center for womens business research
Democratic National Committee: Womens History Month
- Women's History - Wilma Mankiller
"Prior to my election, young Cherokee girls would never have thought that they might grow up and become chief."
- Wilma MankillerThe first female Chief of the Cherokee Nation, or any major Native American tribe, Wilma Mankiller opened doors for young Cherokee girls who now believe that they, too, can serve in leadership positions in a male-dominated environment.
Her political action began by protesting American policy that denied Native Americans of land, an event which Mankiller says "changed [her] forever." Her political action led to increased political action as an organizer in San Francisco, "starting community self-help programs and teaching people ways out of poverty." That included helping to build a school, a youth center, and a renovation of the water system for her community.
She continued to work her way up the ladder, getting elected deputy chief of the Cherokee Nation -- another first for a woman -- and putting her in a position to serve as principal chief. During her time as Chief, she devoted special attention to health care programs and looking out for the interests of children.
Her honors and awards include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the two highest civilian awards in the United States. She has also been recognized as American Indian Woman of the Year, received the Indian Health Service Award, and has been entered into the National Women's Hall of Fame.
For more biographies in celebration of women's history month, click here.
- Women's History Month Event A Success
The panel discussion with distinguished guests Dr. Heidi Hartmann, Donna Payne, Sue Swenson, and Olga Vives was an enormous success. The event marked a celebration of Women's History and celebrated the victories for women and for America.
Olga Vives, Executive Vice-President of the National Organization for Women (NOW), noted those successes, but also focused on the challenges that still remain:
But – there is a but – some women’s voices and life experiences are NOT in the feminist movement of today. And the question for us to find an answer to is how we make sure that the feminist movement is inclusive, looks like the society we live in, and speaks to the issues affecting all women, not just some.For example - when we talk about reproductive rights, we need to talk about abortion rights but also about access to reproductive health services, contraceptives, testing for breast and cervical cancers; and that this should be accessible to all women regardless of income, regardless of whether or not they have health insurance, regardless of where they live in this country.
When we talk about economic fairness, we need to frame it in terms of justice – a livable wage, education and training, affordable housing and transportation, childcare and after school programs. 70% of all families with children in the US have the adults working outside of the home.
When we talk about immigration reform, this needs to includes a path to residency, bringing women to the labor force and out of the shadows, protected against workplace abuses, exploitation and violence.
Young women need to feel that they are being heard, that their vote is important and that they are welcome into the movement with their own ideas of activism, their “new” way to effect change.
It is imperative that we find a way to have women who have not been with us but have our vision of a more just and equal society be part of the feminist movement.
She continued, noting that more need to be done to "make equality a reality in every woman’s life." Her words, like so many others, contributed to this event contributing to an important conversation we need to have in this country about equality for all women.
- Women's History - Bella Abzug
"Women have been trained to speak softly and carry a lipstick. Those days are over."
- Bella AbzugBella Abzug advocated for women's equality as a leader of the women's movement, serving in the House of Representatives for three terms and founding the non-profit grassroots political action organization Women USA.
She began practicing as a labor lawyer after being admitted to the New York Bar, but also specialized in cases dealing with civil rights and liberties.
When Abzug got elected to Congress as a defender of equality, she fought for women's rights, the environment, civil rights, civil liberties, and reproductive freedom. She co-wrote the Freedom of Information Act, which opened up federal agencies for the public. She also founded the National Women's Political Caucus -- a grassroots organization "dedicated to increasing women’s participation in the political process and creating a true women’s political power base to achieve equality for all women."
After leaving Congress, Abzug founded the Women's Environment & Development Organization, which advocates for women's equality in global policy, advocating at all levels of government and the United Nations. She also continued her work on environmental issues, presiding over the World Women's Congress for a Healthy Planet in 1991.
For more biographies in celebration of women's history month, click here.
- Women's History - Shirley Chisholm
"The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says: It's a girl."
- Shirley ChisholmShirley Chisholm made history by becoming the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Congress, representing New York's 12th District for seven terms. She also chartered new territory for African American women by being the first to make a bid for the presidency of the United States, receiving 152 delegate votes for the Democratic Party's nomination.
Shirley Chisholm worked on the formation of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Political League together with her husband Conrad Chisholm. Ms. Chisholm also started the Unity Democratic Club, working to mobilize black and Hispanic voters.
Ms. Chisholm became a member of the New York State Legislature where she used the experience she gained when she worked as a manager for a child care center, to dramatically improve state assistance to daycare centers. In 1968, after being elected to Congress, Ms. Chisholm championed issues dealing with education and joined the Congressional Black Caucus as a founding member.
Ms. Chisholm gained a reputation for her strong voice, and successfully used it to demand reassignment away from a committee she believed unimportant to her district. The event helped establish the "unbought and unbossed" reputation she highlighted in campaigns. Soon she would rise to the Education and Labor Committee and become the third-ranking member.
With the support of the National Organization for Women, which she co-founded, she ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1972, stating "I am not the candidate of black America, although I am black and proud. I am not the candidate of the women's movement of this country, although I am a woman, and I am equally proud of that. I am not the candidate of any political bosses or special interests. I am the candidate of the people."
For more biographies in celebration of women's history month, click here.
- Celebrate Women's History Month
With March being Women's History Month, here is some interesting historical information about women in politics. The following was first posted at the merchandising blog for Baltimore County Public Library, Grooming tips from Sneaks:
The theme of National and Maryland Women’s History Month, 2007, is Generations of Women Moving History Forward, focusing on the legacy of the 30th anniversary of the groundbreaking 1977 Women’s Conference in Houston. With politics so much in the news, below is information about women in politics nationally and statewide.DID YOU KNOW THAT...
NATIONALLY
В· The first woman to run for president of the United States was Victoria Woodhull, a stockbroker and publisher, who ran as the candidate of the Equal Rights Party in 1872.
· In 1884 and 1888, Belva Lockwood (a lawyer who lived in Maryland) also ran for President as a candidate of the Equal Rights Party. Her candidacy for the Presidency was controversial, and she won only 4,149 votes, losing the election to Grover Cleveland. She had been denied permission to practice law in Maryland in 1873, and was told by the judge that “Women are not needed in the courts. Their place is in the home to wait upon their husbands, to bring up their children, to cook the meals,