By former Assemblymember, Hannah-Beth Jackson of Speak Out California
In celebration of the 78th anniversary of Women’s Equality Day, Speak Out California did a series of blogs commemorating the occasion. We conclude that series with a contribution from the first woman speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, who took the reigns of power in an historic celebration in January, 2007. (See our blog entry of January, 2007.)
Speaker Pelosi represents the first of what we hope is a long and celebrated ascension of women to the key leadership roles in our halls of power, justice and boardrooms. It has been, and continues to be an enormous struggle to break the barriers of sexism that have kept so many competent and qualified people from realizing the promises of our nation and our world.
In celebration of breaking down one of the most significant institutional barriers, we asked the Speaker to share with our readers her thoughts on her momentous achievment in light of the accomplishments past and yet to come, as we reflect once more on Women’s Equality Day.