Cabrini teachers share in struggle for equality

There are many women who have made contributions to the fight for increased women's rights. During Women's History month, among those remembered for their efforts are three Cabrini professors who have made a difference in their own personal way,

The first in a two part series celebrating Women's History month

!!Y Kristen Williams

assistant copy editor

Just because some women have not been nationally recognized for their achievements in life does not mean that they do not deserve recognition. At Cabrini, there are many women who deserve to be noticed for how much they have accomplished, and National Women's History Month is a time when notice can begin to be taken.

Celebrating National Women's History Month allows people a time to recognize the impressive and sometimes courageous works of women. Women who play a role in Cabrini's community, who have also achieved both courageous and impressive accomplishments in their lives, include Dr. Sharon Schwarze, academic department chair of philosophy, English professor Dr. Marilyn Johnson, and sociology professor Dr. Kathleen Daley-McKinley, to mention a few.

All three of these women decided that they wanted to become involved in the academic world, though it was dominated by men.

Schwarze and McKinley both attended all-women's colleges, and therefore did not meet any opposition in obtaining their goal until they entered graduate school.

Both women found much of the same types of opposition, though they attended different schools.

In graduate school, McKinley found the curriculum to be dominated both by male professors and male students. The men who taught would become mentors to the men they instructed, therefore leaving the women with no role models to look up to. Schwarze was one of three women in a class of 30, and was instructed by men, with the exception of one female professor. However, McKinley also faced opposition of another kind. Upon applying to graduate school, she was told she could enter and complete the program, but she could not receive financial aid. McKinley was told that because she was married, and her husband was considered responsible for the family, she would have to use her own finances to complete her education.

The two women found that there was much "camaraderie" among their female classmates, and because of this, getting through the curriculum was a little easier to do. However, all three of the professors found some "discrimination" when trying to find a job.

Schwarze explained that when she went to ask her professor for help in finding a job, he said, "After I get the men jobs, I' 11help you get a job."

To that statement, Schwarze asked if that held true even if she was "equally or more qualified than a man was," and the professor responded with a yes. McKinley found it hard to get a job as well. "Men were in power, and looked for people like themselves to continue the work of their business," she said.

She continued to explain that there were no legal limitations when applying for a job. It came down to who knew whom, and that also made it more difficult for women to get a job.

Johnson encountered difficulty of the same kind as well. When she applied for a teaching position at a college, she was told, "We don't hire women." After being turned away from that job, she applied to a local allwomen's college, and was told, "We do hire women, but not married women." Finally, Johnson applied to a high school that hired women, but paid them a lower salary than their male colleagues. These women then said that they were very lucky to find a job at Cabrini. Schwarze, McKinley and Johnson photo by Jennifer Nespoli all said that they have Dr. Sharon Schwarze, professor of philosophy found no or very little discrimination against women at this college, and when it was encountered, it was always rectified in one way or another.

These three women made their way into a field that was dominated by men. Although the academic world is still dominated by men, women do have a greater presence than they once did. Schwarze and McKinley both consider this the greatest accomplishment for women in the past few years. Schwarze said that she felt that women have become "more self aware" and because of that will get further in their lifetime.

McKinley said, "Women now have options in life. Having these options is the beauty of a woman's life."

Despite the progress women have made, both Schwarze and McKinley feel the fight needs to keep going.

McKinley said, "Due to what seemed to be the lack of student interest in National Women's History Month, the faculty seems to be less interested as well, and I'd like for that to change."

Schwarze backed that statement up by saying, "Women will be truly equal to men when they can fail and not have it attributed to the fact that they are women.'·

All of these professors feel that the future of women is bright. Schwarze summed it up best when she gave an invitation to women of other generations to join the fight, saying, "There is much more to be done."