Ani DiFranco: Birth is 'the epicenter of women's power'

Singer/songwriter/poet Ani DiFranco is used to doing it all, but now she says she’s getting used to the idea of doing it all at a much slower pace.  Daughter Petah Lucia, 9 1/2-months, has "slowed me down, and I mean that in the best way," Ani says.

I’ve done a lot of working in my life. What could be better than doing it for someone else? I feel like I have a boss for the first time in my life, and she insists that I work less. Having her has brought me a lot of peace and joy and made me think about a lot of things that I didn’t before. Birth is the epicenter of women’s power. 

Ani, 37, added that she hopes her artistic legacy will provide Petah "encouragement to be herself."

That’s what my music has always communicated — to be more of yourself. All we can be is an example in our life and hope that our children learn from that.

Petah’s dad is music producer Mike Napolitano.

Source:  Take5 Music

Comments

Principesa on November 9th, 2007

Parenting is the epicenter of this woman’s power.

stephania on November 9th, 2007

Hmm. Living my own life is the epicenter of my power (whatever that even means). You don’t need to give birth or be a parent to be a real woman.

Kait on November 9th, 2007

Principesa is right!! Any woman can give birth, look at Britney Spears!

It takes an amazing woman to be able to parent.

carrie on November 9th, 2007

I agree with stephania – you don’t need to have children to live an amazing life

Renee on November 10th, 2007

I think she means the power of giving birth to another person that has been living inside of you for months.It’s a beautiful and powerful thing. Men have no idea of what they are missing

Natasha on November 10th, 2007

I believe its all personal opinion. If at some point in my life I didn’t have children (biologically or adopted) I personally would not feel satisfied with my life

yaosa on November 10th, 2007

I agree with her 100% on that point!

Let her words be like a song left up to one’s own personal interpretation. For those of us who have actually birthed another human being it can be a tremendous, eye opening experience. This doesn’t mean that if you don’t have that experience you can’t have your own kind of ‘birthing’ experience into who you are…

I’m so tired of people feeling the need to pick and poke when someone talks about their own experience and what it means for them. Do we need to tip toe around being proud to give birth ? It’s the most natural thing on the planet and it occurs at every moment on every part of the globe. Giving birth and having children isn’t the only fulfillment in life but it can be one of the most empowering for SOME women. (Not all women relish giving birth or even having children even though they may do it) And I do understand that giving birth and having children has been glamorized especially with celebrities but if it bothers anyone so much that women want to share how giving birth and having children has empowered them, then why bother to visit this blog ???

Only my opinion and food for thought.
Peace Out

Louise on November 11th, 2007

I understand Yaosa and Natasha. BUT, if it isn’t your choice? If you can’t have children? Having been an Ani fan for years, even when I disagreed with her very strong opinions, I reserve the right to “pick apart” her comments. She does the same to others, and would agree it is our right to do so to hers. So, Ani, careful how you define womanhood, and remember that humanity is the epicenter for us all.

Renee on November 11th, 2007

Really people… she is human like the rest of us. Why are women so mean to each other? If you don’t like her statement..that’s okay but to attack her like some of you are doing is just wrong

Anifan on January 8th, 2008

i love the people that judge her, which most likely are TRUE fans, that should know SHE doesn’t judge (from her lyrical standpoint), which is most likely the reason you are a true fan. And i love even more the people that pretend to know what she would do or say….. No one has any idea who this woman is or what she’s like. So how would you feel if a complete stranger “blogged” on something you said (& they were most likely wrong) and then all these other people starting commenting & they were probably wrong too?

Come on?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?