International Women’s Day on March 8th, is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. Equal Pay Day is a few days later on March 12 this year, and represents how far into the year women must work to make as much money as men did the previous year.
Increasingly, women are taking more leaderships roles in business and are entering fields historically dominated by men. Wilton’s first female firefighter Megan Morra is a one local example. Despite coming from a family of professional firefighters, Morra never considered it as an option for herself.
“One day, I went with a friend to a firehouse and helped clean up after a structural fire. The captain asked who I was, and after I explained, he said, ‘Well, if you’re going to help, you might as well apply,’” Morra recalls. “It was an ah-ha moment – before then, I never knew I could, that I was allowed.”
Morra feels fortunate to have a captain that includes her with everyone else and to be supported by her peers. “One night after working a fire, the house owners said, ‘Thanks guys.’ When I took off my gear, they looked surprised and said, ‘Whoa – she’s female!’ They didn’t know because I did everything all the men did – I kept up with them.”
Morra’s suggestion when faced with a challenge? “Do it – don’t hesitate – don’t think you can’t. There’s nothing stopping you other than yourself.”
While much work remains to get to an equal state, we have examples of progress. Renee Weisman was one of the first women engineers at IBM, breaking the glass ceiling in a traditionally male-dominated field. Her book, Winning in a Man’s World, chronicles her journey to becoming one of IBM’s first woman Distinguished Engineers, including the challenges she faced and how she overcame them. Her best advice for women today? “Always project a ‘can-do’ attitude and don’t wear your heart on your sleeve,” Weisman says. “Results matter. Be the one who gets the results.”
In an effort to influence the younger generation, Ms President US, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization founded in the 068, aims to motivate and prepares girls to aim for the highest civic leadership positions. Amanda Cordano, Executive Director, notes that there has been a profound shift in the girls’ mindsets. “What’s really interesting is the topic of inequality doesn’t come up. Rarely is the conversation about women compared with men,” Cordano says. “Instead, the girls get excited by the issues and meeting women who are activists – civic-minded and action-oriented.” That includes meeting Meredith Bergmann who commissioned the first woman-centered monument in NYC’s Central Park portraying women’s rights pioneers Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (until this unveiling in 2020, the only other female statue in the entire park was of a fictional character, Alice in Wonderland); hearing Quaker activists Liseli Haines and Buffy Curtis discuss their time as water protectors, standing in solidarity with native people for earth stewardship; and interviewing Laura Smits, President of the League of Women Voters of Connecticut, Tina Courpas, Executive Director on the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women in Connecticut, and Dr. Golnar Raissi-Sadeghi, Co-founder of Bridge of Hope.
Cordano is filled with stories like this. One that rises to the top is when the middle schoolers met with CT State Senator Mae Flexer who was nursing her newborn on the Zoom. “That was a pretty big deal for our girls to see,” Cordano recalls. “Here is a human trying to juggle being a state senator and a new mother at the same time – how do you do that?”
Lianne Sorkin, of Pound Ridge, NY, who has produced many of the United Nation’s commemorations for International Women’s Day reflects, “I’m struck with the impact it has – locally and globally. People have become more educated, informed, and inspired because of the focus on March 8th. It provides both a joyful day to celebrate the progress made and a call-to-action to connect deeply, collaborate broadly, and commit wholeheartedly to the road that is ahead of us.”
So, as we celebrate International Women’s Day this year and Equal Pay Day a few days later, let’s take a moment to remember the progress that has been made – in recent history, Equal Pay Day used to be in May! This year let’s recognize and embrace the many opportunities we have each and every day to change the narrative and hope that one day Equal Pay Day will be on January 1.
