Columns

Friday, April 4, 2003

saluting the contributions of women

During Women’s History Month, I would like to join all Iowans in celebrating the accomplishments of women and acknowledging their contributions to our history.

A number of important American women leaders were born and raised right here in our state.

Carrie Chapman Catt, raised near Charles City, was a leader in the Women’s Suffrage movement. She served as president of the National Woman Suffrage Association and was a co-founder of the National League of Women Voters. Catt’s tireless efforts led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which gave women the long overdue right to vote.

Arabella Mansfield of Henry County grew up to be the first female lawyer in the nation.

Jessie Field Shambaugh of Shenandoah founded the modern 4-H movement.

Nancy Drew isn’t from Iowa, but Mildred Wirt Benson, the author of the fictional mystery series, grew up in Ladora.

Many more Iowa women have helped to shape our state and country. Women have been leaders in America’s civil rights movements, the abolition of slavery, creation of labor standards to protect America’s workers, and in the desegregation of schools and public places.

Our history books too often ignore their role. Most in our nation’s schools devote less than five percent of their content to women. I believe the role of women in history should be a key component in the teaching of that subject.

There are additional continuing shortcomings we need to address as well. For example, the Equal Pay Act, which was meant to end wage discrimination, was signed into law almost 40 years ago. Yet even today women are paid only 73 cents for every dollar a man earns. I have introduced legislation to correct this inequity.

We have not yet achieved true equality of opportunity for women in the workplace or in our society as a whole. Still, we are inspired by the many women--most of whom will never appear in any history book--who have fought to break through brick walls and glass ceilings in the name of progress. They have bestowed enduring legacies in every community across Iowa and the nation. They give us all hope to pursue our dreams.