The Council for Women is proud to have been a partner in a Women’s History Month Celebration that truly honored the pioneering women who led the suffragist movement, and whose victories paved the way for today’s women to earn their rightful place in a wide range of leadership roles.
It was fitting that Gov. Bev Perdue – our state’s first female Governor, who before that was our first female Lieutenant Governor – joined us Monday night at the N.C. Museum of History to deliver welcoming remarks. Having her there was a very positive statement to the people in the audience, men and women, who obviously care about women’s rights.
The crowd was highly engaged in the program, which featured a conversation with Dr. Sally McMillen, Department Chair and Mary Reynolds Babcock Professor at Davidson College. The Q&A that followed was lively, including a discussion about “modern-day heroines” whose efforts may be examined by future historians. In addition to our Governor and the female majority on the Council of State, we acknowledged First Lady Michelle Obama, female heads of state around the world, and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose leadership this week was instrumental in passage of healthcare reform.
There was a flood of enthusiasm afterward at the reception, where the conversation continued. A gentleman who described himself as a Civil War buff thanked us for increasing his knowledge and giving him a better perspective on how women affected outcomes of the time – and of course, the ripple effect to today’s ongoing struggles and accomplishments.