The Tapestry Isn't All Pretty

This month, and hopefully not just this month, we celebrate the victories, challenges, and contributions of women and take stock of the work still to be done. Just as studying the histories of other groups should not be relegated to trivial highlights of a few people and learning of rote facts and historically significant days, acknowledging the women’s rights movement should be an ongoing endeavor.

Leveling the playing field so that all can start at the same initial point should not just be a value. As a statistician, I know it allows us to increase the probability of achieving similar outcomes for all, all things held constant. Access to similar opportunities increases the likelihood of access to similar outcomes. Seeing women like Cady Coleman make it to the moon makes it possible for others, not just women, that their identity is not a limitation. Learning about Henrietta Lacks teaches future scientists and doctors to be ethical and humane so that we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past.

The tapestry of American women's histories is one we should honor because, while there are aspects that are not pretty, they teach us to remain conscious of the paths that led us to such results. Similarly, many of the achievements women have made have improved conditions, broadened understandings of the natural and physical worlds, and advanced knowledge across disciplines that have benefitted women and others beyond our geographic borders. Still, there is more to learn from women in more egalitarian countries and where equitable policies can be instructive for us.

Beyond celebration and acknowledgment, this is a time for us to reflect on advocacy to help ensure progress rather than regression. It is a time to amplify women’s voices, support women-led organizations, patronize women-led small businesses, increase our knowledge of the barriers that still exist for girls who aspire to be women with equal chances of living long lives, have access to the resources that will allow them to compete and achieve at the same levels as their male counterparts. It is also a time to teach our boys, who will grow into men with seats at the table and become intimate partners to women, of their responsibilities to help create a more just and equitable world.

Together, let us weave a more beautiful tapestry, one that reflects our learnings, progress, and depicts a hopeful vision for what is yet to come.