‘Feral’ not always a bad trait

One of my favorite quotes is “Well-behaved women seldom make history.” It is a quote of Laurel Thatcher Ulrich in 1976. The quote has been interpreted many ways. Some positive, some negative.  The same could be said about a feral. 

I believe the intent of the quote was to highlight “misbehaving” women who have championed changes. Women such as Esther Hobart Morris, who became the first woman to hold a public office in Wyoming; Eleanor Roosevelt, who was the first First Lady to hold a press conference and fought for the rights and needs of the poor, minorities, disadvantaged, throughout the world; Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat on a bus and became a light in the civil rights movement; Princess Diana Spencer, who raised awareness of landmines, HIV/AIDS, etc., and Queen Esther, who saved her people from genocide. None stayed in the lane they were expected to. By veering off the path, they made a difference in this world.

As an animal rescuer, the term feral became a familiar term. It is defined generally as animals that are wild and untamed. We have a few feral cats at our home. My favorite is Ned. His siblings all tamed down and were adopted. Ned, who is named after Ned Kost, still lives with us 14 years later. Ned is loving on his terms, which is typically 15 seconds. 

Women who are a tad feral are often difference makers in a positive way. They are sometimes defined as women who go against any constraints put on them because of their gender. They often connect with freer living and nature.  Don’t ever say to them they can’t do something because they are a “girl.” Don’t tell them something can’t be done, because it will likely be taken as a challenge. It is not that they are wild or have no respect for the rules.  They don’t want to be limited by stereotypes. They are not a fan of the status quo. 

This column is dedicated to the women who aren’t always well behaved and to those that have a streak of feral in their soul. God bless you for making this world a better place.