Women’s Equality is a movement that has been around since I was young. It was a springboard in the ’70s for women. It was a call to arms, so to speak. Women felt empowered to have a family and a career. Women could enjoy the benefits of a career that wasn’t determined by gender. Women could be educated, hold positions of influence, travel to the stars, and inspire future generations.
Now, for me personally, I was just coming into my teens. I was gangly, clumsy, and entering puberty and middle school. I was influenced by the Black Power movement and a juvenile understanding of civil rights.
Women’s equality interested me because it had nothing to do with color. There was an idea that all females could embrace, no matter their color or social standing. I was young, forgive my naivete. I celebrated with other Oklahomans as Wilma Mankiller became the first woman principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. I was ecstatic when I learned of Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to the United States Congress. I was over the moon, as an educator when Christa McAuliffe made history as the first American civilian to go into space.
There are many other powerful, successful women that have raised all women to a level of equality. We are Equal because we share a unique sisterhood. We are women that have proven to ourselves that we have no limits. We are Super Women with our children; we are Heroes in the workplace; we are Queens in our communities, but best of all we are Sisters rising above all expectations.
Let’s keep moving mountains, changing opinions, and forging ahead! Remember, you can always call your sister!
