Dames on the Dais...Belle of the Ball: Admissions, Commissions...Omissions

"Behind every great man...(sits) two great women", as the new, circa 2021 saying now goes. As in the president, the vice president, and the speaker of the house. A historical photo we witnessed just a few evenings ago, as the president, in his first speech to the the joint house, was 'propped up' by two female loyalists from his party. One quite used to the terrain, while another newly seated (on the podium, that is, as the now VP had attended as audience, as a senator), both no doubt grinning behind their masks. History in the making. Women and other people who have been marginalized on the rise, being admitted after previously being blocked, locked out. Juxtaposed to some ongoing COVID circumstances hitting women in the pocketbook and other forms of 'exclusivity' (experienced as omission here)...All this, shortly after cleaning up the confetti from "International Women's Day" on March 8th, embedded in "Women's History Month". I'll briefly highlight both sides of the aisle, to focus our attention on the much celebrated big picture, as well as some troubling details which have once again come to light...

"We've Come a Long Way Baby"𝅘𝅥𝅮 Another nod to Loretta Lynn, whose single by this name was released in 1978 and the album bearing the same in 1979, which followed earlier hits and albums, "You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man)" and "Coal Miner's Daughter". While I cited her work here before, I neglected (noteworthy for today's context) to mention that, in addition to being the lead female country vocalist throughout the 60's and 70's, LL frequently made the "most admired women" polls, alongside first ladies and world leaders. Prior to the time that the two women in sharp focus, Nancy Pelosi and Kamala Harris, had not yet begun their formal political careers in elected office, and Joseph R. Biden was just beginning. I think she would be comfortable sitting either next to these two women or actually even taking the lead for 'Good Ol' Joe', with his moniker and her intonations being a natural pairing...In any case, I think Loretta would be both impressed and pleased with the accomplishments of women in our society since, and not surprised, on the other hand, regarding the ongoing struggles highlighting the multitude of females in America and throughout the world. A society and world, characterized by...

Admissions: Almost 101 years since passing the 19th amendment (101 this August!) and 105 years since the first woman congress'man' (Jeanette Rankin was the first woman to hold federal office in our country, being elected to the House of Representatives in 1916, a Republican representing the state of Montana), we now have the first female Speaker of the House concurrent with the first woman Vice President of the United States. I can hear Loretta belting out the lines, even now at 89, "How come you think you're so smart an' I'm the weaker sex?" Yep, first being admitted and now, at an increasing rate, being voted  in, a higher rate of representation at every level...all except one, YET.

Commissions: Minor, Major, Mega: Such as being allowed to serve in various military capacities (finally rising to the level of "General" when another two women, Elizabeth Hoisington and Anna Mae Hayes, were nominated to serve at this highest capacity by then President Richard Nixon). But now, after serving so many years as "Cruise Directors", we even have female representation as mega-ship captains! That is, Celebrity Cruises made celebrities two times over, in the form of Karin Stahre-Janson and Kate McCue 'manning' the mega-passenger vessels in 2007 and 2015, respectively. The first woman of color, Belinda Bennett, followed about a year later, for the 'super employer' Windstar Cruises. 

Omissions: While hailed as great accomplishments, all the foregoing, by women AND men across the country, we can't be deaf to the lament of millions of citizens in our country. Voices of almost three million women (and counting, unfortunately) who have left the work force throughout the past year. As of February, according to U.S. department of labor stats and reported by the CBS News, nearly three million women, in a COVID type exodus, have left or lost their jobs, with a repeating pattern of pay inequality, undervalued work, increased risk to COVID itself, and differential responsibilities in the home. Especially mothers of young children have been either furloughed or laid off. Presumably not to enable them to run for public office or be elevated to a high ranking military position, an astronaut, professional accordionist (yep, females are increasing here..."it's not just about being strong enough to hold the accordion anymore"), or a professional DJ ('women in the club'). Instead they are unfortunately depicted as occupying the "Empty Desk", a recent documentary profiling the significantly higher level of job losses compared to their male counterparts in almost every country. So much for inclusion. As Vice President Harris cited on February 18th, "In one year, the pandemic has put decades of progress we have collectively made for women workers at risk". Economists, politicians, and of course those representing the interests of women are raising the collective concern about how many years it will take to make up this lost ground. 

Think Globally, Act Locally: As in "Belle of the Ball", an annual event organized by a local county commissioner (Alisha Bell, just a coincidence), which enable many high school seniors who would not be able to afford a prom dress (which now average about $600, according to the article I accessed), most of which are donated by area bridal shops. Even more locally, I have witnessed a few "Moms" groups mobilizing on each other's behalf, not waiting for any government action or support...Groups that inspire and convince me they could get someone elected to president, if they weren't so preoccupied with their current circumstances.