[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 38 (Tuesday, April 12, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, March is Women's History Month, and March 8 
was the United Nations International Women's Day.
  This is a time to reflect on the past. While women's history does not 
begin with the women's movement, nor did the women movement begin in 
the near past, it is toward this movement that our attention cannot 
help but be drawn. Beginning most consistently at the turn of the 
century with the struggle for the vote, the women's movement has 
lurched forward to become one of the greatest sociological achievements 
in the history of the human race.
  During the 20th century this planet, which had seen since the dawn of 
humankind, thousands of political upheavals, civil wars, and armed 
conquerings, witnessed the beginning of the organized emancipation of 
over half the human race. Remarkably, even with more participants than 
any other in history, this revolution has been one of the least violent 
and least bloody. But it was hard fought. And it is not over.
  This month is a time to take stock of the present.
  Women today exercise rights that have been systematically denied them 
except in small pockets of history and geography. Large numbers of 
women have reached positions of power and influence in every area of 
human endeavor in much of the world.
  In this country, the forces that contest women's progress are for the 
most part no longer formally organized. Most forces against women have 
moved underground and subconscious, and have ceased to be based on 
gender, instead reflecting the ugly politics of people with power being 
threatened by people who are taking it. Today's epidemic of misogyny, 
discrimination in the workplace, and violence against women doesn't 
represent bigotry as much as it does a last ditch, cruel attempt by 
weak and frightened men to keep women in their place.
  These new battles require fresh weapons; stronger enforcement of laws 
against violence and discrimination; greater protection of the right to 
choose to be a parent; better health care and more child care; efforts 
to eliminate gender-based pay differences; and more representation of 
women in the upper echelons of business, community leadership, and 
government.
  On this note, we look to the future. What the human world must 
continually learn is that a pluralistic society gains strength from 
diversity. Women deserve greater representation in business and 
government not only because of what these positions will do for women, 
but because of what women can do for civilization in its entirety. 
Every aspect of society can benefit from a larger share of the 
collective talents and abilities of women. Men and women who attempt to 
slow the progress of women are not only wrong, they are foolish, for 
they deprive themselves and all humankind of the ability to realize our 
fullest potentials.
  It is appropriate for us to remember this month the ideal that most 
inspired suffragettes 100-odd years ago, and fight for women's progress 
not just for the benefit of women and not just for the benefit of men: 
We must fight for women's progress because it is just.
  We also cannot forget what goes on beyond the comfortable boundaries 
of industrialization. The women's revolution has yet to reach--much 
less improve--parts of the world. In some less developed nations, women 
are still defined as property; denied education and employment 
opportunities; shacked, maimed, and even murdered by cultural sexual 
practice and suffocating social roles; refused pregnancy choices; and 
exposed without protection to AIDS. In some countries, if a baby girl 
is not killed by her parents because of her gender, she faces a short 
and horrible future altogether different than her brother will 
experience.
  Mr. President, the women's movement must not pause at the edge of the 
industrialized frontier. Not only must developed nations lead by 
example, we must constantly support the proliferation of human rights 
and equality in every corner of the world. During Women's History 
Month, we should be proud of what has been accomplished, but we must be 
aware of what is yet to be done. We must be hold, stubborn, and 
ambitious in our pursuit of a future that is better and more just for 
the entire world.
  Thank you, Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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