“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.”
— Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Each March in the U.S. and elsewhere, we honor the role women have played in society with Women’s History Month.
In the 1970s, Feminists critiqued the exclusion and lack of recognition of women’s contributions to our society and campaigned for the inclusion of women in our history. Then a group of women in Santa Rosa, California, took matters into their own hands and celebrated their efforts with a Women’s History Week celebration in 1978. The movement quickly spread around the country and just a few years later, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8th, 1980, as National Women’s History Week. This observance continued until 1987 when Congress designated the entire month of March as Women’s History Month.
Not only is Women’s History Month a time of reflection, but it’s also a moment to recognize how the efforts and bravery of past generations continues to pave the way for females today.
Local 6132 would like to recognize and honor our very own Deane Armstrong as a woman who became part of this movement from all of her hard work and dedication. Deane began working at Southwestern Bell in 1956, and as soon as a Union Representative approached her, she joined the Communication Workers of America – Local 6132. She immediately became an active union member and soon became involved in the Legislative Committee. In 1969, Deane was elected Chief Steward of Accounting and was then elected as Vice President of Accounting in 1970, developing a strong leadership role among the union women. She became part of the Austin Central Labor Council, and as a delegate of AFL-CIO she was elected Vice President, allowing her a great opportunity to serve on additional committees, voting on important labor issues, and working with politicians to accomplish union goals. Deane’s career and determination didn’t stop there – in 1985, she became the first mayor of Jonestown TX, after helping incorporate the town…continuing to show women that hard work does pay off.
Deane always says that she never accomplishes anything by herself but surrounds herself with the best people who know how to get things done.
