Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 24, 1993 TAG: 9303240233
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MELANIE S. HATTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
NOW PRESIDENT KEEPS THE FAITH
In 1975, Patricia Ireland enjoyed telling people she wanted to be a Supreme Court Justice, just so she could watch "their eyes roll around in their heads."Ireland, president of the National Organization for Women, still seems to enjoy confrontation. "I take pride in being hard-edged," she told an audience of around 400 Monday evening at Virginia Tech. She was keynote speaker for the university's 12th annual Women's Week.
She laughed when someone from the audience shouted that now was her chance to get on the court as President Bill Clinton is looking for someone to replace Justice Byron White.
As a corporate and commercial lawyer during the early '70s, Ireland was the only female lawyer in her firm. She struggled then to be seen "like everybody else."
But when more women entered the field, she changed. She began dressing more femininely instead of trying to fit into the male image of a lawyer. And she questioned the lack of maternity leave policies.
"I began to recognize the value in my being a woman," she said.
Women's lives are different from men's lives, she said. Their experiences are different. And that variety of perspectives needs to be reflected in the government, she said.
Ireland applauded the recent increase in minority representation in Congress and the Senate, including the election of the first black woman senator. The percentage of women in Congress increased from five percent to 10 percent in the last election. "Most are pro-choice, and that's cause to celebrate."
But Ireland said she would not be happy until she saw that 10 percent become 50 percent.
Ireland, 47, criticized the government's double standard for male and female Cabinet nominees during the confirmation process. She referred to the controversy surrounding Attorney General-designee Zoe Baird, who admitted that she had failed to pay Social Security taxes for a part-time domestic employee. As a result, she was forced to withdraw from consideration as attorney general, while Commerce Secretary Ron Brown admitted to a similar act but was not similarly penalized.
Baird was portrayed as a "rich bitch and a bad mother," with questions about the lack of time she spends with her children. "If she had been . . . Joey Baird those questions would never have been asked," she said.
But there are problems up and down the economic ladder.
Women on welfare or Social Security recipients are paid below the poverty level. The less money a women has, the more likely she's going to slip the neighbor a few dollars to take care of her children without claiming anything, Ireland said.
She cited the current ethics investigation of Oregon Sen. Bob Packwood as an example of how women can make a difference. Women pressured the Senate not to re-seat Packwood when 23 women came forward complaining of being sexually harassed by him.
But sexual harassment remains to be addressed, she said, especially in the military.
Ireland said women become the butt of men's jokes when men feel threatened by women. Men talk about women as body parts and deemed them lesbians if they ignore a man's advances, she said. There are three times more women discharged for violating the gay and lesbian ban, and Ireland suspects it's because men have decided these women are lesbians.
"I've been hearing all this angst about gay men in showers," Ireland said. "What it comes down to is straight men are afraid they're going to be sexually harassed like women have been for years."
Many say NOW's position on gay and lesbian issues has alienated the majority of women. But Ireland says the latest polls show public opinion on gays and lesbians has changed.
"Seventy percent believe [homosexuals] shouldn't be discriminated against," she said. Today, the issue hits home because more people are likely to know someone who is gay or lesbian.
Ireland herself has acknowledged having both a husband of 25 years, Florida artist-businessman James Humble, and an unidentified woman "companion."
For anyone who believes NOW is more interested in sexual preference issues instead of sexual prejudice issues, Ireland blames the media. "Sex sells," she said.
And gay and lesbian issues are sexier and make better headlines than child care. Ireland said she will continue to prompt the president on the issues of abortion rights, health and child care, violence against women and economic empowerment.
"In the same way we started this century with getting the vote," Ireland said, "I want to end it [with women] taking real political power."