Overcoming Obstacles
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Image courtesy of Box 694, Patsy Mink papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington D.C.
As newcomers to the U.S. Congress, women sought equal treatment on the job. Initially excluded from some areas of the Capitol, such as the House Gym, women used diverse methods to break down institutional barriers and to attain equal access to influential committee assignments and leadership positions. This collection of stories reveals how women negotiated these challenges to alter the social, cultural, and political norms of Congress, all while balancing work and family life.
"Those Machines Only Build Muscles"
The Honorable Nancy Lee Johnson protests inequalities in the separate House gym facilities for men and women.
The Honorable Nancy Lee Johnson, U.S. Representative of Connecticut
Transcript (PDF)
Salary of a Married Woman
Patricia Schwartz describes the way marital status created inequalities in pay.
Patricia (Tish) Speed Schwartz, Chief Clerk/Administrator, House Committee on the Judiciary
Transcript (PDF)
Race and Gender
The Honorable Yvonne Brathwaite Burke discusses the challenges she faced as an African-American woman.
The Honorable Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, U.S. Representative of California
Transcript (PDF)
Accessing the Boys' Club
Kathy Gille reflects on what she learned as the lone woman among floor assistants.
Kathy Gille, Executive Floor Assistant, Representative David Bonior of Michigan
Transcript (PDF)
Institutional Change
The Honorable Sue Myrick recalls working with other women to break House tradition surrounding women's attire.
The Honorable Sue Myrick, U.S. Representative of North Carolina
Transcript (PDF)
Surrogate Representation
The Honorable Eva M. Clayton describes the responsibilities of being a woman and a Member of Congress.
The Honorable Eva M. Clayton, U.S. Representative of North Carolina
Transcript (PDF)
