The Standing Women concept originated with a number of women associated with Ohio State University, although this was not a university project.  In early 2006 a group of women who met in conversation felt that women everywhere were just weary about where the world was moving and, more importantly, that women everyone were ready to stand up and do something about it. The group also knew that many men were ready to stand up, also.

In the summer of 2006, they came across the origins of Mother's Day in the U.S. from Jean Shinoda Bolen's book Urgent Message from Mother: Gather the Women, Save the World. Julia Ward Howe issued the original Mother's Day Proclamation in 1870:

"Arise, then, women of this day! Arise all women who have hearts, whether our baptism be that of water or of tears! Say firmly: 'We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies. Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience. We women of one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.' From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own. It says 'Disarm, Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice.' Blood does not wipe our dishonor nor violence indicate possession. As men have often forsaken the plow and the anvil at the summons of war, let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel. Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead. Let them then solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means whereby the great human family can live in peace, each bearing after their own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar, but of God. In the name of womanhood and of humanity, I earnestly ask that a general congress of women without limit of nationality may be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient and at the earliest period consistent with its objects, to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace."

After reading this proclamation they began to feel that they needed to do something for  Mother's Day, May 13, 2007. When Jean Shinoda Bolen spoke at Ohio State in October, 2006, the group discussed their thoughts with her and she showed them a little book which was the original version of The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering by Sharon Mehdi. www.grandmotherbook.com  After reading the book, and talking to Jean, the group decided to issue a call to the women of the world to stand together to save the world; to save the world's  children. Since that time Standing Women (www.standingwomen.org) have been gathering every Mother's Day at 1:00 PM local time to stand in silence. A bell is rung at 1 p.m. to signify the beginning of the five minutes of silence and is rung again to signify the end of the period of silence. During the silence, people are asked to think about what they as individuals and with others collectively can do to attain this world. Men are always encouraged to participate.

 We are standing for the world's children and grandchildren,

 and for the seven generations  beyond them.

We dream of a world where all of our children have safe drinking water,

 clean air to breathe, and enough food to eat.

A world where they have access to  a basic education to develop their minds

 and healthcare to nurture their growing bodies.

A world where they have a warm, safe and loving place to call home.

A world where they don't live  in fear of violence - in their home,

 in their neighborhood,  in their school or in their world.

This is the world of which we dream. This is the cause for which we stand.