UNBOUGHT AND UNBOSSED - SHIRLEY CHISHOLM

[sheshe2]

Equal Rights for Women



full text transcript of Shirley Chisholm's Equal Rights for Women speech, delivered at Washington D.C. - May 21, 1969.

Mr. Speaker,

When a young woman graduates from college and starts looking for a job, she is likely to have a frustrating and even demeaning experience ahead of her. If she walks into an office for an interview, the first question she will be asked is, "Do you type?''

There is a calculated system of prejudice that lies unspoken behind that question. Why is it acceptable for women to be secretaries, librarians, and teachers, but totally unacceptable for them to be managers, administrators, doctors, lawyers, and Members of Congress.

The unspoken assumption is that women are different. They do not have executive ability orderly minds, stability, leadership skills, and they are too emotional.

It has been observed before, that society for a long time, discriminated against another minority, the blacks, on the same basis - that they were different and inferior. The happy little homemaker and the contented "old darkey" on the plantation were both produced by prejudice.

As a black person, I am no stranger to race prejudice. But the truth is that in the political world I have been far oftener discriminated against because I am a woman than because I am black.

Read the Rest: http://www.emersonkent.com/speeches/equal_rights_for_women.htm

Shirley Chisholm, you are the shero of women everywhere. All women no matter the color of their skin. I thank you for your wisdom and grace.

[handmade34]

1. one of my earliest heroes!

thank you for the link

[Capt. Obvious]

2. Reagan is the Prez but I voted for Shirley Chisholm

[mountain grammy]

3. Shirley, Bella, Barbara, just to name three. We sure had some wonderful, strong women back then.

Not that we don't now, but I sure do miss those voices.