, for the infographic on Women in Smallholder Agriculture.

Reflections on the glass ceiling

The Artdog Quotes of the Week 

I chose a pair of quotes for this week, both addressing, in a different way, the endurance of the glass ceiling in American public life. I am particularly feeling the Maureen Reagan quote in this season of political madness.

IMAGES: Many thanks to The World Economic Forum for the quote from Drew Gilpin Faust, and to IZ Quotes, via Quotes Gram, for the bons mots from Maureen Reagan.

Are You this Woman? Artdog Image(s) of Interest

If this is not you, I bet you know several variations on this woman. She is not perfect. She has to prioritize and triage. But she rocks!

Of course, moms through the ages have been masters of multitasking. One of my favorite sculptures at the Nelson-Atkins Museum is the 8th-century Central Asian Caravan Woman Rousing her Camel While Nursing. Obviously a consummate multi-tasker.

It's not just moms who excel at multitasking, of course. I once had plans to create a portrait of my husband Pascal along the same lines as the Modern Mom image (he is at least twice the multi-tasker I am!). I did have second thoughts, however, about portraying him in the same manner as the Lord Shiva, who is, after all, a god . . . might never hear the end of that one. 

IMAGES: I originally found the "Modern Mom" as part of an assembled image on an article by Rose Fres Fausto, and traced it back to a now-defunct site called Modern Mom, via Belevation Mom; I eventually got the image I used here from Photobucket. The Central Asian Caravan Woman is from the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, MO. Many thanks to all!

A few words from Rosie's sisters: Artdog Image(s) of Interest

I ran across this in a Google search, and couldn't resist using it for a month that's supposed to be devoted to images with a female social justice angle: 

I thought this was a pretty cool adaptation of the iconic "Rosie the Riveter" image created by J. Howard Miller for Westinghouse, expanding the message to one that's more inclusive. And because I can, and I love a good icon, here's a bonus image: the original.

Empowering women activates 51% of any given population, and makes the overall society stronger and more agile. Talent that otherwise would be wasted can come into play. That goes for women of ALL ethnic and racial identifications. And very much NOT only in time of war.

IMAGES: As far as I can tell, the "We ALL Can Do It!" image originated on a Wordpress blog called Sara Gets Critical, which no longer seems to exist. I found it on Syd's Birthday Challenge. Many thanks! The original Miller poster image is in the common domain; I found this file on the ever-invaluable Wikipedia. Thank you!