Women”s History Month is a good time to reflect on the gains and contributions made by women in our society. The overarching theme for March 2010 has been “Writing Women Back into History.”
So many activities and pursuits that I enjoy in my life are due to a woman pioneer. Take the recent election that was held at my local Toastmasters club. Toastmasters club No. 8731, Tenacious Talkers in Finley, was started by Irene Monroe in 1997. Her place in history is preserved in an article, circa September 2007, on the local club”s Web site, http://tenacioustalkers.freetoasthost.net/.
The recent election appointed women to serve terms in several offices, including yours truly, Madam President-elect. We have our woman founder to thank for this opportunity to serve our club.
Or how about the public libraries that I”ve relied upon so completely in my life? One of the librarians at our Lakeport branch ordered a book for me through inter-library loan. It relates the personal recollections of Harriet G. Eddy, who was a county free library organizer with the California State Library from 1909 to 1918. She organized libraries within nearly every county in the state.
In the chronicling of more recent history, women are neither absent nor silent; their influence is keenly felt. One of the highlights of this month – and every month – has been reading weekly columns by my smart and capable co-workers, Mandy Feder and Katy Sweeny.
Fewer in quantity but of no less enjoyment are a handful of columns written by reporter Denise Rockenstein during the years of our association. What are all of these if not commentary upon the first draft of history?
I realize that women of prior generations have had to shatter barriers in order to work in journalism. But when a female former publisher spoke to me about the “good ol” boys” to whom I somehow had to prove myself, my response was a blank look. The original Clear Lake Observer had been founded by a woman, M.E. McIntyre, in 1936. Another woman, Bonny Jean Hanchett, oversaw the Observer American for more than 30 years, 1955 to 1986.
What possible gender-based barriers could still exist between a female editor and her paper”s Lake County readership? I couldn”t relate to what, for me, was an alien concept.
Women have genuinely shattered barriers to advancement in other areas far more recently. In November 2006, Nancy Pelosi became the first-ever woman speaker of the house. In 1984, Geraldine Ferraro was the first vice-presidential candidate for a major U.S. political party during Walter Mondale”s unsuccessful bid on the Democratic ticket. Sarah Palin was on the slate for the Republican ticket in our 2008 presidential election. The 2008 Democratic primaries also saw Hillary Clinton campaigning for U.S. President.
These have been documented firsts that bolster the notion of equality.
I agree with the mission of National Women”s History Month, to celebrate women”s diverse and historic accomplishments – including a recognition of the benefits enjoyed by women in our country today. All of these advances came about as the result of a predecessor”s heroic strides.
For more information about National Women”s History Month and the National Women”s History Project, visit www.nwhp.org/.
Cynthia Parkhill is the focus pages editor for the Lake County Record-Bee and editor of the Clear Lake Observer-American. She can be contacted at ObserverAmerican@gmail.com or 263-5636 ext. 39.
