Interview
By Dorothy Parker,
Copyright 1926 and renewed 1954
The ladies men admire,
I’ve heard,
Would shudder at a
wicked word.
Their candle gives a
single light;
They’d rather stay at
home at night.
They do not keep awake
till three,
Nor read erotic poetry.
They never sanction the
impure,
Nor recognize an
overture.
They shrink from
powders and from paints ...
So far, I’ve had no
complaints.
Record numbers of women
are making their voices heard in Congress. 75 million women are now
in the U.S. workforce. Women are better educated than ever before;
they are earning more than ever; and they are starting business and
philanthropic empires that are changing the world.
You've come a long, long
way, baby … but women have more work to do to change perceptions
and ensure gender equality for future generations. The young ladies
of America are fighting for change. Their combined voices are one of
the most powerful forces of the 20th century, capable of
uplifting every American community.
And, these ladies are
doing their empowerment work right here in Lucasville.
Through efforts such as
the Miss Bicentennial Pageant and the Lucasville Oral History
Project, the Lucasville Area Historical Society is working to empower
young women in our community. Part of our mission is to help young
girls and women have a stronger voice and achieve their full
potential. The ladies involved in these activities represent many of
the most strong, reliable assets of the population.
Although women are still
stereotyped even in Western countries, they excel in all work and
social domains. We must strive to offer young women endless
opportunities to succeed, and we must put them in positions to
showcase their various talents. There is no substitute for their
vigor and their stamina. We must help shatter detrimental gender
stereotypes. Our group remains committed to working hand-in-hand with
all our youth.
How Can We Help Empower
Young Women?
* We can help build
their communication skills.
The voice of young women
must be heard. Girls must be taught to express themselves
articulately to build their presence so that they can claim a more
active role. We want to help these ladies achieve by giving them
opportunities to express their good writing and speaking skills.
* We can help build
their decision-making roles.
Young women have important
views on all issues such as governance, allocation of resources,
equality, and the environment. An educated girl knows her rights and
recognizes her responsibilities. We want to make young ladies
participants in the decision-making processes that affect their
present and future lives.
* We can help provide
leadership space.
Of all the activities for
women’s empowerment, this may be the most important. Allowing for
this space to allow young leadership not only instills confidence but
also raises young women to a level where they can better empower
others. We hope to assist these youth as they become young, active
leaders in our modern society.
* We can provide the
best protection available.
Approximately one-third of
U.S. women have suffered physical or sexual violence. Nearly half of
all women in the United States have experienced psychological
aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetime. This means we
must better prevent violence before it happens by engaging men and
boys and also by harnessing new technologies.
The Charge For Our Young Ladies
Is
is imperative that a progressive community invests in empowering
young women. This requires a community to educate, mentor, and
provide strong youth engagement programs. And, of course, this charge
means that the adults, and yes, even the seniors, step up to the
plate and positively impact the young. That means significant
investments of money, time, and sweat. The costs may be high. However, these investments
will pay endless dividends and build a stronger, more-unified
community.
Valley
Local Schools feature such a talented administration, staff, and
student body. The tradition of excellence in education is deeply
ingrained there, and it continues to inspire and serve local youth.
Still, let us not forget that a community is more than just its
schools. It also incorporates all the other residents, businesses,
service clubs, and government entities of the area. The proper
attitude presented to the youth is instilled at every place they
frequent. Every positive word and attitude can contribute to success.
The
Lucasville Area Historical Society is overwhelmingly comprised of
confident, intelligent, dedicated women who work tirelessly to better
a community in which they take so much pride. I hope the young women
of the community feel more empowered by the efforts of this group. I
know the rewards of working together can be very great. I have been
so impressed with both groups – the young women of Valley High and
the ladies of the Lucasville Area Historical Society. May they
continue to foster positive growth in Lville.
"I
love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels.
Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass."
– Maya
Angelou
Awesomeness!
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