Women's History Month

March is Women's History Month, a time to celebrate women's contributions to history, culture, and society. It's only fitting to pay tribute, as we have through our blog recently, to women such as the WWII WASPs and female black civil rights workers, in honor of their tireless efforts to provide a foundation for women's success today.

This week, I had the opportunity to attend a Women's History Month luncheon at Franklin College featuring Dr. Fred Hord, Professor and Chair of Black Studies at Knox College. Dr. Hord shed light on an area of history that receives little attention: black women and their impact on the civil rights movement. In 30 minutes, he highlighted several amazing women:

• Montgomery Improvement Association: Mary Fair Burks, Jo Ann Robinson, Claudette Colvin
• Little Rock 9: Daisy Bates
• Southern Christian Leadership Conference: Ella Baker
• Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC): Bernice Johnson Reagon, Diane Nash, Gloria Richardson, and Ruby Doris Smith-Robinson
• Mississippi Freedom Democrat Party: Fannie Lou Hamer
• Writers and poets: Mari Evans, Christian Hunter, Eugenia Coller, Lucille Clifton, and others.

These women are responsible for actions that impacted not only the black civil rights movement, but women's rights as well. In one example, Ella Baker served as Acting Director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, but never was honored as the Director, even though she did most of the work. Some, such as Claudette Colvin, Daisy Bates, and Ruby Doris Robinson, were in their teens and early twenties when they courageously stood up for what they believed in.

Dr. Hord characterized these women as Bridge Leaders, women who lead for the collective good of the group, not themselves. He also asserted that these women should be known by everyone; they are leaders, yet many of them don't make it into history books. The barriers these women faced are rarely-told stories of bravery and heroism.

In celebration of Women's History Month, here are a few facts about women today:

• For the first time in our history, half of U.S. workers are female. Source: The Shriver Report
• Women-owned companies employ more people than the largest 500 companies combined. Source: “Female Power,” The Economist, December 30th, 2009
• Women are paid 23 cents less than men for every dollar earned in our economy. Source: The Shriver Report
• Mothers have become the primary breadwinners in 4 out of 10 American families. Source: The Shriver Report
• Half of all families rely on the earnings of two parents and in more than 20% of all families a single mother is the primary breadwinner. Source: The Shriver Report

As you can see, women have come a long way in recent years, but inequity still exists. At Women's Fund we focus our funding on marginalized women, women who lack access to sufficient resources, quality caregiving options, and safety from violence. I challenge all of us to find new and creative ways to support central Indiana women so women can continue to succeed and flourish.