Looking for heroines (real and fictional)

It's been a few days since I decided to switch the focus of this blog to female heroes, and I confess that so far (perhaps because I've missed or overlooked them) I haven't seen anything in the news worth reporting. The other day, however, I was watching "Criminal Minds" and was riveted by "Open Season," the episode about 2 serial killers who would take their victims into the wilderness and hunt them down with bows and arrows. Shades of Deliverance.

This would have been derivative of many similar "hunt 'em down" serial killers in countless cop shows, but the thing that set it a part - and fascinated me - was the incredibly feisty woman who turned out to the killers' last victim.

Instead of running and being a target, she hid behind trees, stalked them, and brought them down with a hunting knife (obtained by some unfortunate campers she ran into, who all fell victim to the hunters' arrows).

Apart from liking the show's compassionate take on the killers - they were clearly victims of their upbringing (reared by a serial-killer uncle) - I loved the fact that, for once, the victim turned the tables on her would-be slayers and they ended up dead instead.

So the only heroine I've found so far is fictional - how pathetic is that? I'd like to invite my readers - if I have any - to join in my search send in their suggestions for heroines (real and fictional) who could be profiled on this site.

Finding Hatshepsut: sometimes time is the best revenge

'Find of century' for Egyptology

The mummy was discovered by Howard Carter in 1903

Egyptologists say they have identified the 3,000-year-old mummy of Hatshepsut, Egypt's most powerful female ruler.

"No woman is born a prostitute"

I've been so disheartened lately by news of female journalists and broadcasters being murdered in Iraq and Afghanistan, "honour" killings, a "wife-fattening farm" in Mauritania, etc. etc., that I was thinking of giving up on this blog in despair. After all, I'm the first to criticise people who rail and wail and winge about injustice but do nothing but wring their hands. Therefore (a word that should be unknown to poets, according to André Gide), I was pleased and heartened to see this article on the BBC website today:

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Argentine prostitutes fight back

Prostitutes in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, have launched a campaign to raise awareness about the difficult circumstances in which they work.

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Read it and smile.

I think I'll make female heroes the theme of this blog from now on, and take the word heroine back from the druggies while I'm at it.

XXX

Madeleine (Maddy) still missing

On behalf of Kate and Gerry McCann and all the family, please help us find Madeleine.
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Madeleine, age 3, was abducted from her bed in the family holiday
apartment, Praia De Luz, Algarve, Portugal on Thursday, 3rd May.
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Police and all of Portugal are trying to find her. The Portuguese people, holiday makers and ex pats have been a great support to the family and continue their efforts.
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You, too can help. Please circulate this plea to publicise Madeleine's
photo and ask for information, no matter how small to be passed on to
the authorities.
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Whether you are in the UK, Portugal, Europe or beyond, please forward
to all your family, friends,colleagues and business associates.
Someone out there will have some information that will lead to Maddy's return.
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The internet can be a powerful tool in finding Maddy, who is so loved
and missed by us all.
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Let's use it positively.
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Please pray for Madeleine and all the family at this devastating time.
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We need your help. We know you won't let Maddy down.
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God bless,
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Pat Perkins
(Family friend)
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Pat Perkins
Pre Employment Lead
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NHS Academy (Northwest)
Pat.Perkins@skillsforhealth.org.uk
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Mob: 07901 541 062
Tel: 0151 482 5614
Fax: 0151 482 5513

On a lighter (but still mournful) note - I was rooting for Melinda

CNN: If you're a female singer, you'd better be sexy

Melinda is out, so perhaps Jordin Sparks (my daughter's favourite) will be the next American Idol? According to this CNN article, major female singers of the last few years have needed sex appeal. Once talent came first, with beauty a bonus; now it's the reverse.

Read the Wikipedia entry on Melinda Doolittle here

Dis-honour killing in Iraq

CNN: Female pilots reached for the stars

Female pilots successfully completed same tests as Mercury men in early 1960s

Although they were as good as the men, if not better, they never got a chance to go to space, despite arguing their case before Congress.