Women’s History Month 2010

Date: 20th Legislative District Night in Annapolis 2010 {3/8/10} Dear Friends, Family, & Neighbors, For more than a decade, America has proclaimed the month of March as Women's History Month, by recognizing women and reflecting on the contributions they have made throughout history. I have been inspired by courageous women pioneers and women today who continue to shape our Nation's destiny. I am proud to benefit from the women that fought throughout history, making it possible for me to exercise my democratic right to run for office. The integration and essential role of women within Maryland's economy "Leads the Way" in developing a national standard in employment, health, and education. Today, women hold careers that are critical to our national and international infrastructure. Laws and public policy changes that benefit Maryland have resulted in career fields becoming open to women. These changes have removed past institutional barriers and allow the best qualified and available person, to fill key jobs. Women are now competing for and receiving jobs that their parents could not imagine. Today, many women still face significant challenges. However, thanks to our sense of determination and growing culture of equality, we are headed in the right direction. In moving forward, we must continue the fight for the following: "Equal Opportunity" "Prohibition of Sexual Harassment" "Parent Support Programs" "Anti-Violence Against Women Statutes" "Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children" "Human Rights of Women" "Educational Equity for Women and Girls" "Mandating That Paid Maternity Leave Becomes a Legal and Fundamental Right"...with or without insurance "A Woman's Charter for Maryland" An effective and self-sustained "Task Force on Spousal Abuse" and "Countermeasures to Stress and Psychological Issues in Women"

Maryland's programs and budget decisions should incorporate the needs of women constituencies. Maryland's inclusive economy demonstrates that women are on the cutting edge of leadership and power. We must continue to develop laws and public policy to further women's empowerment and reaffirm the fundamental rights of women. We must re-structure educational costs in order to encourage the completion of degree and certificate programs to increase occupational opportunities for single mothers. We can establish a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional research within Maryland for the purpose of coordinating research on women's health issues. We can afford for EVERY adult woman, without age constraints, to have an annual Pap smear and clinical breast examination. We will also enable our health professionals to set standard guidelines for mitigating women's exposure to environmental pollutants. With your support, I can enact laws that provide financial management, premarital and marital counseling, alcohol and drug abuse prevention programs, prenatal support, counseling, and home visits after child birth to both the mother and father for certain families at risk for family violence. My daughter is 13 years old. I applaud our education system for maintaining anti-biased curriculums to achieve the goal of educating and enabling each girl to discover her full potential. We should make laws that pay for employment and tuition assistance programs for spouses of deployed National Guard service members. With your commitment, we can revise laws, public policy, and administrative practices to ensure women's equal rights and access to economic resources. During Women's History Month 2010, we are focusing on making laws that will provide incentives for companies that increase representation of women in mid-level and senior management positions through the use of developmental bridge positions and job restructuring. Each large-scale employer should establish an outreach and mentoring initiative to develop an adequate resource pool of women for technical/scientific, managerial, and executive level positions. Many Maryland companies already have tools such as flexible work schedules, part-time employment, and flex-time to maximize the opportunity for employment of women with family responsibilities. I can not do this without your vote. By standing together, we will achieve greater success by embracing our uniqueness, versus dividing it. During this month, I ask that take the time to participate in events we have planned to recognize our heritage, and the proud part women have played in our past, present, and future prosperity. Warmest Regards, Eli

Women Who have Shaped History

American History - Through the Civil War (-1864)

1775 Mary Katherine Goddard is the first woman postmaster 1715 Ann Teresa Mathews First woman whose invention received a patent (for cleaning and curing corn) - it was granted to her husband

1777 Abigail Smith Adams, wife of the second president (John Adams) and mother of the sixth president (John Quincy Adams) writes that women "will not hold ourselves bound by any laws which we have no voice." 1776/77 Betsy Ross is the first person to be a U.S. flagmaker.

1812 Lucy Brewer is the First woman marine Hannah Adams is first American woman to support herself by writing.

1826 The first public high schools for girls open in New York and Boston Emma Hart Willard writes her "Plan for Improving Female Education," which although unsuccessful, defines the issue of women's education at that time.

1833 Oberlin College in Ohio, is the first co- educational college in the U.S Former slave, abolitionist, and feminist Isabella van Wagener is freed and takes the name Sojourner Truth. She begins to preach against slavery throughout New York and New England.

1840 Lucretia Mott is one of several women delegates to attend the World's Anti- Slavery Convention in London. As a woman, she is forced to sit in the gallery and cannot participate Elizabeth Cady Stanton, feminist, dress reformer, and editor, omits the word "obey" from her marriage vows.

1849 Elizabeth Blackwell becomes the first woman to receive a medical degree in U.S 1848 The first Women's Rights Convention is held in Seneca Falls, NY.

1849 Women doctors are permitted to legally practice medicine for the first time 1850 Women are granted the right to own land in a state (Oregon).

1852 Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton form the Women's NY Temperance Society The Female (later Women's) Medical College is founded in Pennsylvania.

1866 The American Equal Rights Association is founded by Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Stanton, Martha Coffin Pelham Wright, and Ernestine Rose The 14th Amendment denying women the right to vote is ratified.

American History: Reconstruction (1865) Through 1899

1868 Women lawyers are licensed in U.S The National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) and the American Woman Suffrage Association (AWSA) are formed.

1870 The 15th Amendment enfranchising black men is ratified Susan B. Anthony is arrested for attempting to vote.

1878 For the first time, a Women's Suffrage Amendment is introduced to Congress The Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) is founded Victoria Claflin Woodhull, first woman to be presidential candidate.

The NWSA and the AWSA reunite to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). Women begin to wear knickerbockers instead of skirts for bicycle riding Wyoming is first state to allow women to vote.

American History: : World War I, Depression, Women’s Suffrage

1903 The Women's Trade Union League of New York is formed to unionize working women. This group later becomes the nucleus for the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) Mary McLeod Bethune, First woman to establish secondary school that became 4-year accredited college. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Carl Van Vechten Collection, [reproduction number, e.g., LC-USZ ]

1913 5,000 suffragists march in Washington, D.C. for the women's rights movement Blanche Scott, First woman to fly an airplane.

1915 A petition with 500,000 signatures in support of women's suffrage amendment is given to President Woodrow Wilson The 19th Amendment is ratified, allowing women the right to vote in federal elections.

1923 Alice Paul and the National Women's Party first proposes the Equal Rights Amendment to eliminate discrimination on the basis of sex. It has never been ratified Florence Ellinwood Allen becomes first woman on US Court of Appeals.

American History Since World War II

1961 Eleanor Roosevelt is appointed to chair the Commission on the Status of Women The National Organization for Women (NOW) is founded by Betty Goldstein Friedan.

,000 people march in New York City for the first Women's Strike for Equality U.S. Supreme Court rule ends sex discrimination in hiring.

1972 Equal Rights Amendment passes Congress but fails to be ratified. U.S. Congress passes the Equal Employment Opportunity Act.

1975 Ella Grasso is first woman Governor (CT) to be re-elected ,000 women march in Washington, D.C. on Women's Equality Day to support the E.R.A.

1981 Sandra Day O'Connor becomes first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

1995 Lt. Col. Eileen Collins becomes the first American woman to pilot a Space Shuttle.

1997 Madeleine K. Albright becomes first woman U.S. Secretary of State.

2000 Hillary Rodham Clinton becomes the only First Lady ever elected to the United States Senate.

2005 Condoleezza Rice becomes the first African-American woman to be appointed Secretary of State.

2007 Nancy Pelosi First woman to become Speaker of the House

2009 Michelle Obama Becomes the first African American First Lady of the United States