Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Keeping My Foot On The Gas Pedal

FrenchFlappers 1920 began with Babe Ruth moving to New York, but this proved a small event in the course of the year (unless you talk to my husband or other rabid baseball fans). The world powers continued to deal with the aftermath of “The Great War.” The League of Nations formed without the US. Adolf Hitler presented his National Socialist Program in Munich.

On August 6, the 19th Amendment guaranteeing women’s suffrage, was certified.

Now, 90 years after gaining the right to vote, women have achieved much; however, there are still gaps in our status in this country. Men still earn more for comparable work. Men dominate board rooms. Men dominate politics. Men dominate academic medicine and science, my own field.

Vision 2020 calls for a decade of discussion and action about these ongoing inequalities:Vision

Vision 2020 is a national project focused on advancing gender equality by energizing the dialogue about women and leadership. Its first public event takes place on Oct. 21-22, 2010, when a congress of national delegates, representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia, will meet at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia to launch an action agenda to move America toward equality by 2020, the centennial celebration of the 19th Amendment.

“What is Equality?” Vision 2020’s Anthem poses some provocative questions.  Watch, think and engage by clicking here.

My favorite description of Vision 2020:

Vision 2020 will develop and launch its decade-long action agenda to move America toward equality by inspiring and engaging new generations of women and men to finish the work of the suffragists

[Emphasis mine]

I am delighted to represent the state of Nebraska in this important endeavor. All of the delegates can be found, by state, here. We represent every field of human (not just feminine) endeavor, with a wide range of backgrounds and goals.

Vision 2020 may will be one of the coolest things I get to do.

I hope we can advance the work of the suffragists. I hope we can work toward a country where a woman will be elected president. I hope our conversations and actions can drive pay equity. After all, I have a daughter.

Equality: Are we there yet? No. That is why we must keep driving forward.

Follow Vision 2020 on twitter, and “like” it on facebook.

Postcard of French Flappers, circa 1920, via Flickr.

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