ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, August 1, 1996 TAG: 9608010087
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LUCY LEE
I AM writing in response to Margie Fisher's insightful article of July 21, ``Once upon a time, the women got organized.'' The ``once upon a time'' was 1953 when about 100 women's organizations and women leaders - Democrats and Republicans - banded together to elect the first woman (Mary Pickett) to Roanoke City Council.
Fisher cites the very short list of women officeholders - at both local and state levels - who have succeeded Pickett in the following four decades. She laments the fact that the still male-dominated Democratic and GOP political machinery seldom supports qualified female candidates, that the valley's League of Women Voters recently folded, that there are no young female organizers on the horizon, and that women are no longer likely to unite by gender to support women candidates.
I share Fisher's concern that ``something's amiss,'' although I'm happy to say that her last grievance - that women won't coalesce to elect women to office - is being addressed.
A new bipartisan political-action committee, Make Women Count, is organizing women around the state to be actively involved in identifying and supporting women candidates, and to shape legislation that affects women. The group is currently based in Richmond, but is in the process of establishing local chapters in other Virginia cities.
During the 1996 legislative session, Make Women Count supported proposals that impacted women's lives in several areas: at work (women-owned businesses, the establishment of day-care centers); in the health field (carpal tunnel syndrome, direct access to routine gynecological care, abortion rights); in the economy (child support); and on family issues (a family-violence arrest policy).
Aside from lobbying efforts, Make Women Count offers advice, volunteers, and financial and moral support to women candidates running for state or local offices. (The group is bipartisan, but does not support candidates who subscribe to a far -right Christian Coalition or ``pro-life'' agenda.) The organization has established a hot line (804-644-7450) for legislative updates, action alerts and lobbying opportunities.
In a perfect world, there would be no need for such a group. Issues pertaining to equality for women and children and that impact the family would be considered human issues rather than women's issues. The term ``women's rights'' would be extinct, since it would have finally become synonymous with ``human rights.'' However, there remains much work to be done for this ideal to be realized.
As we continue the quest for equality, women in the Roanoke Valley can learn from their local history. If ``once upon a time, women got organized'' to accomplish a goal, we can do it again. A vehicle for this opportunity is in place, and thriving in Richmond.
Let's make women count in Roanoke, too.
Lucy Lee is a former director of the Women's Center at Hollins College.
LENGTH: Medium: 58 linesby CNB