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Tuesday, January 11, 1383
Daily Nebraskan
U U I ixjj ,
Social changes come rarely and only
with great effort. Adequate, if not except
ional leadership is indispensable. Small,
continual advances tend to be more per
manent than large leaps and bounds, but
t
Becky
Stingley
1
progress is progress.
Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, a
coalition created, developed and organized
by women, more specifically by mothers,
has been given much credit for the 12 per
cent drop in the country's 1982 traffic
fatalities. The ever-growing nuclear freeze
movement has been largely spearheaded by
females, and in recent years, two women
have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
In the United States, as well as abroad,
women have succeeded in attaining more
powerful political positions. Great Britain
has a female prime minister, and last week,
President Reagan appointed Elizabeth Dole
as the new secretary of transportation.
In November, Nebraska voters elected
two women to the NU Board of Regents -a
traditionally male-dominated body.
Newly inaugurated Gov. Bob Kerrey
appointed six women to high positions in
his administration. Two of his staff assist
ants arc women. The new state tax com
missioner, who will receive a $43,625
salary, is a woman. Furthermore, the dir
ectors of the State Department of Aging,
the State Office of Energy and the State
Department of Motor Vehicles are women.
At the university, female students have
uniformly shown that they are not help
less girls. Rather, they are competent in
dividuals. The last three editors of the
Daily Nebraskan have been women, and
student advocate Nette Nelson has develop
ed ASUN's Government Liaison Com
mittee into a strong, productive and
effective lobbying organization.
These talented, intelligent persons have
succeeded because they have received
fundamental support from others who
aligned with their ideas and who maintain
ed confidence in their abilities. Victory re
sulted because they were given the neces
sary resources and the obligatory oppor
tunities to prove themselves and to justify
their positions.
Yet, days ago, the Equal Rights Amend
ment was re-submitted to Congress. It
seems that a certain group of women is in
tent upon putting "women" into the Con
stitution. It is futile to think that docu
mentation of equal rights in the Con
stitution is a complete solution.
More remotely, it is incredible that this
female legion plans to continue to spend
vast amounts of money, time and energy -as
they have in the past decade - on legis
lation that promises to eliminate the identi
cal patronizing attitudes towards minorities
that have risen out of the Equal Employ
ment Opportunities laws.
Women do not need legislation that re
quires that they be treated equally,
instead, they need legitimate confidence
invested in their abilities. They need emo
tional, physical and financial support
for their desires, creativity and efforts.
For a wor.;an to scream, "You've got to
treat me equally because it is the law"
seems to be a contradiction of the
philosophy that women are capable of the
same, if not grander, social, political and
financial accomplishments that men are.
President Reagan has seen it for two
women to be members of his Cabinet, yet
he has denied many others educational
opportunities by substantially decreasing
the amount of funding available to stu
dents. Women are rarely discriminated
against by academic institutions in terms of
acceptance; in fact, EEO legislation has
given them a definite advantage. But what
good is acceptance to medical school with
out the financial resources to attend?
Females need to be given the credit
availability and financial backing that
other, more traditional groups have access
to. What good is a solid, business idea with
out the preliminary capital to attempt such
a venture?
No one is asking for a free ride. Society
has no room for deadbeats. But present
leadership needs to make room for equali
fied women in business, politics, the arts
and every other are3 of organized
humanity.
Give women a chance to demonstrate
their proficiency. Fairly scrutinize their
performance, not their presence. Praise
their achievements and criticize their
failures. Reward them accordingly. All in
an, treat tliem like you do men.
EDITOR
GENERAL MANAGER
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