Printing, Graphics, & Direct Mail Document Scanning Index Form High Speed Scanning Date of Request: 12/01/14 Box 17 of64 Senator or Department: SENATOR HARKIN Instructions: Prepare one form for insertion at the beginning of each record series. Prepare and insert additional forms at points that you would like to index. For example: at the beginning of a new folder, briefing book, topic, project, or date sequence. Record Type*: Speeches Inclusive Month/Year of 1975-1994 Records*: (1) Subject*: International-Human Rights Speeches (2) Staffer*: Jim Whitmire I0 Maintain (Return.to Office) E Destroy (Shred) *REQUIRED INFORMATION 1111111111111111111111111111111 United States Department NeW~of Labor<40 Office of Information Washington, D.C. 20210 WOMEN'S BUREAU USDL 84-384 Friday CONTACT: Abby Martin FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATE, OFFICE: (202) 523-6604 August 24, 1984 STATEMENT ON WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY, AUGUST 26 BY DR. LENORA COLE ALEXANDER, DIRECTOR WOMEN'S BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR "Women's Equality Day," which the nation observes on August 26, commemorates that day in 1920 when America's women were guaranteed the right to vote. Since the 19th amendment to the Constitution became law 64 years ago, there has been an enormous change in the role of women in American society, particularly in the workplace. Women are entering the work force at the phenomenal rate of over 1.5 million a year. More than half the women of working age--over 50 million of us--are now in the labor force. The Women's Bureau, in the same 64-year span, has adapted to developments to help women workers meet the changing demands made on them. In the process the Bureau has transformed itself from one of reactive concern to one of active leadership as our constituency proves its significance in the work- place. Women are making great contributions to the national economy. Although the majority are still concentrated in traditional "women's" jobs, women overall are advancing rapidly into the higher-paying skilled crafts and professional fields such as law, medicine, business, science, and government. Thanks to the country's newly improved economy, equality for women is closer than ever to becoming a reality. But there is still much to be done, on the job, in the home,and in the schools. So it is appropriate on this day--Women's Equality Day--that all of us pay tribute to American women's achievements and strengthen our efforts to ensure equality in all aspects of our society. For its part, the Bureau will continue to advance with the times and to provide all working women with the best assist- ance, services, and direction we can offer. MORE QUOTES ON WHY WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE IS WRONG: 1. (from Women's anti-suffrage association of Massachusetts, 1915) "There are 53,000 more women than Men of voting age in Massachusetts.. .DO NOT place the government of this State under the control of an inexperienced feminine majority." 2. (From History of Woman Suffrage, editted by Elizabeth Stanton, Susan B Anthony etal 1882) "Man is woman's natural protector, and she can safely trust him to make laws for her" "Women who make the demand (for the vote) are few in number, and their feelings and opinions are abnormal, and therefore of no weight in considering the aggregate judgment on the question." "Woman when independent and self-asserting will lose her influence over man." "Woman would degrade politics, and politics.would degrade woman." "Those who make laws must execute them; government needs force behind it,---a woman could not be sheriff or a policeman." "If women assume all the duties political equality implies,.that the time attention necessary.to the.duties of home life will be absorbed in the affairs of State." "Political equality would rouse antagonism between the sexes." 3. (From founder and president of National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage 1914) "Because of her lowered physical and nervous vitality the w6man worker has had to be protected in her industrial life in order that the state might conserve her value as the woman citizen. Women cannot be treated exactly as men are, and motherhood, potential or actual, does determine woman's efficiency in industrial and social undertakings." 4, (From the Suffragist, weekly-paper of women's movement, 1914) "That Woman Suffrage cannot be supported because of a man's respect, admiration, and reverence for womanhood." "That five little colored girls marched in a Suffrage parade in Columbus, Ohio" "That women must be protected against themselves. They think they want to vote. As a matter of fact, they do not want to vote, and man, being aware of this fact, is obliged to prevent them from getting the ballot that they do not want." "That the ballot would degrade women." "That no man would care to.marry a Suffragist." "That women do not read newspapers on street cars." "That women do not buy newspapers of Ikey Oppenstein, eho keeps the stand on the corner." "That no man would care to marry a female butcher." "That no man would care to marry a female policeman." "That Woman Suffrage is a matter for States to determine." 4. (Cont.) . she "That Mrs. Harriot Stanton Blatch once marched in a procession in which carried a banner inscribed! "One million.Socialists vote and work for Suffrage" to a cabinet-officer "That Inez Milholland married a Belgian.and once.referred as a joke." "That women fail to take part in the 'duty of organize murder' and might therefore vote against war." 5. Congressional Record June 3, 1919, in the Senate Senator Borah of Idaho: "The woman is naturally tied to her home not only physically, upon public but spiritually, and from her home she must exert her influence affairs.". people, there Senator Underwood of Alabama: "If the women of America were a separate might be some question.as to whether their Views *are reflected in the Government, but the wompn of America are a part of the American people; they have certain votes in their family circle, and those votes, whatever they are, whether they be case by father and son, or hereafter whether they be cast by mother and daughter will continue reflect the sentiment of that family circle, whether it be for the good or the ill of the Nation. 5. (Cont.) Senator Smith of South Carolina: "I know the women of my State pretty well, and I am quite.sure that if they had wanted suffrage, with all the dangers and evils that it would entail, they would have said so. But they have resolutely refused to be stampeded by a few hysterical propagandists or propagooses, I do not know which is the proper term. They have refused to be stampeded and a vast majority or our women are opposed to opening the Pandora's Box of evils and threatening once again the civilization of that State and other States with similar conditions. Senator Reed of Missouri: "I will tell you how the debate has been conducted in my State. I know something.about what has gone on there. It has been the subject of laughter and jest more than of any serious consideration. Ladies have come, as I said the other day, and asked to address audiences that were called together by Democrats.or Republicans.. They have been accorded the platform and have spoken their little piece, bowed themselves out, and the business of the evening went on. Nobody regarded it in a very serious way. We had a vote on it. There was not any debate during that campaign on woman suffrage, except on one side. Some of the ladies turned out and spoke for it. I believe I state the truth when I say that the great mass of the women of Missouri were totally indifferent to it, and when they got through the people voted it down by 140,000 majority." 5. (Cont) Senator Reed of Missouri: "We all know that it has been the commonly understood situation that in the South the women have not desired the right of suffrage and that the sentiment has been strongly against suffrage. There have been more reasons than one for that. One of those reasons undoubtedly arises out of the race question. Another reason is probably found in the fact that for the most part the ladies of the-South.are intensely wedded to their home life, and are but little incluned to thrust themselves into public affairs; and I think I can say, without at all disparaging the women of other parts of the country, that at least it is true that one of the most glorious types of womanhood that ever beautified and rendered sweet and lovely this old earth is the women of the South." DRAFT REMARKS FOR WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY SPEECH (8/26/84) 1. INTRODUCTION I'm happy to be here with you today to celebrate an important date in the history of our country: the 64th anniversay of the ratification by the States of the 19th amendment to the Constitution giving women the right to vote. We've come a long way since the days of the debate over the 19th amendment. I did a little research before coming here today and wanted to share with you today some of the arguments that were made at that time as to why women should not be allowed to vote. Here are several listed in the Suffragist, the weekly paper of the women's movement in 1914: Woman Suffrage cannot be supported because of a man's respect, admiration, and reverence for womanhood. The ballot would degrade women.