Many years ago, in a small town in Southern Illinois, I was among a handful of girls who were allowed, for the first time ever, to take shop classes in high school.
Some of us did it because we really wanted to take shop. Others of us did it because, well, we could.
One day, I was on my way to wood shop, and one of the guys was blocking the door with his arm. It may be hard to believe, but I was rather shy and reserved as a 14-year-old girl. This young man looked at me and said, “Only men are allowed in here.”
I will never know where I got the strength or fortitude to do what I did next. Without missing a beat, I said, “I don’t see any men here,” pushed his arm aside, and went into wood shop. I still have the stool I made, as well as the strength it took to stand up against ignorance and discrimination. I like to think Mrs. Claus might have had a similar reaction, had a rude elf tried to keep her out of any North Pole workshop.
Many years later, the recent news that the military will open all-combat roles to women seemed long overdue to me for a country that espouses so many women’s rights. It’s taken a long time for our military leadership to realize the brilliance of judging our military personnel by skill rather than by gender.
Will it all go smoothly? Surely not. Yet, the opening of these doors is additional recognition that our military wants to find the best people for its jobs.
It’s a bold and forward step with which to begin the New Year.
Yet, there is still an epidemic of pay inequity in our country between women and men, and, regardless of the recent change in our military, there remain many places where career opportunities for women are limited.
Findings by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research show that comparable pay for women and men doing the comparable work would cut the poverty rate of working women in half.
That is something that would certainly benefit Federal Way, since 59.7 percent of our local students live in or near the federal poverty level, according to Federal Way Public Schools’ website.
In the meantime, local inspiration comes in the form of our own Hannah Boober, who is taking Sacajawea Middle School football by storm as the only female player on the team.
The 14-year-old in me is rejoicing that she can play football as a female without having to wear lingerie as her uniform, though she’s apparently already had to deal with a rude guy or two.
I’m pretty sure Mrs. Claus is joining me in wishing her continued strength and fortitude for dealing with people who don’t support her — of which there are still too many.
Go Warriors! And Merry Christmas.
Federal Way resident Amy Johnson, MSW, is a trainer, educator and coach in the Pacific Northwest. She is co-author of the books, “Parenting by Strengths: A Parent’s Guide for Challenging Situations” and “Homegrown Faith and Justice.” Amy facilitates classes and workshops in the Puget Sound area and online. She specializes in working with parents and in sexuality education. Amy can be reached at comments@diligentjoy.com.
