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For my theme I decided to write a travel article and visited Elly Beinhorn, a pioneer of air travel back in 1932. I travelled to Berlin, which was an interesting yet scary place to visit during a time of economic and political instability...already Hitler's army was gathering momentum.
Caroline's Theme
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Amanda's Theme
Amanda travelled back to the Victorian period, looking at what life was like compared to now. As she researched she found that women were very much secondary to men. Men were the head of the household and the moral leaders of their families. The woman's role was very much to love, honour and obey her husband. Seen as she hates men at the moment, Amanda decided that it seemed fitting to research into the role of the Victorian woman. As she researched further she found that women had no rights whatsoever...the man took full control over any income earned by his wife. Women were not even allowed to open their own bank accounts. This meant it was impossible for a woman to leave a failed marriage. However, Amanda found that during these times children's illustration was an acceptable pastime for women. This linked in with her currently reading the biography of Beatrix Potter, a Victorian woman who was affected by the lack of education for girls during this era. Although she came from a wealthy family, Beatrix didn't conform to the role of the Victorian woman in society, publishing her illustrations and stories and using her earnings to purchase property and land in the Lake District, eventually marrying against her parent's wishes, becoming a woman farmer and living equal to her husband. She became a passionate conservationist and upon her death left acres of land and 14 properties to the National Trust, meaning much of the land in The Lake District is preserved to this date thanks to Beatrix Potter. 
This woman has touched all of our lives. We've all grown up with her stories and illustrations as children but she was also a woman of courage, strength and power and somebody that we as women can and should take great inspiration from.Danielle's Theme
Danielle visited Ancient Greece...starting by making a point that it's the perfect place for her to be as it's passionate, sordid and full of sex basically. She discussed her fascination with Greek Mythology and how much she loves the stories of how the world came about, preferring the fantasy of the myths to the actual reality. On Danielle's travels she found that she would want to bring back the humour and light-heartedness of the stories, bringing back these beliefs to take the place of the organised and often political religions that we have now. Danielle discussed how religion today is very much used as an excuse to tell people how they should behave or as a motive to get people to do things they might otherwise avoid. She believes that this makes up most of the problems in the world today. She is happier relating to the stories of the Greek Gods and Goddesses and believes that Greek mythology is a more humorous and light-hearted way to look at religion.Phoebe's Theme
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Finally, Phoebe travelled to the middle ages and visited Isabella of France between 1292 and 1358. Isabella married King Edward the Second when she was just 12 years old. However, the King was involved with Piers Gaviston, his male lover who he lavished wealth and favour on. Isabella was used by the King and at aged 16 she fell pregnant. When Gaviston was killed Isabella became more powerful with her rival gone and after giving birth to a son she gained power and became a major player in court politics. Isabella was treated poorly, particularly when the King found a new favourite Hugh Le Despenser. The King got rid of all of her servants and courtiers and separated her from her children. Isabella left England for France. After falling in love with Englishman Roger Mortimer she raised an army and the pair returned to England to dispose of the King and put her son on the throne...as he was too young it meant she would rule as regent. She and Mortimer ruled for 3 years after apparently murdering the King and Le Despenser in a very nasty way...think hot pokers and bottoms! Her son Edward eventually took over the throne, hanging Mortimer for murder of his Father and then banishing his Mother to retirement in luxury. Phoebe found that Isabella was the first woman in history to use power to dispose of an anointed King. She took action against him in an era when as a woman she appeared to be powerless. She was described as a she-wolf, yet she was in fact a peace-keeper, having stopped a war with France. Though she was violent she acted no worse than the men around her. Girl power!
Time to go home
How funny that most of us had chosen to visit women on our travels and that we found the women we visited incredibly inspirational, brave and strong. It had been a fantastic, inspirational dinner and Jamie's Italian had been the perfect setting. I really felt like I had learnt something and felt so much stronger for having heard about such amazing people. It made me feel that I can get through the problems I am facing at the moment...I can stand up to the people who have hurt me...I can be Isabella of France and fight for the life that I think I deserve...now where's my red hot poker? Just kidding! With protruding bellies (apart from Amanda; I don't think she's ever had a protruding belly in her life!) we made our way back to the train and giddily travelled down the tracks to home. Catherine xx
1 comment:
I remember Amanda with a bumpy tum....it was called Benjamin!!!!
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