Watching the women in my family, I grew up knowing that women are so much more than kinkeepers. A role with an invisible workload that is typically assigned to women without credit.
The viral video of the child’s birthday party where the dad drops the birthday cake and is captioned “He only had one job” is a good example of this. For his “one” job there were loads of tedious jobs that needed doing for that moment to happen. The planning, inviting, shopping, decorating, the cooking, etc. That’s kinkeeping, and more than likely it was mom who handled them all.
As powerful of a role kinkeeping is, this should not be the only expectation of women. Women still aren’t hired or paid equally in roles similar to men. If hired, they often aren’t respected the same as men and have a steeper hill climb for recognition.
Even while historically in a role of inferiority, women have been influential throughout history. They have provided wise council to those in power and have been curators of masterful events. Being that March has been designated as a time acknowledge Women’s History, we’ll highlight and celebrate their achievements now.
To Every Woman
My great granny packed a pistol,
an ivory & gold
Smith and Wesson to be exact.
She had dinner on the stove,
And a garden in the back.
Snuff after scriptures.
Wearer of the best Sunday hats.
lil’ ol’ Christian lady,
who didn’t take no crap.
She could heal, she could sew,
She could barter, she could can,
She could saaang, she could pray,
She could keep up with any man.
She’d teach life lessons
Snackin’ on pork skins
She birthed twenty-one children,
Three sets of twins.
The first was my grandma,
whom had thirteen of her own.
She also loves the Lord,
And is a stickler for a clean home.
My mom, her only daughter
Was a saint, kind and strong.
Her eyes twinkled, and her laugh was a song.
Truly she was in, a league of her own
She was caring, she was selfless,
She was humble, she was she was honest.
She was graceful, she was beautiful, she was wise, and she was modest.
She could do anything, even though disabled
She wasn’t bound, by any sort of label
Dearly departed, but her lessons live on.
God first,
Do good unto others…
Extend a helping hand to those whom suffer
Balance the scales for justice and equality
In a sea of unrighteousness
Be an anomaly
I am
Because of the roads they paved
I am
Because of the fears they faced
I am
Because of the trials they braved
I am.
These women,
And all of the ones who came before,
I celebrate.
Grandmother’s and mothers
Daughters, aunts and sisters
Cousins, friends, and all female figures
From high tops to high heels
And every kind in between
I celebrate every type of queen
To the listening ears
To the extinguishers of fears
To the women running businesses
With babies on their hips
To the ones maintaining order
Through every apocalypse
To the women in the back
making it all go round
When you get dressed today…
Don’t forget your crown.
~Aundrea Sayrie
A native of Phoenix, Arizona Aundrea Sayrie is a firm believer in the power of words, faith and a strong spirit. Her greatest desire is to encourage those around her to discover and honor their truth, and to passionately live on purpose.
