A Century of Female Empowerment (1920-2020)

Our Stories of Change—In Our Own Words

Sarah’s Perspective

Interview by Kathryn Shaw, Sarah’s Sister

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How is your life different from your mother's life?
I don’t have a job, to get up early as she does, pay any bills or taxes. I’m in college and she didn’t go to college, and she drinks tea and I don’t.

How do you feel about the equality of women and women's empowerment today?
It could be better, but it could be really, really worse too.

Would you reflect on this year being the 100th anniversary of women getting the right to vote in the US?
It’s neat, but I wouldn’t think too hard about it.

Are you aware of the "pink tax" -- women being charged more for certain products?
Yeah, that’s why I have men’s deodorant right now.

What's the best thing about being a woman today?
I don’t have that strong of an opinion about that. I don’t wear makeup, cramps are a thing and they suck, and I wear enough unisex clothes that it doesn’t really matter.

What's the worst thing?
Cramps and getting hit on. Guys are yucky. It doesn’t happen a lot, but cooties. And generic women’s clothing being so thin, it’s cold. That’s annoying.

What changes would you like to see related to being a woman today?
Pants with pockets, and stuff with flowers on it that are for the same products “for women” and are more expensive.

What advice would you have for your younger self?
I don’t want to change anything. A lot of advice is like “don’t do this” or “do that”. I’m going to grow up to be one of those artists who I’d admire when I was younger.

What advice do you have for the younger generation of girls who will be the women of tomorrow?
Don’t date people just because they say they like you. And don’t settle.

Interview: Mom’s Perspective

Interview by Kathryn Shaw

How is your life different from your mother's life?
I think women today are regarded a little bit better than when she was younger. She used to tell me how she got a divorce when we were kids and how hard it was to go out on her own and be considered for loans. When she got married, she got divorced, and I got married and we’re still a family. She had to work when I was a kid my whole life, and because I have a husband, I was able to stay home with my kids and raise them until they got older. Then I got a full-time job, but she had to work full time and was the sole supporter of our family.

How do you feel about the equality of women and women's empowerment today?
I still think it’s not completely even for women who do the same jobs as men. I think it’s because most people think men are the breadwinners of the family. It does seem like women do have more say in things. My boss is a woman and it’s her family’s company, and she’s the head-honcho of it. That probably wouldn’t have happened years ago.

Would you reflect on this year being the 100th anniversary of women getting the right to vote in the US?
Yeah. I think it’s pretty neat. The fact that there were several women going up to be presidential candidates, considering 100 years ago we couldn’t vote, and now we’re attempting to be president. That’s pretty amazing.

What's the best thing about being a woman today?
You can be physically fit and strong and not be judged, although once I went with a friend to a golf course and a guy said, “I wouldn’t let my wife play golf.” My friend gave him the finger, but he didn’t see. You see women doing stuff that used to be thought to be for men.

What's the worst thing?
You can still bump into chauvinists, like the guy on the golf course, and it takes you by surprise because most of the areas I’m at, you’re a person.

What changes would you like to see related to being a woman today?
Definitely the equal pay. That’s a big thing because some women are the breadwinners of their family. Equal pay for an equal job.

What advice would you have for your younger self?
Whatever you want, go for it. Basically, being honest and truthful is the way to go.

What advice do you have for the younger generation of girls who will be the women of tomorrow?
Aim high, be courageous, and truthful. Work hard.

Generational Change: Grandmother/Granddaughter

            Change happens constantly and most of the time goes unnoticed. I thought of a few questions to ask different generations of women in my family. In order to avoid bias, I answered them myself before asking my grandmother, so that I could give my full honest word on the question, rather than giving a biased answer based on both my opinions and my grandma’s opinions. Sometimes opinions do not change, and they drift down the family tree, but for the most part everyone differs on their beliefs.

Over the years, have you noticed a change in the role of women?
Stacy: I have noticed a huge change in the role of women as more women are going into the workforce and going to college to further their education.
Lynn, my grandma: Yes and no, when I was first married they wanted women home with the kids, but it got to the point that women had to work for the family to survive, so I’d say yeah,  I guess.
Do you believe that women should work for a living or that women should be at home raising their children?
Stacy: I believe that whether women work for a living or stay at home and raise their children, it is a personal matter that they should decide for themselves based on their lives, what is best for them, and what is best for the children.
Lynn, my grandma: They’re going to have to help the family so they’re going to have to work. I guess it depends on what the income of the spouse is as well.
Stacy: I grew up in a world where women always had the opportunity to work although my stepmom stayed at home with me and my brothers until we were a little older. My grandma grew up in a world where the men worked and the women’s job was to stay home and take care of the children until it came to the point where, for most families, that was no longer an option.
In your opinion, do you think we should get rid of the “pink tax”?
Stacy: I do believe we should get rid of the pink tax as women did not choose to have their period. In my opinion, public restrooms should give out free pads and tampons for when women have an emergency and do not have the supplies they need.
Lynn, my grandma: We pay for everything, and nothing in this world is free, except death, and that’s not free to everybody else. I don’t care what it is, nothing is free, so no we should not get rid of the “pink tax.”

by NHTI student, Stacy Comeau

Stacy: In my grandma’s life, she was raised to believe that everything comes with a cost, according to her answer this includes death. While I do not believe everything is free, I do believe women should get their women products for free.
When it comes to women’s fashion, what do you think is appropriate for women to wear when they go out of their home?
Stacy: When it comes to women’s fashion, I believe what women should wear is based on where they are going and comfort. If they are going shopping, they might wear sweatpants or jeans and a t-shirt. This is different than if they are going to an interview, in which case they should probably dress up a bit, wearing a blouse and some dress pants.
Lynn, my grandma: Either pants, such as jeans and top or a skirt and a top, not short shorts. You have to have a little pride.
Stacy: This is definitely one matter that for the most part we agree on; however, we disagree when it comes to wearing sweatpants. I’ve lived with my grandma for years and I’ve noticed that I am all right with lounging around in sweatpants, while my grandma still usually dresses nicely even if she is not going out.
Is it true, in your opinion, that women are targeted for sexual assault based on the type of clothing that they wear?
Stacy: It is my opinion that women are not targeted for sexual assault based on what they wear, but rather that men still subconsciously, and occasionally consciously, view women as sexual objects that they can misuse and abuse. While not all men do this, the world could do much better in equal rights for women and treating them as another human being rather than an object.
Lynn, my grandma: Yes, the more provocative clothing they wear, the more likely somebody is going to go after them.
Stacy: This is the question, where I would have to say, my grandma and I differed the most. It boggles my mind to think she believes provocative clothing leads to sexual assault. I start to wonder if she realizes that men still subconsciously rule our world and view all women as sexual objects, or if she just believes sexual assault is purely based on the clothing you wear. Some of my beliefs I get from my family, some from religion, and some from my own values and experiences. That is why some answers are so vastly different is because we grew up in very different generations.