#but not today. on international women's day.

[singemall-stayallnight]

Four members of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, circa 1944. | Source: farbackroom on Tumblr

"When the World told them they couldn't play, they did it anyway…

"They wiggled, they jiggled, they wore low cut gowns and short shorts, they kowtowed to the club owners and smiled at the customers…and they did it all, just to play the music they loved. In the thirties and forties, hundreds of women musicians toured the country in glamorous All-Girl Bands, while others played side by side with their male counterparts. Yet by the mid-fifties female jazz musicians had literally disappeared from the workplace; their names, their contributions to music, completely forgotten.

"THE GIRLS IN THE BAND tells the poignant, untold stories of female jazz and big band instrumentalists and their fascinating, groundbreaking journeys from the late 30s to the present day.

"These incredibly talented women endured sexism, racism and diminished opportunities for decades, yet continued to persevere, inspire and elevate their talents in a field that seldom welcomed them. Today, there is a new breed of gifted young women taking their rightful place in the world of jazz, which can no longer deny their talents."

"BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARIES OF ALL TIME"

Movieweb’s “Best Music Documentaries of All Time”

Jazzfuel’s “10 of the Best Jazz Documentaries”

Named “one of the 50 best music documentaries of all time” by famed British music site NME (New Musical Express).

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Other than some comments made by Herbie Hancock, such as the masculinity & femininity remarks (social constructs), the documentary is worth watching.

Even if you have no interest in jazz music, please watch this. It's so good.

(via Sweethearts of Rhythm: 1940s | Shorpy Historical Photo Archive)

The International Sweethearts of Rhythm, the pioneering all-girl jazz-swing group, with bandleader Anna Mae Winburn in the 1940s. Guitarist Carline Ray, who died in New York earlier this month at age 88, is third from left. View full size.

[brooklyncircus]

"Until you..." part. 5.

Hiromi Higuruma x reader.

Until you arrived, Hiromi Higuruma had never felt so strangely nervous and happy at the same time. He could feel the little whirlwind of emotions in his chest, all stirred by your presence.

Hiromi looked ahead at the cityscape, his eyes faintly shining with that usual weariness, even though he was in a good mood. And, though he didn't want to admit it, he was a bit afraid.

He was afraid that you might feel uncomfortable, whether consciously or unconsciously, because of him. He felt a bit uneasy whenever the train moved abruptly and their hands or clothing brushed slightly. He worried you’d feel uncomfortable if he looked at you with concern, as if silently asking if you were alright, especially when someone rudely pushed both of you aside to exit. Or if anything about his quiet presence next to you could somehow bother you.

“But... what if she takes it the wrong way? What if she thinks I’m some creepy, disgusting guy?” he battled with himself internally.

He felt a little disappointed in society, in his position as a man, and in the bad actions some had taken toward women, which had caused them to be more cautious when forming relationships with men... out of fear of what could potentially happen.

But Hiromi knew he would never harm you in any way, not consciously and certainly not unconsciously. When you were about to fall in the middle of the aisle because of a sudden jolt from the train—on top of a young boy—he had gently caught your arm (again) and guided you to stand by his side. Your cheeks had once more turned that tender shade of pink, and you had looked down, embarrassed.

And that had been five minutes ago.

He wanted to look at you. Damn, he really did. He wanted to return your gaze whenever you looked at him with those big, lively eyes, which seemed to reflect his own curiosity... but about you. He wanted to smile at you, be kind. Something. Anything.

He straightened up when he saw a teenager with a brash, angry expression at the end of the aisle. He knew the boy would have to pass behind the two of you to get off, so he held onto the handrail with one hand and placed his briefcase on the floor between his legs.

Thud. As he passed, the boy intentionally shoved you. But, thank goodness, Hiromi was able to catch you again, this time stopping you from falling onto him. He quickly held your waist and steadied you, then immediately pulled his hand away, placing it on your shoulder.

“Are you alright?” he asked, worried that you might have been hurt, even a little, all while maintaining his composure... or his sanity. Or both. He turned to face the boy, who was vanishing into the crowd. “Hey! Watch where you’re going; you could hurt someone!”

“I’m fine,” you replied, looking him in the eyes for a brief moment, during which neither of you broke the gaze. You tucked your hair behind your ear and gripped the handrail a bit more tightly. “It was just a little push. Thank you, again.”

And at that moment, Hiromi realised there was something about you that felt strangely familiar, though he couldn't place what. “Are you sure?” he wanted to confirm, swallowing nervously, unconsciously revealing his anxiety. You nodded.

Hiromi looked out of the nearby window and saw how you mirrored his action, silently moving a bit closer to him. Their hands brushed on the ceiling rail.

“Is it always like this?” he heard you ask, referring to the crowded train.

“It depends on the day and time. But today... yes.” In that moment, he dared to look at the woman next to him. She met his gaze and they both smiled, a little. “Are you getting off at the same station as yesterday?” he surprised himself by asking.

She smiled more openly. “Oh, yes. I have to prepare for exams.” She looked at his suit and briefcase, and her eyes sparkled a bit with curiosity.

Hiromi swallowed and glanced down at his suit himself. He thought she had wrinkled her nose slightly, though part of him wondered if he was just imagining it. “Was something wrong?” he wondered. “Is it stained, poorly ironed? Dirty? Oh no. Don’t tell me it smells bad, I washed it yesterday...”

He was about to ask her out loud but was interrupted when she spoke again. “You’re also getting off at the same station, aren’t you?”

And at that moment, his heart started beating even faster. She remembered. She remembered his words from yesterday morning, when he had casually mentioned that he also got off at that station.

“Was that a question or a statement...?” he thought, nervously. He ran a hand through his hair, unintentionally messing it up a bit. And suddenly, he was afraid of running out of words again.

“Yes, I also get off at the same station. Unlike you, I have to go fulfil my work duties,” he replied with a faint smile, pushing aside his intrusive thoughts, adjusting the briefcase between his legs, and then holding onto the handrail with both hands.

You smiled a little sideways, and he realised he liked it when you did that. It was as if that simple gesture lit up your face and, a bit, his day. “I must be honest with you,” he heard you say. “It was my first time getting off at that station, and I almost got lost. It was... a disaster.”

He smiled and looked forward, now much more relaxed and at ease. “Well... if you’re going to the library... I can accompany you if you’d like. So you won’t get lost, nor pushed around.” He spoke with a hint of amusement in his voice.

Your response took him a bit by surprise. You looked at him with curiosity, and he could have sworn something had glimmered in your eyes for a moment. A glint of realisation, perhaps, as you realised that he also remembered what you had said the day before.

“I’ll definitely need it. Thank you, again. You’re quite the gentleman.” she said, and he had to look away, feeling he might blush at any moment.

Just then, with a slight squeak, the train doors opened at the station where they both had to get off. He led the way to the exit, holding the briefcase in one hand and attempting, with the other, to clear a path, knowing that you walked behind him. But as they reached the threshold, he stepped aside for you to exit first.

Scratching the back of his neck and adjusting his shirt collar with his index finger around his throat, he positioned himself beside you.

And so, they started walking side by side along the platform as the sun's rays illuminated them both.

And, until you arrived, Hiromi Higuruma had never felt so strangely nervous and happy at the same time. He could feel the little whirlwind of emotions in his chest, all stirred by your presence.

[creatediana]

“Self-Portrait, Aged 23, on International Women’s Day” - a 9x12″ charcoal drawing done 3/08/2023

[maximumeffort]

cheers to all who celebrate

[iceicewifey]

💜 happy intl women’s day to queer women, trans women, black women, indigenous women, asian women, latin women, jewish women, muslim women, women of mixed faiths, non religious women, fat women, underweight women & women struggling with body image, women struggling with addiction, women that have a complicated relationship with gender and the word ‘woman’, gender nonconforming women, women that use pronouns other than she/her, women that are unhoused or displaced, women that self ship, women that draw, women that write, women that create, and women that struggle to find their creative outlet.

happy intl women’s day to women in palestine, in sudan, in yemen, in the congo, and everywhere else in the world.

happy intl womens days to all women.

[nathsketch]

A very happy intergalactic Women’s Day to all of us ladies that are simply out of this world!

I just realized that I never got to finish that Leia artwork and it’s time I went back to it!

Happy Wednesday! 💗🎀

Find me here: Instagram | Website & Portfolio 

[haii2u]

Lisa...

[mangio-formaggio]

Did you ever just like...

Lenny saw Midge's speech that night and not only empathize with deep topics she talked about, but also fully understood how much he hurt her with rejection of help and empathy. How much she hates that it always either a woman or a comic, either sincere care or acknowledgment by the world. How he of all people, should understand her desire to be more than a gimmick. More than one thing.

And then in Blue Room, he finally have guts to act on his feelings, because she more important than his pride, his desperate clutching to fullness of life, his cool careless rascal persona. More important than all unspoken rules they had before to keep the safe distance. She is more important than God aka anything that usually helps you and grounds you. Cause at this moment their connection is what grounds him, calms his demons and makes him feel like a man, not a gimmick.

And then we have Fleabag and The Priest.

Yeah. For The Priest it's God. Cause sleeping with her not make him calm or grounded or humbled. It strips him down to all messy things inside, all little intrusive thoughts, all the worst instincts. All ugly and raw and full of hunger for life.

But it's not what he wants for himself, it's not what's best for him and what can make him happy in a long run. God is more important than a woman.

Lenny looked at Midge and saw the world full of wonders in a single moment in time. The Priest looked at Fleabag and saw that everything will pass.

[midnightrings]

Favorite Female Characters (3/∞) - Catelyn Tully Stark [A Song of Ice and Fire]

"I want to weep. I want to be comforted. I'm so tired of being strong. I want to be foolish and frightened for once. Just for a small while, that's all ... a day ... an hour."

[junkyardstrash]

Cup Runneth Over - Kiki Rockwell

We’re gonna pretend her ring is on the left hand 🫶

[love-this-pic-dot-com]

Colorful March 8th

[roseadleyn]

happy international women's day <333

[allonsybadwolf]

I'm not a woman but I'm societally bound to womanhood the same way a circle of salt and ash binds a demon. I do not belong there but people trap me there nonetheless. So if I have to deal with the negatives of being someone who can be clocked as a uterus owner, I'm also claiming the positives when I personally feel like it. Anyways, Happy International Women's Day to me, an agender person, I will be accepting waffles and shiny rocks, thank you.

[decadentpostnacho]

"And by the way, a happy women's day." He says and holds out to you the cheap flowers he bought at the gas station this morning, because it's women's day and he remembered last minute.

"You don't have to do the household chores today, it's women's day. Just do them tomorrow." He says while reclining on the sofa, self-satisfied grin on his face as if he just invented the wheel.

"Happy women's day!" Fat, vibrant letters and kiss marks and flowers on the screen of your phone, the fiftieth gif somebody sent you today.

"Happy women's day, get our products twenty percent off!" The makeup company writes in their commercial.

"Happy women's day, find out which man is your perfect match today!" The dating app advertises.

"Women's day this, women's day that. Do we have an international men's day? So much for equality." Your disgruntled old neighbour grouses when he sees the leaflet from the grocery stores, the pink and flowers and all the girly things.

This is not the point.

The eighth of March marks the day that women all over the world took to the streets to fight for their rights. The eighth of March is still the international feminist fighting day because we still haven't achieved the equality we have been fighting for for decades. No one else in the world has the same rights as white men.

Women are paid less for the same work. Research is not done for women, but for men. Women are murdered in this world simply because they are women. Women are mutilated. Women are forced into prostitution. Women are oppressed everywhere in the world. Do you think flowers and gifs atone for the sexual harrassment we are faced with? For the disadvantages we have to put up with?

I don't want flowers. I don't want gifs, I don't want cheaper make up, I don't want to find a man and I don't want to be lazy just to have to do the work tomorrow. What I want is equality. For every person in this world. And instead of painting the planet pink for twenty-four hours, this day should be used to remind us of the never-ending struggle of women in a world created by men for men.

So I use this day to act out my female rage, because it is International Women's Day after all. Fuck the patriarchy.

[chvrchesgifs]

I'm a doll inside a box With a ball and a chain

Change Shapes ~ Lauren Mayberry

[arsenicflame]

no bond stronger than the one between the only two competent coworkers