An Award that Keeps Me Trying to Earn It

I went to New York this week to accept a "Gloria Award" from Gloria Steinem, Letty Pogrebin and Pat Carbine, the founding mothers of the Ms. Foundation, as I serve in the Republican-led House, which couldn't less about women's concerns. This is all the more reason to be grateful to the Ms. Foundation for its determined focus on today's women.

(Congresswoman Norton's comments from the ceremony follow)

Certain awards, particularly one named for the icon of the American women's equality movement, cannot be received as a gift. An award named for Gloria Steinem could just as well come with a return receipt attached saying, "Keep on earning it." Tonight, I accept a Gloria Award with that understanding, and considering that I am a member of the 113th Congress, I have my work cut out for me. The House of Representatives has freighted its agenda with issues the women's movement won 40 years ago, with a special fixation on driving back reproductive rights, even contraceptives. We are winning those battles the second time around too, but a Gloria Award insists that we not delay the future. I will therefore use the award, which carries Gloria's unflagging optimism and determination, as I return to the House of Representatives, mindful that millions of low-income working women in our country today work without sick-leave, that millions more work without paid maternity leave or child care while they work, and that vital women's occupations are rife with sex stereotyping, resulting in pay that is less than equal pay for jobs comparable to men's occupations.

For you have been good enough to come tonight, I ask you send reinforcements to the 18 percent of the House and the 20 percent of the Senate who are women. Then there will be many more in Congress you can challenge to earn a Gloria Award.

Published: May 17, 2013