Why Women’s History is Important

by Karen R. Price National Women’s History Alliance board member http://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org

Patriotism and the desire to serve one’s country in times of conflict have never been limited to men. Women have taken up the cause in one capacity or another since the Revolutionary War. And while the door to official military service may have been closed to many of them, women have always found a way to contribute. Some, such as Deborah Sampson or Cathay Williams, disguised themselves as men to fight. Others, like Molly Pitcher, served in an unofficial role, helping where they were needed.

March is Women’s History Month, and that means it’s time to celebrate important women in American history. We at the National Women’s History Alliance are, as you might expect, very busy this time of year. It is our mission to discover and share the stories of women in history and to change the dangerous perception that women in the past did not do anything worthwhile. We intend to “write women back into history.”

Many of these celebrations focus on the important “firsts,” such as the first woman to enlist as a non-nurse Naval Yeoman (Loretta Perfectus Walsh, 1917). Others celebrate the many first women to advance into higher ranks, such as the first woman promoted to Brig. General (Anna Mae Hays, 1970). Recognizing and celebrating these milestone achievements is crucial to creating a more complete understanding of American history.

Equally important, though, are the stories of the countless women whose service didn’t break down a barrier, but nonetheless contributed to the pressure for increased involvement of women. The women whose quiet dedication to country served as inspiration to countless others paved the way for more opportunities for those who came next.

In the Revolutionary Era, it is unknown how many women followed their soldier husbands and brothers, and whose work, though critical to military success, went unpaid and unrecognized. Coming after these women were the civilian nurses and spies who aided the Union during the Civil War.

And behind them were the hundreds of women serving officially in the Army Nurse Corps tending wounded and sick soldiers in the Spanish-American War.

Building on these successes were the women who enlisted during World War I, and again in World War II, serving in an increasingly wider range of duties like service pilots and maintenance workers.

When Maj. Gen. Marcelite J. Harris, was interviewed by Ebony Magazine in 1992, she spoke about being the first African-American female General in the US Air Force. “For me, being the first is just a matter of time.” She recognized the importance of acknowledging that her successes were built on the efforts of those who came before her. “They have done a tremendous job of opening doors and proving capabilities.”

If progress is a torch handed from one generation to the next, this torch has been moving forward since 1776, carried by laundresses and cooks, nurses and spies, pilots and soldiers. Each new generation of women has been inspired by the previous, adding their voices to the call for a fair chance to show their mettle. The brave women in today’s military themselves will be passing the torch to future generations, with the knowledge that the work they inherited from the generations before them will continue.

The value of knowing women’s stories is that it gives all of us—women and men, girls and boys—the power and inspiration to succeed. Knowing women’s history enables us to understand the past more clearly, and that will give us the power to change the future.

Honoring Women in Blue to Drive Awareness and Increase Gender Diversity in Policing

On International Women’s Day, the San Diego Police Foundation will convene regional business and community leaders to honor the achievements of San Diego Police Department (SDPD) female leaders to elevate awareness of the importance of increased gender diversity in policing. The 12th annual Women in Blue luncheon: “LeadHER. MentHER. SupportHER,” will be held on March 8, 2023, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.

“Since the inception of the Women in Blue initiative, SDPD has increased the number of female sworn officers to nearly 17% and as a result, exceeds the national average of 12%,” stated Sara Napoli, President and CEO of the San Diego Police Foundation. “Yet, there is more effort and awareness needed to achieve gender parity, which is critical, as police departments operate best when they reflect the communities they serve.”

As part of a concerted effort to increase diversity in SDPD, Chief of Police David Nisleit signed the 30x30 Pledge, a national movement to advance the representation of women in all ranks of policing, with a specific goal of achieving 30% female recruits in training academies by 2030.

“Since SDPD leads the nation in the percentage of female officers in its ranks, we strongly believe that the Women in Blue initiative has been and will continue to be critical to creating a more inclusive and diverse department,” said SDPD, Assistant Chief Sandra Albrektsen. “Research suggests that women officers excel in areas of seeking better outcomes for crime victims, especially violence against women, facilitating community policing, and de-escalating violent confrontations. Bringing the strengths of men and women together makes the department a better place to work, and therefore positively impacts the communities SDPD serves.”

As the highest-ranking active-duty female officer at SDPD with over 30 years of service, Chief Albrektsen will keynote this year’s luncheon. She oversees K9, SWAT, helicopters (ABLE), Data Services, Critical Incident Management Unit, and Operational Support, which supplies all equipment for officers. In the Regional Academy, she teaches Human Relations and Legal topics and operates as the Subject Matter Expert for Training and Development.

The Rita Olsen Legacy Scholarship will also be awarded to a rising SDPD female leader, and three accomplished women in policing will be honored at the event.

This year’s 2023 honorees are:

The annual luncheon serves as the signature event of the Women in Blue initiative, elevating inclusion, leadership, and the empowerment of women to propel the advancement and representation of women in policing. Hear the extraordinary stories of female officers and civilian professionals who not only protect and serve San Diego, but also lead, mentor, and support their peers and communities. Together, this year’s Women in Blue honorees exemplify the value of female representation in modern policing.

“The police officers of SDPD work tirelessly to ensure that our workplaces, schools, and communities are safe,” said Barbara Savaglio, Women in Blue Executive Cabinet Chair. “A growing number of those officers are women. This is an important trend that needs our support.”

The Women in Blue initiative provides funding for training, mentoring, collaboration, and networking opportunities for aspiring female leaders in law enforcement, including grants for women in blue to attend the Women in Law Enforcement Leadership Symposium (WLLE).

“I shared my journal from the (WLLE) conference with my teenage daughter,” said SDPD Detective Sergeant Jennifer Wadhams, who attended the 2022 WLLE conference with funding provided by the Police Foundation.

“As a parent, it is my job to empower my daughter to be prepared to face the world on her own with a strong moral compass, compassionate heart, and a resilient mindset. Our responsibilities are similar in our profession – empowering our team members to recognize their own strengths and to set high personal and professional standards for themselves.”

Move Women in Blue Forward:

Women in Blue is a fundraiser for the San Diego Police Foundation to support SDPD by cultivating positive community engagement and helping fund vital equipment and specialized training that ensures peace and safety for all. Proceeds from this event will propel the mission of the San Diego Police Foundation, including support for SDPD’s peer mentoring program, the Women’s Leadership Conference, efforts to recruit more females to the ranks of SDPD, the Women’s Recruiting Expo, as well as scholarshipsto empower women and inspire the next generation of women in blue.

Assistant Chief Sandra Albrektsen

For more information on the event, please call (619) 232-2130 or visit our website womeninblue.org