March 28, 2024

Writer challenges Sen. Chapman’s omission of women in opening day remarks

I just received an email from Greenfield’s Senator Jake Chapman. In it he shares “Opening Day Remarks” in the Iowa State Legislature. I was struck by the Iowa people to whom he chose to call our attention in his speech as ones who have inspired him — Gov. Lucas, Edwin and Nathaniel Guiberson, Martin Treptow, Alexander Clark, Daniel Oconnell and Senator James Harlan.  All men.  I’m sure that this omission does not indicate anything about his attitudes toward women.

However, dear reader, it is interesting that he couldn’t find at least one women to mention in his list of inspiring Iowans. Are there no Iowa women who have done great deeds or uttered inspiring words? For Senator Chapman’s convenience, I will list but a few here, so that the next time he makes a speech about noteworthy Iowans he can remember that there are women who should be included in the list. He would do well to remember that he represents women in his district and we want to hear about inspirational Iowa women as well as men.

Noteworthy Iowa Women

Julia C. Addington — the first woman elected to public office in Iowa

Carrie Chapman Catt -- women’s suffrage activist

Susan Clark - desegregation activist

Willie Stevenson Glanton - First African-American woman elected to IA Legislature, first woman to be an assistant Polk County attorney,  first woman and first African American elected to the Iowa chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Janet Guthrie - race car driver, speaker and women’s sports advocate

Edna M. Griffin - civil rights activist

Mary Beth Tinker - First amendment rights advocate

Kate and Trish Varnum - LGBTQ rights activists

Jane Elliott — educator

Jean Adeline Morgan Wanatee — Native women and women’s rights advocate

Elizabeth Catlett - artist and civil rights advocate

Sister Irene Muñoz - migrant rights advocate

Peggy Whitson — First female commander of the International Space Station and holds record among American astronauts for spending the most time in space.

Denise Long Rife — First woman drafted into the NBA