50+ Lifestyles

In Like a Lion and Out Like a Lamb and Celebrating Strong but Gentle Women Every Day In Between

By Eloise Graham

In like a lion, out like a lamb. Or is it the other way around? I remember learning this little “fact” of predicting March’s weather. It seems to be as good as any other way to determine the weather a month out. And, I would say this statement is accurate… at least 50 percent of the time. So, when I think of March, I think of lambs and lions. That said, I thought it was interesting to find out that March 1 is considered National Pig Day. There must be an animal theme in there somewhere.

The month of March is Women’s History Month. This year’s theme is, “Honoring Trailblazing Women in Labor and Business.” Over 200 years ago, First Lady Abigail Adams said, “If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.”

The 2017 Women of History represent many diverse backgrounds and each made her mark in a different field. Their work and influence spans three centuries of America’s history. These women all successfully challenged the social and legal structures that have kept women’s labor underappreciated and underpaid.

Facing stark inequalities in the workplace (lower wages, poor working conditions, and limited opportunities), women have fought to make the workplace a less hostile environment. They succeeded in expanding women’s participation in commerce and their power in the paid labor force. As labor and business leaders and innovators they defied the social mores of their times by demonstrating women’s ability to create organizations and establish their own businesses that paved the way for better working conditions and wages for themselves and other women. They proved that women could succeed in every field; that women business and labor leaders can and should be considered the norm.

The Honorees for 2017 are: (alphabetical order)

Rebecca Anderson (b 1940) Community and Economic Development Organizer; Barbara Hackman Franklin (b 1940) Former Secretary of Commerce; Alexis Herman (b 1947) Former Secretary of Labor; Lilly Ledbetter (b 1938) Equal Pay Activist; Kate Mullany (1845-1906) Organized First All-Female Labor Union; Lucy Gonzalez Parsons (1853-1942) Labor Organizer and Socialist Leader; Barbara “Dusty” Roads (b 1928) Flight Attendant’s Union Leader; Andra Rush (b 1952) Founder/CEO, Rush Group; Nina Vaca (b 1971) CEO and Chairman of Pinnacle Group; Maggie Lena walker (1864 – 1934) Businesswomen and Community Banking Leader; Yvonne Walker (b 1959) President, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1000; Addie L. Wyatt (1924 – 2012) Labor Union Leader and Civil Rights Activist; Norma Yaeger (b 1930) First woman stockbroker to be permitted on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.