Women's History Month--Honoring Bella Abzug
High on the list of women who made the Second Wave of American feminism catch fire is former New York Congresswoman Bella Abzug. Abzug, who was the first Jewish congresswoman ever elected, was known for her wit, her wide-brimmed hats, and her relentless drive. A civil rights attorney in the 1940's, Abzug went on to become a writer and a stateswoman.
A socialist Zionist by the age of eleven, Abzug began giving speeches at New York subway stations. At age thirteen, she broke the rules and said Kaddish for her father in a synagogue. The young Bella studied the violin, taught Hebrew, and led a rebellious intellectual and social life. As an attorney, Abzug worked for blacks in the South, union members, and Hollywood personalities caught up in Senator Joseph McCarthy's Communist witch hunt.
Abzug was a co-founder of Women Strike for Peace, The National Women's Political Caucus, and the Women's Environmental and Development Organization. She was elected to four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and was narrowly defeated (less than 1%) by Daniel Patrick Moynihan in her bid to be elected to the U.S. Senate. She wrote the first law banning discrimination against women in obtaining credit, credit cards, loans, and mortgages, and introduced bills on comprehensive child care, Social Security for homemakers, family planning, and abortion rights. In 1975, Abzug introduced an amendment to the Civil Rights Act to include gay and lesbian rights.
In 1976, President Jimmy Carter appointed Abzug chair of the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year. He later appointed her co-chair of the National Advisory Commission for Women, but when the commission pointed out that his administration had cut the budget for women's programs and that his anti-inflation program hurt women and children, Carter--in a fit of pique--removed Abzug from her position.
Abzug began wearing big hats as a young woman when she realized that no matter how important her role was, she went unnoticed when she entered a meeting or gathering. "I began wearing hats as a young lawyer," she said, " because it helped me to establish my professional identity. Before that, whenever I was at a meeting, someone would ask me to get coffee."
Abzug died in 1998 at the age of 77. Throughout her entire life, she fought for women, minorities, workers, and the poor. She was a colorful speaker, but of all the quotable things she said, perhaps none stands out so much today as this:
A socialist Zionist by the age of eleven, Abzug began giving speeches at New York subway stations. At age thirteen, she broke the rules and said Kaddish for her father in a synagogue. The young Bella studied the violin, taught Hebrew, and led a rebellious intellectual and social life. As an attorney, Abzug worked for blacks in the South, union members, and Hollywood personalities caught up in Senator Joseph McCarthy's Communist witch hunt.
Abzug was a co-founder of Women Strike for Peace, The National Women's Political Caucus, and the Women's Environmental and Development Organization. She was elected to four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and was narrowly defeated (less than 1%) by Daniel Patrick Moynihan in her bid to be elected to the U.S. Senate. She wrote the first law banning discrimination against women in obtaining credit, credit cards, loans, and mortgages, and introduced bills on comprehensive child care, Social Security for homemakers, family planning, and abortion rights. In 1975, Abzug introduced an amendment to the Civil Rights Act to include gay and lesbian rights.
In 1976, President Jimmy Carter appointed Abzug chair of the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year. He later appointed her co-chair of the National Advisory Commission for Women, but when the commission pointed out that his administration had cut the budget for women's programs and that his anti-inflation program hurt women and children, Carter--in a fit of pique--removed Abzug from her position.
Abzug began wearing big hats as a young woman when she realized that no matter how important her role was, she went unnoticed when she entered a meeting or gathering. "I began wearing hats as a young lawyer," she said, " because it helped me to establish my professional identity. Before that, whenever I was at a meeting, someone would ask me to get coffee."
Abzug died in 1998 at the age of 77. Throughout her entire life, she fought for women, minorities, workers, and the poor. She was a colorful speaker, but of all the quotable things she said, perhaps none stands out so much today as this:
I am not being facetious when I say that the real enemies in this country are the Pentagon and its pals in big business.
posted by Diane at 3:54 PM
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