Rightfully Hers: American Women and Right to Vote

Thank you all for being here this evening. We are so proud at Unilever to be a part of this important exhibit and celebrate major milestones like this- the centennial anniversary of the women's right to vote. Unilever has had a long history of creating an inclusive culture, both within our company and also within society. 

One of the questions I always get asked is what is your favorite product from Unilever? I hope that some of you have had a pint of Ben & Jerry’s (and if you have eaten an entire pint in one sitting like I have, no judgement), used Dove Body Wash in the shower, or put Hellmann’s on a sandwich. One of my favorite products has always been Ponds- and it’s a product my grandmothers used, my mother uses, and I use. 

And I recently used Ponds on my three year old when she somehow managed to get into my make-up bag. Thankfully Ponds Cold Cream came to the rescue to take off all that blush.

Before you think I am about to sell you a jar of Ponds Cold Cream, let me share another reason why I love Ponds. Ponds has a connection to the suffrage movement. In the 1920s, Pond’s ran a series of ads featuring Alva Belmont, one of the leaders in the women’s suffrage movement. In fact, there is a monument in this city named for her – the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument.

Belmont used her power, prestige, and funds to support the suffrage movement. Belmont co-founded the National Woman’s Party, lobbied for new initiatives in Washington, D.C., and organized the first picketing to take place before the White House. In fact, she even donated her pay from the Pond’s campaign directly to the National Woman’s Party.

Notably, Belmont initiated one of the first attempts to integrate the enfranchisement movement in New York during a time when even the suffrage movement was fraught with racial discrimination.  And as a woman of color, I know the fight for women of color to have the right to vote was just beginning with the 19th Amendment.

Alva Belmont is a beautiful example of the values we hold dear at Unilever. She fought to empower groups of people that had historically been excluded, which is a part of my personal story as well.

At Unilever, I have found my purpose: empowering those who have been excluded to help them find their voice. And once you find your voice, to never stop using it. I am the proud daughter of Indian Immigrant parents; my younger brother and I were both born and raised here. 

My dad’s mom was married when she was 12 years old. My mom’s mom was married when she was 10 years old. They both married men in their 20s, and went on to have very large families. My grandmothers were both remarkable women, just like Alva. 

And so for me, when I think about gender equality, it’s not just theoretical or academic, not something I read about in Harvard Business Review. I know I am living proof of the progress that can be made for women in less than three generations.

Unilever is full of stories like mine, and Belmont’s, and we are proud to have change makers among the ranks of our company. We have a goal of enhancing livelihood for millions of people through our Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, which couldn’t be done without people who bring their purpose to work every day.

So today we are so excited to be a part of this exhibit, which recognizes the hard work, determination, and grit it takes to make real societal progress and push our world to become a better, more equitable place.

Thank you.  And enjoy this amazing exhibit.