If You Really Knew Me ...

This family photo comes from a 1976 edition of Town & Country Magazine that accompanied an article entitled “The Biddles: A Philadelphia Presence.” I’m the child in the center - 6 years old — shyly looking down at my feet.

I wrote the following essay last month for a private women’s workshop called STORY. After hearing what I wrote, the women of the group encouraged me to share it for International Women’s Day. So, here we are, and here I am. This is my story …

Listen to the audio (5 mins), or read below.

If you really knew me you’d know that my heart breaks for…

Women’s voices not being heard. Women being overlooked, disrespected, and undervalued.

I grew up as the youngest child and only girl in a family of two brothers. I was also the youngest cousin amongst a large extended family steeped in male power. My ancestors were some of the earliest non-native American settlers in Philadelphia. They came over with William Penn – a Quaker – and they themselves Quakers – to escape religious persecution in England.

I don’t know if you are familiar with Quakers, but they believe in non-violence, equality and peace. They are social justice activists who believe in an inner light, and who fought for the end of slavery in the United States and marched as suffragettes to gain women the right to vote. 

My great-great-great grandmother, Deborah Fisher Wharton, was a Quaker minister, suffragist, proponent of women’s rights and co-founder of one of the first co-educational colleges in the U.S., Swarthmore College, in Philadelphia.

But she is one woman, amongst many men, whose history I know. And I didn’t learn about her until five years ago.

My great-great-great grandfather, Nicholas Biddle, was an American financier who was the president of the Second Bank of the United States. He made it the first effective central bank in U.S. history. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania at age 13 and from Princeton at age 15.

My great-great grandfather Joseph Wharton, was a famous industrialist, and the founder of the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania. 

The Broadway play, The Happiest Millionaire, later a Disney Motion picture, was based off of my great uncle, Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle.

My cousin, Francis Biddle, served as the U.S. Attorney General under the President Franklin Roosevelt during World War II, and was the primary American judge at the Nuremberg trials.

Another cousin, Livingston Ludlow Biddle, drafted legislation for the establishment of the National Endowment for the Arts, of which he was later appointed Chairman by President Jimmy Carter. 

My grandfather, Nicholas Biddle, was a celebrated Brigadier General in the Army.

My Uncle John Biddle was an award-winning cinematographer for the America’s Cup.

My great uncles and cousins of long ago served in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, and both World Wars. They were diplomats, politicians, ambassadors and congressmen.

There is a lot to be proud of in my family history, but oh so little is recorded about the women.

Let’s just say, growing up I felt less seen, heard, and respected than my male counterparts.

Less valued. Less considered. 

I wouldn’t call it outright sexism. It was more like a slow burn.

I think you know what I mean.

If you really knew me you’d know I am here to be a voice for…

Women’s voices to be heard.

You’d know that I’ve come to rectify the damage that has been done to women’s voices. I am here to unearth the wisdom that’s been pushed down so far out of fear, shame and scarcity.

If you really knew me, you’d know that I am wild at heart. I’m a wild warrior inside. I’m fierce. I’m opinionated. I’m tough. And sometimes mean. But you don’t often get to see that side of me. I’ve had to push her down. I’m a “proper girl.”

If you really knew me you’d know that my soul really wants to talk about…

Love. Peace. Beauty. Truth. Prosperity.

I want to talk about all things beautiful. All things hopeful. All things life-affirming.

I’m done with war, poverty and violence. I want heaven on earth.

I want to talk about the Goddess. I want to talk about love. I want to talk about beauty. What’s beautiful to you? What do you want to see more of in the world? What is your vision?

That’s what I want to talk about. I want to talk about you and your vision. Your voice. What are you here to create? That’s my mission. This is my voice. 

Thank you.

Tabby Biddle, M.S. Ed. is a women’s leadership coach, strategist, writer and consultant. Her life’s work is devoted to elevating women’s voices. To learn more about using your voice, making an impact, and being a leader of change in this world, visit tabbybiddle.com.