A few years back, our town finally installed lighting, shade providing dugouts, and a scoreboard for some of our softball
fields. Our girls finally had a proper softball home!!! We all applauded at the
ceremony when the lights were turned on for the first time.
Some attending the event spoke the words, while others
thought them silently. “The boys
already had beautiful fields with lights, dugouts, and score boards. Why has it taken so damn long?”
Over the course of our country’s history, sexual
discrimination at times has been both overt and subtle.
It takes only a few viewings of the popular TV show, Madmen,
to get a sense of what women went through just a mere 50 years ago. When I first gave birth to my daughter,
I remember distinctly feeling both excited and terrified. Excited for obvious reasons, but mostly
that I might be rewarded with a best friend someday. But terrified too, because I knew the world can be particularly
unkind to girls and women. That things like education, work, and life can be a
little harder. Because I know that women are more susceptible to becoming
targets of violence and crimes against them. I silently prayed that the world simply be kind to her. (Little did I know that I had given
birth to a strong-willed, strong-minded little person who would grow up to be
everything I’d like to be).
This last week I reflected on some of my own experiences
regarding being a woman, like the times I felt strong because of it and the
times I felt vulnerable because of it.
And the times I thought, “this is unfair.”
And I started to wonder, how much progress we have made in
the past 100 years.
Here is a list JUST from my lifetime starting in 1970.
1) A woman’s employer could change the job title so that they
could pay women less money until 1970.
Schultz v. Wheaton Glass Co.
2) A woman could be discriminated against at Public Educational
Institutions and be denied participation on basis of sex until 1972.
(TITLE IX)
3) A woman would not be acknowledged for running in the Boston
marathon until 1972.
4) A woman could not make a decision regarding her own
reproductive rights until 1973. (Roe V. Wade)
5) A woman could not apply for her own credit card until 1974. (Equal
Credit Opportunity Act).
6) A woman could not legally charge her husband for raping her
until 1976 in Nebraska. (Was made illegal in all 50 States in 1993.)
7) A woman could be fired or denied a job or promotion because
she was or could become pregnant until the Pregnancy Discrimination Act in
1978.
8) While women were admitted into Military Academies, they could
not participate in combat missions until 2013.
Between 1970 and 1979 the number of women in colleges
increased by 60 percent (related much to Title IX!). For the first time in history more women were going to
college than men.
There have been other legislative measures including Lilly
Ledbetter and the Violence Against Women Act designed to address fair pay and
protection of women respectively.
The subtle message that women are weaker and in need of protection
is naturally offensive to many; and yet there is a particular vulnerability
that women face since they are far more likely to be victims of violence
especially by someone they know. This sometimes sends conflicting
messages. Yes, women are strong
and capable. And Yes, also, they
are more easily victims of violent crimes.
*Rape and sexual assault are still alive and well.
*Women still don’t earn the same wages for the same
work.
*More women live in poverty than men.
Just recently another cable news network is under
investigation for allegations of sexual harassment and sexual discrimination.
When I went on maternity leave, I was required to use my accrued
sick days. It turns out, that after
achieving perhaps the greatest physical feat a human can endure (delivering and
caring for a baby), I was "sick". I wondered how
is this considered “sick”? In fact
I would like to argue now that the experience is quite the opposite. Sustaining life, delivering
a baby, and caring for her or him, is a result of health and strength and power.
While there is still much to overcome, it is good to know we
are moving in the right direction.
This week was surely a celebration for all women, for all Americans,
and for all humanity.
The lights are on (at least on the softball field)!
The lights are on (at least on the softball field)!