Gender Equality

I recently watched a video about Helen Reddy's climb to stardom called "I Am Woman." She had a hard time getting started, singing in nightclubs to small audiences. She was a single mother trying to balance child care with a career which didn't seem to be going anywhere. Then a man offered to be her manager and get her voice on recordings. They developed a relationship and Reddy achieved moderate success. But she wanted to write her own music and when she created "I Am Woman" her career really took off. Unfortunately, her manager wanted to take credit for her success and tried to put her down.

Reddy was a strong believer in the equality of women and knew that she was equally responsible for her success. Without her voice, her partner was nothing. She taught her young daughter to be strong and confident. She told her that she could be anything she wanted to be.

Most parents nowadays try to teach their daughters this same lesson. "Be all you can be." Follow your dream." Those who try to make their children, boys and girls, follow their parents' agenda, make for unhappy offspring who often fail. Of course, some who try to follow their dream are not successful and may have to learn to be more realistic or work harder.

Amellia Earhart wanted to be a pilot and achieved her dream. She became the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic and set many other records. She wrote books about aviation and encouraged other women to become aviators. She is still a heroine today for many girls seeking adventure.

Today women  have infiltrated many fields previously filled only by men such as senators, judges, doctors, lawyers, police officers, firefighters, and armed forces. They have shown equal courage, strength, and intelligence as men. May women continue to claim their rightful place in society.