The Colors of
the Rainbow
—Inspiration and Encouragement for All Women Around the World
IWF- Women's Forum
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IWF- Women's Forum
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I.W.F. -- International Women's Forum Women International: A Plea for Understanding and Esprit de Corps Beyond Boarders and Continents Extensive traveling, years spent in Europe, Southeast Asia, China and the sub-continent of India, has proven the theory of a common ground that unites women worldwide to be well founded. Meeting and befriending women of different backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs makes it clear that despite our 'superficial' diversity the 'woman within' faces similar challenges. Women the world over have the same dreams and needs. In a society of growing possibilities, our responsibilities increase. More duties means less focus on the essential and less time for reflection on who we are and what we want. Increasing demands from society means decreasing self-awareness and rejection of our own needs. Living in the Unites States today contributed to the completion of "The Colors of the Rainbow", a guide for women worldwide. It reflects on the woman's role in society and her right to lead a balanced and harmonious life. What is the major difference between American, Asian and European women? Our languages are different, but our struggles for self-love and understanding are the same. Similar traditional gender, stereotyping, and educational beliefs are at the root of our behavior patterns and insecurities. The fact that women dedicate more time and energy than men to people and situations that never give back is well known. Women get stuck in unrewarding relationships; we have to perform better than men do to get promotions and acknowledgment on the job. Women are 'people pleasers'. We have a strong need to be loved and accepted. The price we pay is high: we loose our inner balance. We give our power to people and circumstances instead of keeping the power within. Without neglecting the truth that each woman is a brilliant and unique individual, we have a pattern of collective blame and shame. We feel responsible for the mistakes of our partners. We feel guilty when we give time to ourselves or attend to our own needs. We set high standards for ourselves. We try to change the world, our environment and our partners. Change starts with the individual; change starts within! Women, as individuals worldwide, set different priorities. However, we seldom give precedence to our own needs: self-love, self-reliance and self-nurturing. The strength to overcome our fears and our old behavior patterns lies inside ourselves. Self-discovery and self-nurturing are inner processes. Change is their result. As individuals, we are responsible for self-change and personal growth; as a group, we can change the world. Helen Keller said: "Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much." A primary issue of women today is the emotional survival in a world that has put ever more pressure on us. While spatial distances exist on the world map, women in Beijing, Delhi, Singapore, London, and New York affront the same challenges. Closeness of mind and the deep awareness that our issues, needs and dreams are the same help us to overcome distances and bring us together. Let us awake the dormant bond between women the world over! Let us break the silence and form an inspiring and energetic connection to affirm life and the beauty of living. © 2001 by Daniela E. Schreier For rights and permission contact: info@thecolorsoftherainbow.com
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