My grandmother ran away to the states when she was 18 (that was in 1919). It was a huge scandal in her town. A woman alone taking the boat to the states was unheard of! She traveled throughout the states for a full year, working here and there (dunno how she did it, but she did) and 12 months later she came back. As an independant, headstrong woman.

My mother is also a very liberal woman, she always earned a lot more money than my father (but he didn't mind). And she gave us three (I have 2 brothers) a very feminist upbringing. The boys learned to cook, to iron, to do the dishes (as well as the very boyish things like carpentry and such) and so did I. I can cook, I can do flooring, electricity,... and we are very very grateful for that.

And oh yes, we all love to cycle. My mom is now in her mid-seventies and every day she rides at least 20 miles.