Patch and writing by Reesa Pearlman, a friend of mine

Reesa Pearlman

  Bachelors of Women’s Studies

   Masters of Social Work

     Trying to save the world in my own unique ways   

      Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland

        Looking to continue to explore my world

I have two centers.  My being revolves around both my heart and my vagina.  I refuse to sacrifice the importance of one for the strength of the other.  They are both the primary sources of my spirit.

I am able to find my strength through the women in my life who support me. These women are my foundation of influence. I refuse to stand for women who disconnect our chain of survival in order to better themselves. As women we have fought a long, hard battle and our spirits connect through our individual and cooperative achievements. Without each other we are nothing. Without the strong women in my life, I am nothing.  

I have often felt that in order to be a feminist and a strong woman I am expected to abandon my compassion, caring and nurturing qualities. And while I have, over time, dealt with this in many different ways, I am now able to see that these qualities are what give me strength as a woman and as a feminist in the often harsh society in which we live.

We are taught as women to be afraid of our vaginal center. With this fear, we are ignoring our uniqueness and our innate strength. Our vaginas are amazing parts of our beings that we often disassociate from our bodies. I will not ignore my vagina. It is mine. I will accept it as the center of my womanhood and a precious treasure that I am proud to have as part of my being.

My two centers, my heart and my vagina, are the foundation on which I stand. They are my strength and my being. And only with a strong community of women can I truly understand the depth of my centers. And so, with this, I present my patch, a tribute to my centers and to those who connect me to my self, my life, and my womanhood.