It Takes a Congresswoman. . .

To even think of gender equity bills

“What are you running, an airline or a whore house?”

Martha Griffiths, Democratic Congresswoman from Michigan, (1955–1974), taking on the airline industry for mandating that “stewardesses” had to be young, thin, pretty and unmarried. Or fired. “The committee chairman didn’t file the bill for equal pay under E, he filed the bill under B for broads.”

Edith Green, Democratic Congresswoman from Oregon (1955–1974), explaining why the 1963 Equal Pay for Equal Work bill took nine years to pass after she introduced it. “They know if we got riled up we are the representatives of all the women in the country.”

Patsy Mink, Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii (1965–2003), explaining at least one reason the whopping majority of men in congress consider their female peers. Take The Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act. It became law in 1972, with a huge thanks to co-authors Congresswomen Green and Mink. And the congressmen and senators who voted for it. Originally known as Title IX, the law prohibits sex discrimination in educational and sports programs receiving federal money. It’s the legislation that no longer considered higher education only suitable for men. Title IX has translated way beyond sports. No more quotas keeping women out of colleges and law and med schools. Out of university libraries, out of research centers.

“When I’m in a parade, the women see me first and start clapping. I feel like I’m running for the Woman’s Party.”

Margaret Heckler, Republican Congresswoman from Massachusetts, (1967–1983), who had worked fervently for the day care bill, ultimately vetoed by President Richard Nixon.

“I’m going to spend the rest of my life getting women to run for Congress.”

Julia Butler Hansen, Democratic Congresswoman from Washington (1960–1974), vowing as she retired from office.

“Being a woman and a black and a member of Congress has enlarged my constituency beyond any dream.”

Barbara Jordan, Democratic Congresswoman from Texas, (1973–1979).

Some Fun Facts:

• There are 435 members of the U.S. House.
• There are a hundred U.S. Senators.
• In 2017 there are 21 women senators and 83 women representatives.

June 20, 2017 (Updated 26 August 2018): If you think that’s a paltry, pitiful representation, it is. Not that much of a change since the 1960s when there were as few as a dozen congresswomen. In the 1970s, the number dipped to eleven. As for senators, forget it. From 1973 to 1978 there weren’t any.

Interviewing nearly all of the women in Congress in the early 1970s, I found a common thread — they all discovered soon after being elected that their “constituents” also included women from all over the country. So in addition to the Congresswomen working on bills benefiting everyone, they were the only members of who even thought of factoring women’s needs and rights as citizens into their agendas. Thanks to those few, the 1960s and 1970s were probably the most freeing for women in U.S. history.

For the first time, women could take out loans to buy a car or a house. They were finally allowed to have their own charge accounts and credit cards. They had a better shot at coming out of a broken marriage solvent rather than impoverished. For the first time, women got the same access as men to federal funding for their education. And they at least had a crack at earning the same amount of pay as men for same work. They also got at least the right to keep their jobs if they got pregnant.

Granted, bills got passed because there was comity between Democrats and Republicans in those days. Still, today’s women have a lot more arrows in their bows. They see clearly their mission to defend and protect their legacy and their future.

We now have “Emily’s List”, an organization recruiting and supporting “pro-choice Democratic Women,” the support of a rising number of women’s advocacy groups and the energized uprising of the millions who joined the January 21, 2017 “Women’s March on Washington”.

1. First Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin, now 90, Hails Women’s Lib, The Washington Star-News, September 2, 1972
2. Only A Woman In Office Gets Action, says Congresswoman Martha Griffiths, The Washington Daily News, December 7, 1971
3. New Congresswoman Lindy Boggs Gets Warm Wishes, Congressmen’s Kisses: Elected to fill the term of her husband, Rep. Hale Boggs, who was lost on a plane flight in Alaska, she greeted her children, grandchildren and a vast number of friends at a reception in the Capitol dining room, The Washington Star and Daily News, March 28, 1973
4. Lindy Boggs, 1976 Democratic Convention Chair says she’ll “Command Strict Gavel”, The Washington Star, April 1, 1973
5. Women Urged to Join the Fray, The Washington Daily News, August 27, 1971
6. Nixon’s Veto of Day Care Bill Dismays Rep. Louise Day Hicks, The Washington Daily News, September 4, 1971
7. Congresswoman Ella Grasso is on Her Way to Becoming “First Lady” Governor of Connecticut, The Washington Star-News, June 7, 1974
8. Patsy Mink Heads for the Presidential Primaries, The Washington Daily News, November 22, 1971
9. Women’s Heroine Martha Griffiths is “Tough as Nails” as a Legislator, The Washington Star News, November 11, 1973
10. Kids Can’t Vote or Work, says Pat Schroeder, They Can’t Explain Moms Need Day Care, The Washington Star, August 8, 1975
11. Feminist “Big Guns” Take on Women’s Lack of Credit Equality, The Evening Star and Daily News, March 22, 1973
12. ERA Advocate, Congresswoman Florence Dwyer, R-N.J., Dreams, Breathes Politics, The Washington Daily News, December 13, 1971
13. ‘Political Wonder’ Elizabeth Holtzman Beat Man Who Blocked the ERA, The Washington Star, 1973
14. Rep. Barbara Jordan Finds She Also Represents Women and Minorities, The Washington Star, March 2, 1975
15. Shirley Chisholm Revels In Her Role as First Black Congresswoman: Champion of women and blacks, she weathered some initial male hostility with supreme self-confidence, courage and perseverance., Gannett News Service, November 23, 1969 — NEW 26 August 2018
16. Madame President: Shirley’s serious about the White House, The Washington Daily News, September 14, 1971
17. Presidential Hopeful Shirley Chisholm Makes Short Work of Two Rivals Addressing the National Press Club, The Washington Daily News, April 21, 1972
18. As Shirley Chisholm’s Presidential Bid Ends, She Totes Up Winnings: As the first black woman presidential candidate she’s learned that she’s encouraging other minorities to mount political campaigns. “I’ve opened the door.”, The Evening Star and Washington Daily News, August 1, 1972
19. Rep. Leonor Sullivan Believes Women Should Be in the House, The Washington Daily News, March 3, 1972
20. “I Could Be the Loneliest Gal in Town,” Says Workaholic Rep. Leonor Sullivan, The Washington Evening Star and Daily News, January 24, 1973
21. Women’s Lobby Invades Congress To Tell the Men What Women Need, The Washington Daily News, November 24, 1972
22. For Five Term Rep. Charlotte Reid, The FCC Post is a New Challenge, The Washington Daily News, 1971
23. Two Maryland Congresswomen, On Opposite Side of Women’s Issues: Democrat Gladys Noon Spellman is ebullient and gregarious. Republican Marjorie Holt is reserved, but, a friend says, sensitive and caring, The Washington Star, early 1970’s
24. Democrats Need To Raise at Least $15 Million to Elect the next President: Two Congresswomen candidates expected to spur male contenders to raise women’s issues, The Washington Daily News
25. These Three Dynamic Councilwomen Are Experienced Community Leaders: Friends for years, they well aware of the importance of political clout. The Washington Star-News, February 2, 1975 — NEW 26 August 2018

[Section D (#46) in a collection of more than 100 newspaper articles by Judy Flander from the second wave of the Women’s Movement reflecting the fervor and ingenuity of the women who rode the wave.]