about
I was born in the 1900s
In the beginning of the 1900s, women were not considered persons in North America. It wasn’t until 1922 in the US and 1929 in Canada that women were considered legal persons giving us access to participate fully in the social, political, and economic lives of our communities.
So I asked myself, what if women had been considered persons from the outset? What if we had told the truth and acknowledged women’s historical contributions?
These questions became the roots of the Garden of Even.
To explore these questions I had to go back, way back, and examine the origin stories we tell about women.
For centuries we have learned and re-taught that Eve’s hunger for knowledge was shameful, that her selfishness caused the destruction of humanity. I see freedom and power in Eve’s story. What was she missing and what did she hope to gain from that infamous bite?
The more I read, the more I realized that women’s stories have been intentionally defamed throughout history.
You don’t need a history degree to figure that out.
Both of my parents were ministers and I grew up in the Christian faith. I remember the church elders telling my dad that my mom was a “Jezebel”, that it was shameful and a sin that he let her take the pulpit and preach.
“Who was Jezebel?” I wondered as a kid. I had no idea. I only knew that it was a huge insult to be called one and I certainly did not want to earn that moniker.
Turns out her historical role was primarily one of political power and influence in ancient Israel. She was a Queen who ruled through partnership and collaboration with her husband only his inner circle didn’t like her, plotted her ruin then defamed her.
The “Jezebel” moniker has been used for over two millennia to shame women. The conjecture is so compelling we never stopped to examine the truth.
I wanted to get past the conjecture and tell the truth about women’s stories.
My work in over 100 cities from 30 countries, all going through seismic social, political, or economic transition, has taught me the transformative power of storytelling. And the transformative power of truth.
The Garden of Even is a platform to share unknown truths about women we think we know well, and some we should know better. Here, we recognize their power and contributions.
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