Scars of Our Own

Anyone who thinks the need for International Women's Day is over isn't living in the world with the women who get kicked in the stomach.  -Inez McCormack

Inez McCormack, Monday, March 7, 2011

Tuesday, March 8 people all over the world recognized and celebrated International Women’s Day.  Though no consensus exists on when the first International Women’s Day was celebrated, many consider 1911 to be that year, making this year the centenary.  The Global Women’s Studies Programme at the National University of Ireland Galway joined with four other organizations to offer a week of programs in honor of the centenary. 

On Monday I attended a lecture by Inez McCormack.   When Stacey Scriver Furlong from NUI Galway informed me of this lecture, she told me that McCormack is quite famous.  I had never heard of her, so I did some online research so I wasn’t walking in blind.  I learned that McCormack is considered one of the most influential civil rights leaders in Northern Ireland.  She was the first female president of Irish Congress of Trade Unions and she has a long history as a trade unionist advocating for the fair treatment of women and minorities in the workplace.  She also played a role in the 1998 Good Friday Peace Accord.

McCormack has been included in a New York play called “Seven” which tells the stories of seven women leaders from around the world.  Meryl Streep will play McCormack at a special reading of the play. 

McCormack’s presentation was inspirational.  She spoke of the “doctrine of unright time”—the well known occurrence when women ask for equal rights and are told, “I agree with you, but now is not the right time.”  In response, McCormack quoted Italian Jewish poet Primo Levi who spent time in Auschwitz.  Levi asked, “If not now, when?  If not us, who?  If not here, where?”

Saying it is never easy to fight for change, McCormack told the audience, she did not want us to have her scars.  But, she said, we must have scars of our own.  “You can’t do everything, but you can do something, and that’s what makes us dangerous.”

"God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas but for scars."  

-Elbert Hubbard

Co-Directors of the Global Women's Studies Programme Nata Duvvury and
Niamh Reilly with Inez McCormack

Stacey Scriver Furlong and Niamh Reilly, Global Women's Studies Programme Staff

Inez McCormack and Rachel at reception after the presentation