In the 1950’s women were largely seen as caregivers and homemakers while men were expected to be the breadwinners and leaders. Stereotypes abounded on our tv channels such as June Cleaver on Leave it to Beaver.
It was unthinkable to believe a woman could be president. My role models of professional women were teachers, an appropriate occupation for a woman graduating in 1970. As Marie Wilson, founder of the White House project put it, 'you can’t be what you can’t see. 'No surprise that I pursued the occupation of teacher. As a person who was always concerned with fairness and justice, it didn’t enter my mind to question the status quo of the past two centuries of male presidents.
Seventy years later, my three granddaughters are still getting the message, even if more subtly than I did, that leadership, especially at the highest level, is a man’s role only.
Our future generations of women need to know that their place is also in leadership. The glass ceiling of the presidency needs to be shattered. Hillary Clinton once said, 'Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world.' It is an acknowledgment that women’s talents are not just complementary but essential to the success of this nation.
A woman President of the United States is truly the final hurdle of our ancestors who first fought for the right to vote, granted in 1920.
In the decades after suffrage was granted, women systematically worked towards further rights. In 1922, women gained the rights to own, inherit and manage property independently. In 1948, women gained the right to enlist and serve in the armed forces and pursue military careers.
In the 1960’s, women gained protection through the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Anti-discrimination protections, the right to marital rape laws, the right to work in all fields are just a few of the consequences of this act. In 1963, the Equal Pay Act was passed. However, that did not stop my employer from paying me less as a woman. I was told that even though I was more qualified than my male counterpart, I was married and working for 'pin' money. Even though laws are passed, it doesn’t mean they will be enforced.
In 1965, a law was passed that gave women the right to contraception. Prior to that a woman could be denied contraception at the local 'drug' store. Your purchase was at the whim of a druggist. This was followed up by the Roe vs. Wade decision in the 1970’s affirmed autonomy over reproductive choices.
Of course we all know now that right has been rescinded and it is up to individual states to grant it. In 1974, the Equal Credit Opportunity gave women the right to financial independence.
Women could open bank accounts, get credit and make financial decisions without a male co-signer.
Title IX gave women advocacy for equal access to education which led to improved opportunities for women to attend universities and pursue higher education.
A woman President would represent a milestone of profound historical significance. It is a moment that is poignant to women of my generation, women who couldn’t even get a loan in their name. Two highly qualified women nominated by major parties recently have run for president.
I ask myself why these accomplished women were beaten by Donald Trump. Have we been conditioned as a culture to question a woman’s ability to lead at the highest level?
Do women judge other women more harshly due to societal expectations? Media coverage of female candidates often focuses on their appearance, personality and even how they laugh rather than their qualifications or policies.
Our voices have been behind the scenes for too long. I long for a world where my grandaughters and grandsons will grow up in a world where individuals are judged on their qualifications, character and vision not on their gender. It’s about time!
— Mary Strevel is a member of Stronger Together Huddle, a group engaged in supporting and promoting the common good. She is a retired teacher and resides in Temperance. She can be reached at mcneil102@icloud.com.
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