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Women's Health West
Every Family Is Different
Excerpts from the Tears of Joy, Tears of Frustration Exhibition for International Women's Day 2006
"I've gone with the whole gay pride thing - two mums, but also representing the idea of two dads." Cathryn, Western Area Lesbian Littlies and Infants Playgroup (artwork left)
"I like saying I enjoy it (being a single mum), because a lot of people assume that being a single mum is sad."
"Because I don't have a partner, people assume I'm straight. They also assume there was a break up, and it's important that people know that this was a positive choice. There's a donor but no other parent."
"A lot of straight mums comment that it must be better having a wife than a husband!....But in lots of ways it's exactly the same."
"…in my school, we're the first lesbian family they've ever met. There's no discrimination, but people are shocked."
"My nieces are 13 and 14 and think it's really cool. They draw their family tree and put 'gay' in brackets. They really embrace and own it."
"People say, 'I bet she's daddy's little girl', and I say 'I bet she's not!'"
Mothers from the Western Area Lesbian Littlies and Infants Playgroup
Mary, Horizons Women's Group (artwork right)
"I have my pet dog Mirror ... I'd love to have a child of my own one day."
"I've got two brothers, two nephews, two daughters, six grandchildren and a niece."
"A friend where I live - she looks after me the best way she can. She's 80 years old. She brings me water in the night"
Women from the Horizons Women's Group
Mara, Macedonian Women's Group (top right)
Menka, Macedonian Women's Group (top left)
"People can't assume that all Aboriginal people are the same or look the same. It's not about what you look like. It's not about appearances. Your identity comes from inside. You've got to be strong in who you are."Mother from the Indigenous Parents Playgroup
"We might be single for different reasons, maybe we lost someone, maybe it didn't
work out." Mother from the Single Mothers Lunch Group
"I love being on my own, I'm not saying it's not hard, but I'm proud
of the choices I've made" Mother from the Western Littlies and Infants Playgroup
Ica, Macedonian Women's Group (top left)
Debra, Horizon's Women's Group (top right)