Giannini: Remembering the Unsung Heroes in Women’s History Month
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
March is Women's History Month and I keep remembering that saying, "You've come a long way, baby!." That quote was meant to say that women had made it and had broken the glass ceiling.
But I didn't buy it then and I don't buy it now. It may be 2015, but women are still struggling to keep up. Yes, we have the first women governor elected this year, but let's be honest. We were years behind other states who have been electing women as state office holders for years.
Every year, March 8th is woman's history day and we are reminded of the woman who were the leaders in reform such as Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks, Sojourner Truth and Lucy Stone to just name a few.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTBut I'd like to talk about our Rhode Island woman pioneers who ventured out in the world of politics to make their voices heard. In 1980, Claudine Schneider was elected as Rhode Island's first United States Representative. There hasn't been a woman elected to the federal delegation since. Unlike the office of Secretary of State where Susan Farmer was first elected in 1984, there have been other women to hold that seat such as Kathleen Connell, Barbara Leonard and now Nellie Gorbea. In 1993, Nancy Mayer became the first female Treasurer and in 1984, Arlene Violet became the first woman Attorney General. In 1993, Mary Ross became the first black female State Representative. Interestingly enough, most of these woman were Republicans. Yes, it seems the Republicans were in the forefront in promoting woman to run for statewide office.
Well it is 2015 and a new dawn. The Democrats are finally catching up. With the elections of Elizabeth Roberts eight years ago as Lt. Governor, Governor Gina Raimondo this year, and Nellie Gorbea as Secretary of State, it is the start of things to come. Let's not forget the election of Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed as the Senate President several years ago.
Although Rhode Island has always been considered more liberal than conservative, the Democratic Party has not been so supportive of woman running for higher office as other states. But now, change is in the making. In the 2014 Democratic primaries, all the endorsed candidates for statewide office lost including the mayor's race in Providence. That sends out a clear message. Change is in the air. But this change will need a little push. Even though woman make up more than 50 percent of the population, politics is a male dominated profession. Why is that? One of the reasons is that men are basically very supportive of each other. We as woman have to show that same support for our female counterparts as the men show for each other and success will come.
We are seeing a surge of strong woman candidates running for office in Rhode Island and they are being judged on their message to the people, not on their party's message. You don't need to be endorsed by the party you are affiliated with to win your election.
In 1994, I ran as an unendorsed Democratic candidate for State Representative against two male opponents. We had the old voting machines then and I was placed in the third column on the old machines. I remember staunch Democrats saying to me, " You will never win, you are not endorsed." I persevered and on election night was ahead by one vote. It made national news. The following two weeks were full of recounts and absentee ballot counts. The end result was that I won by 33 votes and became the first woman State Representative in my district.
I have seen other woman who fought the fight to be elected in Providence such as Josephine "Joan" DiRuzzo, who was the longest serving woman in Providence with 27 years as the Councilwoman in ward 15 and the late Carolyn Brassil who was the first woman Finance Chair on the City Council in Providence. I recall the first woman City Clerk, Rose Mendonca, who worked her way up starting in City Hall as a clerk. These woman were role models who did it by working hard and excelling in their professions.
It certainly is not easy to compete in a male dominated profession such as politics, especially if you are not an attorney. But times are changing and woman are making history every day.
Woman are showing that we won't step aside for our male counterparts because they may have the political connections or endorsements. Instead, woman are ready to take that chance and move forward to compete because we care. We care about our city and state and want our voices to be heard even though we know running isn't an easy task.
We look forward to the day when more woman run for federal and state office. We have yet to see another woman congress person or a woman Mayor of Providence or Cranston. But I believe someday we will.
I have always believed that women add a different dimension to political life, a needed dimension that adds their experience of life. Whether it be running a company, or working in an office or being a homemaker , we contribute our side of life in a way that differs us from our male counterparts.
Woman can multitask in so many ways and that is something we owe to the true heroes of woman's history month who are our mothers, grandmothers, aunts and woman relatives who paved the way for us to compete now. Without our female ancestors' sacrifices, our opportunities would fail to exist. You ask any elected official woman or man and they will have to admit to the support of their mothers or female caregivers.
Our unsung woman heroes have paved the way for the future and have preserved the past. It is a past filled with rich heritages, diversity, blood, sweat and tears that we can all be proud of today.
One of my fondest memories of my mom was a sign she hung on her front door she made when I was first ran for office. She wrote "So proud of you Joanne, you go girl, go!" That meant a great deal to me and helped me when I felt discouraged or down.
In this Women's History Month let us remember all the unsung heroes who paved the way for women to advance but especially our mothers and female ancestors. We salute them!
And so now I say to all of you women out there as we celebrate the history of women, follow your dreams whatever they may be. Whether it be opening a business or running for political office or applying for that dream job, do it, if it's in your heart. In the words of one of the smartest women I ever met, my mom, I say to you all "You go girl, go!."
Joanne Giannini served as a RI State Representative from Providence from 1994 to 2010. She has previously written commentaries for the Providence Journal and the Federal Hill Gazette. During her tenure in the General Assembly, she made appearances on CNN, Primetime News, and American Morning regarding legislation she filed in Rhode Island.
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